Ex-militants in Niger Delta support Peter Obi for president, say he is symbol of new Nigeria

A coalition of former militants and agitators of control over the resources of the Niger Delta has endorsed Labor Party (LP) presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi and has shown support in the upcoming general election.

The group described Obi in a statement jointly signed by their leaders: Dede Udofia, Ibanga Ekang, Ekpo Ekpo and Ukpe Sampson, made available to journalists in Abuja, as the symbol of a new Nigeria.

The statement further described Peter Obi as the most qualified among the presidential candidates, judging by his good record, character, ability and age.

The agitators also said that Obi would tackle the problems of Boko Haram and banditry in the north, the indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the east, and clashes between ringleaders and peasants in the north and center and would ensure that Nigerian citizens enjoyed a safe and serene environment at all times.

They added that it was also fair and just to vote for someone from the southeastern part of the country, emphasizing that the northern, western and southern regions of the country have had their share of the presidency and the southeast behind them have left.

The statement read in full: “At the General Assembly of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators held in Port Harcourt on January 23, 2023 to discuss the current political waves, the challenges facing the nation, the antecedents of all candidates and their ideological techniques to meet the hydra stubborn challenges faced by the Nigerian state, the night meeting considers the current failed security system in all geopolitical zones of the Nigerian state, the near-collapsing economy, the infrastructural decay, the complete decay of the health care system and the massive fraud in public offices across the country.

“The Coalition has unanimously resolved as follows: that since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, the South West has produced a President in the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for eight (8) years and currently the Zone has produced a Vice President in the person of by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for eight (8) years.

“Similarly, the North has produced two presidents, Alhaji Musa YarAdua, two (2) years respectively and General Muhammadu Buhari, eight (8) years. The South-South Geopolitical Zone also has a President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan spawned.

“It will therefore be a grave injustice, marginalisation, oppression and depravity to deny the South East the chance to produce the next President of Nigeria. It therefore makes no sense that zones that have produced Nigerian presidents should still seek such a mandate even when such candidates lack the strength and ability to perform such functions.

“That all the candidates presented by political parties for the upcoming presidential election are eminently qualified, but the only person of good record, character, ability, young, energetic with deep knowledge of the challenges faced by the citizens is Mr. Peter Obi.

“He is a symbol of a new Nigeria and we believe that giving him the presidential election will be of great benefit to Nigerians as Nigeria will be returned to the path of infrastructural development, growth and prosperity.

“Current security challenges in the country will be holistically addressed by Mr. Peter Obi, particularly Boko Haram and Bandits in the north; IPOB, ESN and unknown shooters in the Southeast and herders in the Middle Belt, South West, South East and South South zones to ensure that Nigerian citizens enjoy a safe and serene environment at all times.

“It is therefore not in the interests of our homeland and the future generation to vote a president of Nigeria on the basis of ethnic or religious sentiments as it would be disastrous for the country given the current economic woes faced by its citizens faced.

“We call on all residents of the Niger Delta, especially the ex-agitators, current serving agitators and all residents of the Niger Delta to vote massively for Peter Obi as we trust him to ensure the full implementation of the master plan for the Niger Delta, job creation through industrialization, proper funding of the NDDC and the Presidential Amnesty Office, full implementation of the third phase Presidential Amnesty Program and implementation of the reintegration phase of the Presidential Amnesty Program for the beneficiaries whose current government is not sincere in its actual implementation.

“We want to state that the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators is already working and ready to mobilize all Niger Delta agitators, ex-agitators, youth and women in all coastal, riverine and hinterland communities in the Niger Delta states to vote en masse. for Peter Obi and ensure his victory at the polls as the man who ensures a better Niger Delta and Nigeria is delivered to the Nigerian citizens.

“A vote for Peter Obi is a vote for competence, better Nigeria, stability, peace, infrastructural development, education/technological progress, safety/security, better and stabilized economy.”