Body Condemns Militancy in Niger-Delta

First published in the New Nigeria Newspaper, Sept 14, 2009.

Indigenes of the Niger-Delta region have been enjoined to shun negative acts and embrace their environment terrain as a blessing in disguise.
They have also been encouraged to take advantage of the difficult and waterlogged areas to develop the region’s potential for sustainable growth and development rather than the present dependency on militancy to pursue their cause.

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A concerned organization, NEWSTIME INTERNATIONAL COMPANY said in a media briefing in Abuja that rather than complaining and adopting militancy as the solution to their problems, the time has come for the people to positively exploit their so-called handicaps as tools for development and gainful earnings.
President of the organization, Mr. Tony Oyatedor said it was important for the region to appreciate God for such natural resources and endowment that were ironically the envy of other parts of the country.
Mr. Oyatedor stated Newstime was ready to partner with all levels of government, corporate bodies, and individuals in championing this noble but enormous cause, assuring that the organization has the divine mandate of bringing lasting solutions to current violence and intolerance in the Niger Delta and the country at large.
“We have the know-how. God has bestowed it upon us to teach them and by His grace, they will hear us and turn back from militancy’ he said.
He explained that the organization was packaging a seminar in Warri, Delta State targeted at repentant militants alongside other stakeholders with a focus on amnesty issues, disarmament, reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the militants to the society.
The Newstime boss said the seminar would create an avenue for knowledge and information to be impacted youths to re-orientate them on the need to shun violence and embrace peace. In his words, “Evil can only thrive when people of good conscience keep quiet, and we don’t intend to be one of them.”
On the choice of Warri for the seminar, Mr. Oyatedor said it was more centralized for participants from other states to access easily, adding, “But we have the intention of taking the message around the country, all with the genuine motive of saving this nation from further decay.