The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to personally lead the dialogue with the Niger Delta people towards finding a lasting solution to the recurring militancy in the region.
‘’We just read the appeal by President Buhari to militants in the Niger Delta region to stop attacks on oil installations. While the IYC welcomes the personal appeal by President Buhari; we state that what is required is not just an appeal but for him to in person lead the dialogue with the Niger Delta people towards finding a lasting solution to the recurring militancy in the region’’, spokesman of IYC , Eric Omare, a lawyer said.
It wants President Buhari to come to the negotiation table with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region as was done by his predecessors rather than through his subordinates.
The group is of the view that the perceived multiplicity of militant groups in the region as stated by President Buhari is not an obstacle to engagement with stakeholders.
IYC said it expects a holistic dialogue and engagement with the stakeholders in the region with a view to find a lasting solution to the root causes of militancy and other agitations rather than engagement with a view to give palliatives to present agitators without addressing the issues responsible for the recurring agitations as was done in the past.
It said it would only support a dialogue that is geared towards addressing the fundamental issues responsible for militancy in the Niger Delta region.
‘’Therefore, we call on President Buhari to put his appeal to action by starting the process of genuine and serious engagement with the Niger Delta people with a view to address the Niger Delta agitation for resource control once and for all.’’