Withdraw military from our land, Ijaw elders tell Buhari

Ijaw elders, comprising of Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa state governor, Edwin Clark and traditional rulers, have demanded the withdrawal of troops from Niger Delta communities.

The elders, from the seven Niger Delta states, said this on Saturday after a meeting held in Warri, Delta, over the destructive activities of militants.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting convened by Clark, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to “redress the alienation of the Ijaw people”.

“The elders and leaders of thoughts of the Ijaw nation call for the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian nation along the lines of peaceful federalism, and noticed that this is the panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria,” the communique read.

“As a demonstration of sincerity of commitment to dialogue, FG should immediately withdraw the military from all occupied Ijaw communities, particularly Gbaramatu kingdom. The meeting also called on the government to immediately release the 10 innocent students of Gbaramatu kingdom.

“The meeting passed a vote of confidence on the Chief Boma Obuoforibo led leadership of the Ijaw National Congress. We condemn the move to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University approved by the preceding FG with temporary site at Kurutie and call for the immediate takeoff of the university.

“The none inclusive policies of the present administration which has led to the alienation of some components of the federation particularly the Ijaw nation from the main stream of national development and call on Mr. President to redress this ugly state of affairs.”