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Tag: quit notice

  • 70-year-old tenant ‘beats up’ landlord over quit notice

    A 70-year-old businessman, Appinner Obilor, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly inflicting injury on his landlord over quit notice.

    Obilor, who lives in Oko-Oba, Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy and assault.

    The prosecutor, Ezekiel Ayorinde, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the accused committed the offence on July 21 at his residence.

    The accused and two others at large, he said, conspired to assault his landlord, Mr Waheed Bello, over the quit notice.

    “The accused, who spent over five years in the complainant’s house without rent, conspired with his wife and son to beat up the landlord. The accused and family members punched the complainant severally all over his body, tore his clothes and also used a plank to hit him on his head which caused him harm.

    “The complainant reported the case and the accused was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate B.O. Osunsanmi granted him N200, 000 bail, with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case continues on August 15.

  • Illegal structure owners in Agege get quit notice

    Lagos States Government yesterday served a seven-day notice on owners/occupiers of illegal structures and containerised shops around Abattoir and Oko-Oba in Agege to remove them forthwith.

    Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said over 2500 illegal structures including containerised shops were served ‘removal order’ within abattoir and Fagba by railway side, Agege.

    The shanties, he said, were occupied by miscreants and hoodlums who terrorise people.

    He said: “It is an eye-sore with miscreants and hoodlums freely smoking and selling Indian hemp including prostitution by underage boys and girls around the area”

    Oko-Oba railway line including Estate, he said, could no longer sleep with their eyes closed because of the miscreants.

     

  • Quit notice to Igbo: IGP places men on red alert

    Quit notice to Igbo: IGP places men on red alert

    • Orders police to enforce law

    The police are on red alert across the nation to nip in the bud any attempt to actualize the October 1 quit notice served on Igbo residing in the north by a coalition of Northern youth organizations.

    Although the quit notice was withdrawn a few weeks back by its authors, Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris yesterday directed all police officers and men to be ready to deal with any threat to national peace.

    The full weight of the law, Idris warned, would be brought on any person or group for any unlawful act or attempt to cause disturbance of law and order and public peace in the country.

    He also directed police personnel to stop the spread of hate speech and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

    But he urged the personnel to be civil, polite and firm in performing their duties.

    The directives were given in a in a statement through the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Moshood Jimoh.

    Jimoh said:  “The 2017 Nigeria Independence celebration is scheduled to take place across the country on October 1, 2017.To this end, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris has directed that a robust and elaborate security arrangement be implemented to ensure a hitch free and peaceful celebration nationwide.

    “Similarly, the Inspector-General of Police has placed all the personnel of the Force on RED ALERT to nip in the bud any attempt by any group under whatsoever guise to cause disturbance of the peace on 1st of October, 2017 or at any other time.

    “Consequently, Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of Zonal and State Commands have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to be personally on ground to deploy and supervise Police Personnel on visible police patrols and police presence at strategic locations and other identified flash points within the cities, and along the highways and major roads in all states of the country and FCT to build confidence of safety in the people residing everywhere in the country.

    “The Police Commanding Officers are to deploy all intelligence and personnel to make sure that the purported quit notice given to the Igbo in the North as well as the Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba in the Niger Delta region are not actualized.

    “They are also to enforce the law as required to prevent the utterance of hate speech and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

    “The Nigeria Police Force therefore wishes to implore parents and guardians, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, youths groups, politicians and public office holders to prevail on their children and wards, adherents, brethren, followers and supporters to be law abiding and not to allow themselves to be used to cause disturbance of public peace anywhere in the country.

    “The full weight of the law will be applied on any person or group for any unlawful act or attempt to cause disturbance of law and order and public peace in the nation.

    “While congratulating our dear nation, Nigeria and the good people of this great country on the occasion of the 57th Independence Anniversary, the IGP implores Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper and demonstrate love, as well as promote harmonious co-existence with our fellow Nigerians.

    “To ensure adequate security and guarantee utmost protection of life and property of all Nigerians during the period of the celebration and beyond, the Inspector General of Police has directed the Commissioners of Police in all states of the federation and their supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of Zonal Commands to carryout massive deployment of officers and men of the Force comprising conventional police personnel, Police Mobile Force, counter terrorism unit, special police forces, Force Intelligence and Investigation Department for covert and overt operations, the Police Helicopters and Police Marine Gunboats to patrol difficult terrains and riverine areas throughout the country, and the Police Mounted Troops and Dogs section for crowd control and crime prevention at venues of celebration and recreation during the period and beyond.

