No dialogue with N’ Delta militants – UNDEDSS

A new twist, on Monday, was brought into the purported ongoing dialogue between the Federal Government and militants in the Niger Delta region of the country, as the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) denied any such negotiations are afoot at the moment.

It could be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had, last week, through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the Federal Government was in talks with recognisable representatives of the militants through oil companies and law enforcement agencies.

This position was later confirmed by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) in a statement.

But spokesman of UNDEDSS, Mr. Tony Uranta, in a counter release on the issue, made available to Daily Times, on Monday, maintained that there was no iota of truth in the peace dialogue as claimed by the government and MEND.

The statement read in part: “We note, with dismay, the insistence by some spokesmen of the Federal Government of Nigeria that dialogue is ongoing with the ‘real militants’ of the Niger Delta. We hope the Federal Government is not being fooled by 419 scoundrels and impostors, because UNDEDSS can affirm, unequivocally, that, whilst attempts are being robustly made to open negotiation channels, no Dialogue has truly commenced between the government and armed actors like the Niger Delta Avengers.”

Then group maintained that the Presidency was fully aware of the conditionality that are sacrosanct to opening channels of discussion with it by the militants. Uranta listed the conditionality as assurance by President Buhari to the nation that the National Maritime University remains on course and that President Buhari appoint a Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs to drive the 2009 Yar ‘Adua template, which had five sub-committees headed by the Ministers of Petroleum and Works.

The group also is demanding that there should be a safe passage be guaranteed all delegates to the proposed ‘Niger Delta Peace and Prosperity Talks’, which the president would convene as soon as all parties are agreed; and, that relevant International Diplomats will be present at the said talks.

The statement continued, “Considering how critically important resolving this Niger Delta crisis is to Nigeria’s peace, security and economic stability, UNDEDSS is dismayed at the continuing treatment of the current realities as just another opportunity to grandstand and indulge in vain anti-people one-upmanship propaganda stunts!

The group therefore urged President Buhari to “save Nigeria from the ongoing and increasing sorrow, tears and blood that some politicians seem to revel in.”