WARRI – The Paramount ruler of Siembiri Kingdom in Delta State, Pere Charles Ayemi Botu has called on President Mohammadu Buhari, to leverage on the Cease Fire accepted by the Niger Delta Avengers and other militants groups after the intervention of the Monarchs and Leaders of Niger Delta and announce his dialogue team rather than mobilising troops to the Niger Delta Region.
The Pere who decried the heavy presence of the military said, it has sent negative signal to the international community and the whole world that the stage is set to crush the militants who have agreed to a Cease Fire.
The Paramount Ruler while appealing to the Federal Government to immediately withdraw the troops from the region, said, ” We have been making frantic and passionate appeals in conjunction with the United States Consul General, Mr. John Braye calling on both the Federal Government and the Militants to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue in other to proffer lasting solutions to the Niger Delta quagmire. Both the United States and the European Union have expressed their determination to partner with the Federal Government in this onerous task now that the situation has availed itself. I implore President Buhari to withdraw the troops he has deployed to the region and follow the path of honour to set the machinery in motion without further delay to commence the dialogue so as to achieve the desired peaceful resolution”
Describing the resultant effects should the military go ahead and unleash their arsenal on the ‘goose the lay the golden egg’, as throwing the baby with the bath water or shooting oneself in the foot, because it would bring about increase in the attacks on Strategic and volatile oil installation which will further cripple the nation’s economy.
According to the Traditional Ruler, Nigerians have been bracing up with the Boko Haram insurgency for the past five years, with it’s dreaded affiliates , ISIS, AL QDA, El – Shabab, Islamic Al Magred, suffice to say that it is not yet uhuru and to further compound the crisis proned nature we find ourselves is the senseless and barbaric killings, raping and wanton destruction of farms perpetrated by the Fulani Herdsmen throughout the country; should be a bane of concern that ought to be abated before it engulfs the entire country.
While making reference to history, he said, ” it’s pertinent to remind ourselves again that in 2005, the American Diplomat to Nigeria, Mr. John Cambell bemusingly and illfatedly predicted that Nigeria was going to break in 2015 and in the same vein in 2010 , it was late Lybian strong man Col. Muhammad Ghaddafi who opined that Nigeria was two big to remain as one country and should be split into four states i.e Arewa Republic, Oduduwa Republic, Biafra Republic & Ijaw Republic and the then Senate President, Senator David Mark described him as a mad man.
Nonetheless all these are not prophets of doom but it portends negative signals and our rulers should see the handwriting on the wall, due to the complex and volatile nature of our country that could spark off anytime if not carefully handled. I presume former President Jonathan knew and took cognisance of 2015 and never wanted any division in his tenure hence he quickly avoided it by raising the olive branch and I hope Buhari too would follow suit by listening to the voice of wisdom and wise counselling by reputable Nigerians in order not to be hijacked” .