    “The personnel deployed are under strict instructions to be civil, polite but firm in the discharge of their responsibilities. They are to pay special attention to places of celebrations, public places and other locations where people will gather to celebrate the Independence anniversary.

    “Sustained surveillance and proactive crime prevention strategies will be adopted, while the ongoing raids of criminal hideouts, black spots, identified troubled spots and other vulnerable points to remove criminal elements will be continued throughout the period.”

  • Quit notice: IG places policemen on red alert

    INSPECTOR-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has placed policemen nationwide on red alert.

    The move was part of efforts to ensure that the quit notice threat and counter threats issued by some groups are not actualised.

    The police said security would be beefed up across the country to ensure that lives and property are protected.

    Idris urged the public to go about their lawful businesses, adding that there was no cause for alarm.

    Reacting to the pronouncement by the Army that the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) is a terrorist organisation, the police said whoever acts under the group would be arrested and arraigned to court.

    Speaking with The Nation in Abuja yesterday, the Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, said: “The Inspector General of Police has before now directed that Commissioners of Police in charge of commands and AIGs in charge of zones to be ready to ensure that the threat and the counter threats are not actualised.

    “The IG has placed all police personnel on red alert across the country. This means that they cannot travel and they have to be within their station so that at the beckon of the commanding officer, they can be deployed to attend to any situation that may come up.

    “We are well-prepared, October 1 or whatever date given, the police would beef up security across the country to ensure that both indigenes and non-indigenes go about their lawful businesses because nobody has the right to tell anybody to quit or relocate.

    “So, there is no cause for alarm and we have increased deployment across the country.”

    Moshood added that Police Mobile Force squads, who are directly responsible for quelling riot and other crimes, have been deployed to Southeast and Southsouth.

    On the proscription of IPOB, the Force spokesman said: “We are doing our best to ensure that any organisation or group under any name is not allowed to unleash mayhem on the society.

    “Our police station in Ariara market was attacked and about seven suspects have been arrested. We are still arresting more and the suspects are being charged to court.”

    He added: “Having declared IPOB a terrorist group, anybody that is a member of the organisation would be arrested by the police if they come out to do things that are against the law and order that can endanger lives of people.

    “We are still looking for those who were responsible for burning our police station, some have been arrested and we would still arrest more.

    “They don’t have right to operate under IPOB because the state governments in that region have proscribed them and called them unlawful organisations. When you belong to such organisations and you are performing unlawful act, it would give us the power under the law to get you arrested and prosecuted.”

  • Quit Notice: IG places policemen on red alert

    Quit Notice: IG places policemen on red alert

    As part of efforts to ensure that the quit notice threat and counter threats issued by some groups are not actualized, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) ), Ibrahim Idris has placed policemen on red alert.

    The police also said security would be beefed up across the country to ensure that lives and property are protected.

    The police also urged members of the public to go about their lawful businesses adding that there was no cause for alarm.

    Reacting to the recent pronouncement that the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) were terrorist organisation, the Police said whoever acts under the group would be arrested and charged to court.

    Speaking with The Nation in Abuja yesterday, the Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood said: “The Inspector General of Police has before now directed that Commissioners of Police in charge of Commands and AIGs in charge of zones be ready to ensure that the threat and the counter threats are not actualized.

    “The IG has placed all police personnel on red alert across the country. This means that they cannot travel and they have to be within their station so that at the beckon of the Commanding officer, they can be deployed to attend to any situation that may come up.

    We are well prepared, October 1st or whatever date given, the police would beef up security across the country to ensure that both indigene and nonindigenes go about their lawful businesses because nobody has the right to tell anybody to quit or relocate.

    “So, there is no cause for alarm and we have increased deployment across the country.”, he said.

    Moshood also hinted that Police Mobile Force who are directly responsible for quelling riot and other crimes have been deployed to Southeast and Southsouth.

    On the proscribtion of IPOB, the Force Spokesman said: “We are doing our best to ensure that any organization or group under any name are not allowed to unleash mayhem on the society.

    “Our police station in Ariara market was attacked and about seven suspects have been arrested, we are still arresting more and the suspects are being charged to court”.

    He further said: “Having declared IPOB a terrorist group, anybody that is a member of a proscribed organization would be arrested by the police if they come out to do things that are against law and order that can endanger lives of people.

