Itshekiri chief and Niger Delta activist Chief Rita Lori-Igbebor yesterday reflected on the resurgence of militancy in the region, saying that the youths were instigated by unscrupulous politicians.
She said: “These are politicians who are avoiding probe; people who have carted away our money. They have failed the youths, who they recruited during the election and became kidnappers after elections. Now, they are turning around to give them money and guns to foment trouble in the region and Nigeria.”
Hailing the Federal Government’s move to dialogue with the ‘Avengers’, she said questionable politicians, who have stolen money meant for the development of the region, should not be allowed to represent it at the negotiation table.
She noted that corruption has hampered the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s intervention in the region, adding that those responsible for the graft should be investigated by the appropriate authorities.
Urging the restless youths to embrace the reality of the changing times, Igbebor advised them to return to farming, instead of their preference for making money from politics.
She stressed the need to restore the dignity of labour in the Niger Delta, adding that oil money is fading.
The activist spoke with reporters in Lagos on the activities of militants, their backers, the proposed negotiation between government and Avengers and the imperative of probing corrupt politicians in the zone.
She condemned the bombings, which, she noted, were restricted to Delta State, saying that it is contradictory, counter-productive and illogical.
In her view, the violence would create more economic hardship for the country and breed more violent activities in the region.
Igbebor said the Federal Government has set up some intervention programmes in the region, including the setting up of the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta, the amnesty programme and the 13 per cent derivation.
She added that former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from the region, also did his best for his people.
She queried: “Where are the billions pumped into the Niger Delta by the Federal Government? Where has the money gone to? What do we tell the Federal Government? How did the money disappear?”
Stressing that the youths have no reason to wage war against the Federal Government, she said: “I am worried about the bombings in Delta State. I don’t know why they are bombing the place. It is dangerous for elders not to speak up. It is dangerous for the youths to ignore the admonition of the elders.”
Igbebor said the aggrieved youths should have informed the elders, whose agitations led to the setting up of the intervention programmes before taking the wrong action.
She warned against the danger of negotiation with the wrong people in the Niger Delta, saying that it would amount to appeasing the leader of the gang to tame his boys for a short time before a further regression into violence.
Igbebor added: “It should not be business as usual. People going for the negotiation must not be politicians. We do not want people who instigate violence when they run out of money by given stipends to youths out of the billions they have stolen. We want the Federal Government to negotiate with the true representatives of the Niger Delta; people with the economic knowledge, vision, the fear of God and the power to implement the decisions taken for the good of the Niger Delta.”