Don’t turn Niger Delta into a battle-field, Obi warns

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi has cautioned political actors against instigating crisis in some parts of Nigeria for their own selfish political gains.

He particularly expressed worry over the impending crises in the Niger Delta region, warning against turning the area into a battleground.

Fielding questions from journalists at Asaba airport on Wednesday, Obi decried the region’s several years of neglect, insisting that it deserved universal respect due to its critical role in the production of wealth of the nation.

“Those in government should be seeking ways of improving the living conditions of the people whose means of livelihood have been destroyed by oil exploration and exploitation activities, and not trying to turn the area into a battle-ground,” he said.

He warned that the country already had a number of States in crisis, which has proved extremely difficult for security agents to contain.

“The nation may get to breaking point if more states are drawn into mindless crises instigated by some political actors at the helm of the nation’s affairs,” he added.

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Recalling the pacifist approach of the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to the zone as its golden period, Obi advised political actors to toe that line towards securing the nation’s wealth and boost the welfare of the people of the area.

The former governor of Anambra State commended the governors of Niger Delta zone for remaining faithful to the delivery of democracy dividends to their people.

He continued, “I travel all over the country and I can tell you that Governors of that zone are among the best-performing in the country and all deserve a second term to continue their good work.

“It is known that APC-governed State has recorded the kind of progress their Niger Delta counterparts have achieved.

“Take a trip to Awka Ibom and see what Governor Emmanuel Udom is doing. The same goes for Governors Nyesom Wike in Rivers; Seriaki Dickson in Bayelsa; Ifeanyi Okowa in Delta State and Ben Ayade in Cross River.

“I use the Asaba Airport often and when I interact with the people, they declare that ‘Governor Okowa dey work and we dey see am’.

“It is also amazing that those Governors are delivering democracy dividends despite the distractions instigated by some actors in the APC.”

On the APC’s boast to “take over” Niger Delta States, particularly Delta and Akwa Ibom, Obi cautioned the party to pursue her dream through securing lawful votes, which he believed was unattainable.

“The APC should not adopt the abracadabra style they performed during the Presidential and National Assembly elections,” he stressed.