Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Wednesday in Abuja condemned the
activities of Niger Delta Avengers, saying Nigerian State should not
submit to blackmail from any quarters. The governor stated this while
fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door
meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the country deserves respect from all, adding that the
political elite should help in promoting and strengthening the bridge of
unity in the country.
“I don’t think the state should submit to blackmail, for me I think the
state‎ should be respected.
“For me I believe in Nigeria, I believe no part can do without the other,
I believe our unity is not negotiable, I believe the responsibility of the
political elite is to strengthen the bridge of unity, to discourage
preaching hatred; discourage amplifying weak points rather work to
strengthen those points.
“I salute our armed forces for what they are doing and the confidence they
have brought back to our security,’’ he said.
Oshiomhole further stated that “President Buhari deserves the support of
everyone and there is no part of Nigeria that can be better off without
the other part”.
He said: “The sooner we accept this reality the better it is for all of
us. The days of ethnic champions and imaginary divides will not help
anyone.’’
The governor maintained that the president had shown leadership and
determination to keep the country going and “for once, we are enjoying
respect ‎in world capitals, in different continents’’.
Oshiomhole, therefore, enjoined all Nigerians, particularly the people of
the South-South region, to support and cooperate with the Buhari-led
administration in his efforts to transform the country.
“We don’t need to be security experts to accept the universal truth that
wherever there is insecurity there will be no investment‎ because no
investor will go to where is unsafe.
“And where there is no investment poverty will be endemic because there
will be no job for our people.
“I appeal to all of us in the South South, we need to wake up; it is for
our own self interest that we make the region the most investor friendly.
“The assets being destroyed is not just national assets, it is our own
assets. It is what makes the South South the hub of the Nigerian economy.
“So, if somebody for whatever reason decides to destroy pipelines and
thereby compounding the problem of pollution, ‎the cost of cleaning
up that area, making it attractive either for fishing, farming or other
business, is a huge cost,’’ he added. The governor commended Buhari for
his commitment to clean up Ogoni land and other polluted areas in the
Niger Delta.
He urged the people of the region to work together and encourage the
President and the Federal Government to continue to do.