    “We are still looking for those who were responsible for burnng our Police station, some have been arrested and we would still arrest more.

    “They don’t have right to operate under IPOB because the state government in that region has proscribed them and called them unlawful organisations. When you belong to such organisations and you are performing unlawful act, it would give us the power under the law to get you arrested and prosecuted.”

  • Quit notice: Christian elders flay North governors’ role

    Christian leaders, under the aegis of the National Christian Elders Forum (NCER), have decried the role of North’s governors in the recent quit notice given to the Igbo living in the North.

    Although the Coalition of Arewa Youths, which issued the October 1 deadline to the Igbo, has since suspended the quit notice, the Christian leaders faulted the role of the governors in the controversy.

    At an interactive session yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, with the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, NCER accused the governors of condoning an unlawful cause.

    NCER’s delegation leader Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN) said the conduct of the governors amounted to subversion of their oaths of office.

    Asemota said: “Recently, there was an unfortunate quit notice given to Ndigbo living in the North by Arewa youths. What is perhaps more unfortunate is the information that the North’s governors announced that the quit notice has been suspended. This implies that it can be resumed at a later date. This is very unfortunate.

    “If governors are now seen to condone such unlawful and ill-motivated statements, then how shall the youths be contained?

    “We wish to stress that the conduct of these governors is subversive of their oaths of office wherein they swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law of the land.”

    NCER decried the politics of ethnicity religion, saying it had never helped any nation, including Nigeria.

    It said: “If Nigeria is going to unite and progress, the state must be neutral on the issue of religion. Therefore, democracy and Sharia are incompatible.

    “The conflict between and within these ideologies are responsible for Nigeria’s perpetual stealth war: North vs South, Christians vs Muslims, Igbo vs Yoruba, Igbo vs Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba vs Hausa/Fulani and among various ethnic nationalities scattered around Nigeria.”

    According to them, the stealth wars are in some instances being fanned by the intelligence service.

    NCER called for restructuring and a return to democratic ethos of the past to put the nation back on the path of cohesion and unity.

    The group said Nigerians must live in peace with one another, adding that several decades after the attainment of political independence from colonial imperialists, the country was drifting towards intolerance, ill-will and hatred.

    It said: “We are amazed at the amount of hatred, intolerance, ill-will, discrimination and contention that has engulfed the country. If the situation is not checked, the youths might be provoked into taking the law into their hands.

    “Already, they are becoming impatient after experiencing unfulfilled promises upon unfulfilled promises by those who are in government while the country keeps stagnating.”

    Wondering what had become of the nation’s military strength, the NCEF regretted the increase in kidnapping, robbery and other social vices.

    It urged the political class to rethink the way politicians handle governance in the country.

    NCER also wondered why it had been difficult for a country, which successfully prosecuted a civil war, fought for peace in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and stabilised the sub-region, had failed to contain insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, ritual killings, militancy and cybercrime.

    To solve the challenges facing the country, the forum called for restructuring and a return to the 1963 Constitution.

    The group said same was abrogated by military in a hurry to assume the reins of power.

    Asemota said: “We recommend immediate government’s response to the yearnings of majority of Nigerians for restructuring. As an immediate step, a return to the Republican Constitution of 1963 would be a good starting point.”

    Makarfi said the PDP had been a firm advocate of restructuring, but warned against giving ethnic and religious colouration to the matter.

    He said: “I have come to realise that restructuring means different things to different peoples, hence the need for us to come together and dialogue in order to ascertain what type and nature of restructure and the modalities.

    “To some, it is economic restructuring, while to others it is political restructuring. However, for me, I think we should also offer institutional restructuring.

    “Presently, many institutions of government are corrupt, inefficient, unjust and inequitable in their operations. How can they be expected to offer efficient services to Nigerians?

    “We need to have institutional restructuring. That is how we can have efficient service delivery in the public and private sectors. It is necessary for the ills of the society to be eradicated.

    “People will come and go, but institutions will still remain. We need the kinds of institutions that can stand the test of time so that the ills of the society can be reduced to the barest minimum.

    “Even political parties are institutions. They require restructuring for credible candidates to emerge so that we can get out of this mess.

    “Our institutions, be they security agencies, paramilitary agencies or the civil service, are supposed to serve the interest of the Nigerian public.”

