The Niger Delta Peace Advocates (NDPA), have accused political office holders in the Niger Delta of being behind the spate of renewed agitation in the region.
National Coordinator of the group, Osagie Osagiede in a statement alleged that the protests embarked upon by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and the ultimatums issued by some ex-agitators, over the failure of the federal government to constitute a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is orchestrated by some political office holders because of their 2023 political ambition, the Sun Newspaper reports.
The group also accused sponsors of the protests and ultimatums of working towards the sack of Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, stopping the ongoing forensic audit, and the institution of a substantive board to cover up their past loot of the commission.
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“These powerful politicians have shown that they have scuttled the sincere agitations of Ijaw youths through a wedge between its President, Mr Timothy Igbifa, and the national executive.
“We have also discovered that Senator Godswill Akpabio has become a bone in their throat for the control of the NDDC and President Muhammdu Buhari should read between the lines and call these anti-Niger Delta political office holders to order,” he said.
Reacting to the statement by the NDPA, a member of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), who craved anonymity, said: “All of us desire good governance and development in the Niger Delta. The agitation cut across all ethnic nationalities in the region.
“It must not be the Ijaw Ethnic nationality alone. We want development and we will support all right thinking groups from the region.”
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