The Niger Delta Avengers has collectively and willingly agreed to dialogue with the federal government to resolve the lingering crisis in the oil-rich region of southern Nigeria.
The spokesman for the Dialogue Group, Mr Ballantyne Agiri, said this in a signed statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, August 17, 2016.
Agiri said that the Niger Delta Avengers had constituted contact and dialogue group to engage the Federal Government in meaningful dialogue as part of the initiatives to resolve the crisis.
There is, however, no such information on the official communication channel of the Avengers. The last the militants spoke on the matter of dialogue with the Buhari government, they rejected direct engagement and said only if 3rd party members of the international community were involved would they consider discussion with the government.
He added that the group was determined to come out with results that would yield lasting peace, equity, justice and harmony among all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
“The body has collectively and willingly agreed to heed the clarion call of eminent Nigerians and international community to dialogue with the federal government,’’ he said.
He urged Nigerians and the international community to follow the event and watch out which side would default in terms of abiding by the rules and spirit of the dialogue.
“The federal government should from the inception of the talks rule out from the agenda any monthly monetary inducement or stipend for the Niger Delta Avengers.
“The federal government should be ready for structural changes that should be human and development oriented.
“Members of the avengers’ group (who will participate in the dialogue) have already been selected, each based on his integrity, forthrightness, honesty and life track records.
“The names of members of the group for now shall not be made public for personal reasons until they begin functioning in few days ahead,’’ the spokesman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Niger Delta Avengers had claimed responsibility for series of bombings of oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta in the last few months.
The activities of the group had further worsened the economic fortunes of the country. (NAN)
