By Emma Amaize

WARRI—OVER 50 leaders of ex-agitators across the Niger Delta region have declared that the period of armed demonstration in the region was gone, stressing that  violence does not attract development.

Niger-Delta

The leaders, who met under the auspices of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, Phase I, in Warri, Delta State, in a communiqué signed by the chairman and secretary, Francis Muturu and Frank Akiefa, stated: “The era of agitation through the use of arms is gone because violence does not attract development, but only causes impunity and affect development in all ramifications.”

Those who attended the meeting included Figbele Joseph, Frank Akiefa, Tebegha,  Gulbert Isobo,  Otelo,  Julius Omoyibo, who  unanimously pledged total support for the leadership of the national coordinator of the body, Francis Muturu.

They charged ex-agitators “to embrace peace to attract investors to the region in line with the developmental agenda of the current administration of General Muhammadu Buhari.”

The ex-agitators felicitated with Prof. Charles Dokubo, the new Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters on his well deserved appointment, saying that the President made the right choice.

Expressing their readiness to rally support for the Buhari government, the ex-agitators reiterated “the need for the present administration to extend more dividends of democracy to the region such as infrastructural development, modular refineries, pipe line surveillance,  including the establishment of cottage  industries which are part of the post amnesty programme to engage the youth of the region meaningfully and allow peace reign because only peace and dialogue can bring the region to the desired glory.

“This request demands urgent attention because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. We urge Mr. President to accommodate ex- agitators in his administration.”

The group, however, pleaded with Prof. Dokubo “to prioritise the plights of the people of the region and proffer urgent solutions and not to allow his selfish or any individual interest to overwhelm his positive agenda for sustainable peace and development of the region.”