    Urging religious leaders in the country to steer clear of corrupt Nigerians, the PDP chairman decried the way religious groups have been honouring and celebrating wealthy but corrupt Nigerians.

  • Niger-Delta agitators want Buhari to resign

    Niger-Delta agitators want Buhari to resign

    A group of Nigerian Delta Agitators under the auspices of Coalition of Niger Delta agitators yesterday denied withdrawing their quit notice to northerners and south westerners living in the region to leave by October 1, 2017 or face dire consequences.

    The group also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign on health ground and go home, saying he has failed to deliver on his campaign promises to the people, while things have gone from bad to worse during his two years reign.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja after their meeting, the group said it never mandated anybody to withdraw its quit notice, neither is it prepared to work with the Edwin Clark led PANDEF. Signatories to the statement include General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers; General Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors); Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters); Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice); Major-Gen. Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network); Major-Gen.

    nibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate); Major-Gen. Abiye Tariah (Niger Delta Development Network) and Major-Gen. Joshua Ebere for Renewed Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta. Others were Major-Gen. Jeremiah Athony Movement for Actualization of Niger Delta Republic; Major Francis Okoroafor for Niger Delta Freedom Redemption Army and Colonel Nelson Okochi Walter.

    It states: “Our Quit Notice remains valid, we have not withdrawn it. Our attention has been drawn to the publication in some national Newspapers of Friday 1st September, 2017 that we, the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators mandated one Chief Mike Loyibo of Pan Niger Delta Peoples’ Congress (PNDPC) to withdraw quit notice on our behalf.

    “We want to state here clearly that we did not at any point in time appoint or mandate anyone to withdraw any quit notice on our behalf neither did the self-acclaimed leader of PNDPC ever met with us or our representative to discuss any matter relating to quit notice.

    “Our quit notice stands. We cannot work with PNDPC or PANDEF. We want to use this opportunity to inform the general public that we stand by all our previous statements. The quit notice we issued to Northerners and Yorubas remain valid.  “As a matter of fact, our Strike Team are already prepared and positioned to start attack on oil facilities across the Niger Delta from September 10, 2017 in preparation for our planned declaration of Niger Delta Republic on October 1st, 2017.”

    The statement said the Coalition has concluded arrangement to stage a mass protest across all Niger Delta states with effect from 12th September 2017, saying “we have concluded plans and have the backing of over 500 groups. “We want to warn everyone that would not be part of the protest to stay indoors, all shops, markets, businesses, schools, parks and companies should remain locks as we cannot guarantee that the protest is going to be peaceful because we shall resist any attempt by security forces to destabilize the planned protest.

    “Nothing is working in Nigeria for the past two years that President Buhari took over the affairs of government. It is our belief that the President did not come to salvage the Nigerian economy, rather he came for revenge, even so called corruption he claimed to fight is even worst under his government. His cabal is using his weakness to siphon the Nigeria treasury.

    “We condemn in its entirety the recent development in NNPC which further shows how biased President Buhari is. It is so glaring that Nigerian state is heading towards doom. The President does not have any conscience and cannot lead the country.

    “He is only interested in his Fulani and Northern brothers that was the reason we called for the replacement of the Group Managing Director of NNPC because we know this grave marginalization would happen.”

  • Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice to northerners, Yoruba

    Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice to northerners, Yoruba

    The coalition of Niger Delta militants, yesterday, withdrew the October 1 quit notice they issued to northerners and Yoruba living in the region.

    The Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), a new group that claimed to have the mandate to negotiate for the Niger Delta with the Federal Government and other interested stakeholders, said the issuers of the quit notice gave them the mandate to withdraw it.

    The coalition had disbanded the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) after passing a vote of no confidence in the group and constituted PNDPC as the new negotiator for the region.

    The militant groups appointed His Royal Majesty Pere Ayemi-Botu, paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom as the head of the PNDPC and named Chief Mike Loyibo as the coordinator/ convener of the group.

    The coalition comprises the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers; Niger Delta Joint Revolutionary Crusaders Council; Niger Delta Supreme Egbesu Fighters; Niger Delta Red Scorpion Fighters; Niger Delta Youth Mandate for Justice; Niger Delta People’s Liberation Force; Niger Delta Fighters for Resource Control; Niger Delta for Urhobo Resource Control; and Bakassi People’s Liberation Force.

