But after the meeting with President Buhari, some of the militants dissociated themselves from the PANDEF
You have to tell me that because I don’t have an idea. It cannot be true. Though there was a time the Avengers felt ‘we don’t accept this dialogue thing. We want to do it our own way.’ But when we pointed out to them, ‘Look, if the government descends on you in the manner it has descended on the Boko Haram people, you will have yourself to blame’. I think, everybody is toeing the line now. The only way to solve this matter is dialogue.
If dialogue breaks down, then everybody will see that dialogue has broken down. But at least, let us have dialogue.
The Federal Government is looking for a leader from the Niger Delta, what qualities are we looking at?
You have to ask the presidency if it’s true that they made such a statement. If he’s looking for something different from PANDEF, then he should say what else he’s looking for. But I read an explanation given by one of the media people in the Presidency that the Presidency felt disappointed that he should have met with us, the leaders. Let me use the word ‘so called leaders’. After that, the boys still went and bombed the pipelines two days after. That’s why the President is wondering whether we’re the true leaders. For me, I don’t know how to describe it, but it doesn’t make much sense to me.
Situations don’t just happen. Nothing happens overnight. You know what I mean. The people have had their grievances and have talked to us. But sincerely and one has to admit that since that incident, there have been no more bombings. So, to use that incident to discredit the leadership of PANDEF or to say that PANDEF is not a true representation of the stakeholders of the Niger Delta, to me, is wrong.
…….Details to follow
This is a teaser from an explosive interview with His Excellency, Obong Victor Bassey Attah, former governor Akwa Ibom in the interview with The New Diplomat’s AKANIMORE KUFRE, he spoke on the expectations of Nigerians, recession, insecurity and economic liberation, the desires of Niger Delta people, and Akwa Ibomites among others. The architect also revealed why the Amakpe Refinery project failed, how Marginal Oil Fields came into existence and what must be done besides 13% oil derivation. Keep a date with us