    Loyibo, whom the coalition said was appointed following his track records of integrity and honesty, confirmed that the coalition mandated the PNPDC to announce the withdrawal of the quit notice.

    He said the youths were remorseful after he and members of the new group met with them and told them the implications of the quit notice to the peace and development of the region.

    He said: “People should disregard the quit notice from our youths. I have spoken to many of them and they mandated me to withdraw it on their behalf.

    “They have called off the quit notice and discharged it. Everybody in the region in the west, east and north should go about their normal business. I can guarantee them of their safety.

    “The entire Niger Delta people are not in agreement with the quit notice issue. The boys that issued it are very remorseful. So, they have asked me, because they mandated me to speak for them and the region, to discharge the quit notice.

    ” Loyibo noted that such unpatriotic remarks like issuance of quit notices had their origin from the cold war involving the country’s founding fathers during the precolonial era.

    “This quit notice and counter quit notice found their foundations from the precolonial days. The three leaders that negotiated the independence of Nigeria did not love themselves.

    “It was the crisis that extended to our era where everybody begins to struggle for their own. I don’t believe in regional or tribal considerations. As Ijaw people, those that had been good to us did not come from our region,” he said.

    He said the youths were only suspicious that the Federal Government was trying to weaken them through promises that they might not fulfill at last.

    Loyibo said the leaders also told the youths to also hold their governors, appointees and regional interventionist agencies responsible for lack of leadership and development.

    He blamed the Arewa youths for causing tension in the polity and frowned on the way and manner the government treated them.

    He noted that nobody should be treated as a second class citizen adding that all must be held as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

    The Ijaw leader, however, said the youths in the region still believed in the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and their ability to fulfill the promises they made to the region.

    He said: “We are peaceloving people. Our diversity is our strength. Mr. President has brought a lot of integrity to governance and he came in with massive goodwill. So, I believe that this is the time he should be addressing the issue.

    “The late President Yar’Adua took the bull by the horn and declared amnesty and today amnesty is working. The place is being transformed in human capacity building.

    This is not the time for us to bring violence. When the militants and the agitators and the people of the Niger Delta named us to represent the Niger Delta as the new face, it did not come to us as a surprise because some of us have long history of integrity and openness.

    “We believe that Nigeria will continue to remain as one under a peaceful situation. So, I hereby, use this medium to formally discharge that quit notice. It is of no effects and there is no element of seriousness and the people that did it are very remorseful after we met with them and scolded them.”

  • Quit Notice: So-called militant groups don’t exist – Clark

    Quit Notice: So-called militant groups don’t exist – Clark

    Ijaw national leader and convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has dismissed the groups who gave the October 1, 2017 quit notice to Yoruba and northerners resident in the South-South as nonexistent.

    In a telephone chat with the Nation in Warri Friday, Chief Clark who said all Nigerians had the freedom to live in any part of the country, as Nigeria is just one country, said those who gave the ultimatum had nobody’s mandate and had no such authority to give such quit notice to anyone.

    According to the elder statesman, he was one of the very first Nigerians to condemn the Arewa youths who issued an ultimatum to Indigbo earlier, saying that there was no way he could have permitted such action to take place in his own region.

    While he vehemently cautioned those behind the quit notice to desist and withdraw the ultimatum, Chief Clark advised the Yoruba and northerners resident in the Niger Delta to continue to live peacefully in the region.

    “I’ve already made a statement on that issue when Afenifere contacted me. Somebody represented me and I made a statement. As far as I’m concerned, Nigeria is our country, therefore anybody who is a Nigerian is free to live in any part of Nigeria. We even allow non-Nigerians to live in Nigeria, to do businesses of their choice.

    “Therefore, if we have one country, we cannot prevent anybody from living in any part of the country. I’ve already advised those who made that statement to withdraw it, besides they have no authority from anybody; no elder not even PANDEF.

    “The South-South, I mean PANDEF, has been having meetings with the Yoruba, the Indigbo and the people of the Middle-Belt in Lagos and Abuja, therefore we cannot say we don’t want the Yoruba or northerners.

    “I was one of the first people to condemn the quit notice by the Arewa youths, why will I allow such a thing in my territory. Nobody knows those boys; they are just arrogating the powers they don’t have to themselves so they can’t. Some groups have done that before, we advised them and they backed down.

    “The point I’m making is that all groups, including northerners, are welcome in the Niger Delta and that those people who made those threats have no authority from anybody, they don’t even exist and wherever they are we advised them in their own interest to withdraw their statement, if the do exist at all. But whether they do or not, they have no authority from anybody.

    “We the people in the Niger Delta; the elders, the women and the youths, welcome the Yoruba and northerners. Nobody knows those names in the newspapers. Let them come out to meet us, make their statement. They don’t exist”, Chief Clark said.

  • Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice 

    Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice 

    The coalition of Niger Delta militants, Friday, withdrew a quit notice they issued to northerners and Yorubas to leave the region on or before October 1st.

    The Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), a new group with the mandate to negotiate for the Niger Delta with the Federal Government and other interested stakeholders, said the issuers of the quit notice gave them the mandate to withdraw it.

    The coalition of the militants initially disbanded the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) after passing a vote of no confidence in it and constituted PNDPC as the new negotiator for the region.

    The militant groups appointed His Royal Majesty Pere Ayemi-Botu, Paramount Ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom as the Head of PNDPC and named Chief Mike Loyibo as the Coordinator/Convener of the group.

    The coalition comprises the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers; Niger Delta Joint Revolutionary Crusaders Council; Niger Delta Supreme Egbesu Fighters; Niger Delta Red Scorpion Fighters; Niger Delta Youth Mandate for Justice; Niger Delta People’s Liberation Force; Niger Delta Fighters for Resource Control; Niger Delta for Urhobo Resource Control; and Bakassi People’s Liberation Force.

    Loyibo, whom the coalition said was appointed following his track records of integrity and honesty, confirmed that the coalition mandated the PNPDC to announce the withdrawal of the quit notice.

    Loyibo said the youths were remorseful after he and members of the new group met with them and told them the implications of the quit notice to the peace and development of the region.

    He said: “People should disregard the quit notice from our youths. I have spoken to many of them and they mandated me to withdraw it on their behalf.

    “Those that issued the quit notice do not have called off the quit notice and discharged it. Everybody in the region in the west, east and north should go about their normal business. I can guarantee them of their safety.

    “The entire Niger Delta people are not in agreement with the quit notice issue. The boys that issued it are very remorseful. So, they have asked me, because they mandated me to speak for them and the region, to discharge the quit notice”.

    Loyibo lamented that such unpatriotic remarks like issuance of quit notices had their origin from the Cold War involving the country’s founding fathers during the precolonial era.

    “This quit notice and counter quit notice found their foundations from the precolonial days.  The three leaders that negotiated the independence of Nigeria did not love themselves.

    “It was the crisis that extended to our era where everybody begins to struggle for their own. I don’t believe in regional r tribal considerations. As Ijaw people, those that had been god to us did not come from our region”, he said.

    He said the youths were only suspicious that the Federal Government was trying to weaken them through promises that they might not fulfill at last.

    Loyibo said the leaders also told the youths to also hold their governors, appointees and regional interventionist agencies responsible for lack of leadership and  development.

    He further blamed the Arewa youths for causing tension in the polity and frowned on the way and manner the government treated them.

    He noted that nobody should be treated as a second class citizen adding that all must be held as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

    The Ijaw leader, however, said the youths in the region still believed in the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice -President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and their ability to fulfill promises they made to the region.

    He said: “We are peace-loving people. Our diversity is our strength. Mr. President has brought a lot of integrity to governance and he came in with massive goodwill. So, I believe that this is the time he should be addressing the issue.

    “Late President Yar’Adua took the bull by the horn and declared amnesty and today amnesty is working. The place is being transformed in human capacity building. The people are impatient. They are waiting for the promises because they believe that whatever is the strategic plan is a ploy to weaken them.

    “The other day, we were in a critical stakeholders meeting with the amnesty boss. I had another meeting with NNPC again. They deliberately told us what, when and how these plans would be implemented.

    “From their explanations and from the man, the President, I know to be passionate about the issues of the Niger Delta with the Vice-President, I believe that we as Niger Deltans should be patient and support the government at the centre.

    “This is not the time for us to bring violence. When the militants and the agitators and the people of the Niger Delta named us to represent the Niger Delta as the new face, it did not come to us as a surprise because some of of us have long history of integrity and openness.

    “We believe that Nigeria will continue to remain as one under a peaceful situation. So, I hereby, use this medium to formally discharge that quit notice. It is of no effects and there is no element of seriousness and the people that did it are very remorseful after we met with them and scolded them”.