N/DELTA GROUP DARES OKOWA: RESIGN NOW OR...

Pro Niger Delta group, the Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND) has challenged Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, to showcase boldness by placing a ban on the inimical activities of herdsmen in the state.

Specifically, the group dared Okowa and other governors in the region to, as a matter of urgency, resign from their various offices should they fail to stop all acts of cowardice and emulate their Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose who has put a stop to the challenge in his state.

This was contained a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the IPND, Dr. E. A. Harrison in reaction to the recent murder of six farmers at Abraka and Obiaruku in Ethiope East and Ukwani Local Government Areas of Delta State by suspected herdsmen.




Recall that four farmers were reportedly murdered in Abraka on Wednesday, January 4 just as two others were slain at Obiaruku on the same day.

In the statement titled "Abraka/Ubairuku Fulani Herdsmen Killings: Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and other Niger Delta Governors Should Emulate Gov Ayo Fayose And Stop Acting like Cowards", the group wondered why most governors of the region had remained silent over the incessant killing of innocent farmers by suspected marauding herdsmen, noting that the situation is both worrisome and unacceptable.

The State read thus: "The Ingineous People of  Niger Delta (IPND) has been thrown into mourning nationwide once again, with the news of the killing of our brothers and sisters in Abraka and Obiaruku in Ethiope East, and Ukwuani LGAs of Delta State of Nigeria, by the bloodthirsty tools of islamization, popularly called Fulani herdsmen.

"This is not only unacceptable but a sacrilege by a group we have shown great deal of Hospitality.  It is an attempt to stoke insurrection in us and perhaps stretch our patience beyond its elastic limit.




"Under normal circumstance, the people are the government, since power lies in their hands to decided whom they will decide to give mantle of leadership. However and sadly so we are experiencing an Era of governance, where the mouth piece of the people becomes the underground perpetrator of cowardice.

"We have wondered endlessly why the state Governor of Delta will continually keep mute on the issue of herdsmen invasion and incessant massacres/killings in the state. Where in the world, is animal life more valued than human life? 

"It only  seems that the people's life is not important to our politicians. We the Indigenous People of Niger Delta have taken this into heart as we mourn our victimized brothers and sisters whose fate have been decided by some illegitimate animals in human forms, from the northern caliphate.

Read ABRAKA FARMERS PROTEST AGAINST HERDSMEN ACTIVITIES

"We, in our mourning mode hereby call on the Governor of Delta State; Sen. Arthur I. Okowa to Stop the Cowardice and emulate Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State to ban the activities of Fulani Heldsmen henceforth; While also calling on Mr. President to arrest all of them and prosecute them immediately and or otherwise expect us to do whatever it takes to protect our land. This further buttress our declaration 7, which states that Grazing reserves is not welcomed in the Niger Delta.

"Whilst we are aware that the Grazing reserves bill has passed the second reading, it is obvious that the bill must die a natural death as it is a tool of islamization, and we do not expect anything less than a total withdrawal of support for that Bill by all Niger Delta National legislators.

"We are most perturbed because our Governors in the Niger Delta seem to have been either bought so cheap and or are afraid to stand to the protection of lives and properties of their people. We wish to state without mincing words that it is better that they resign ASAP (as soon as possible) if they cannot perform the primary purpose of Government. They have no use claiming Governors if they cannot protect lives and properties.

"We wish to reinforce the call for our Governors to emulate the erudite Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state, furthermore the Speakers and members of the States' Houses of Assembly must also emulate the Ekiti State Assembly forthwith to nip this ugly and wanton destruction of human life in the bud for posterity sake; Before oppression drives the people mad with its attendant effect.

"We hope that our Governors and States' Houses of Assembly will take us serious on this matter and do the needful without wasting time".

Meanwhile, the World Igbo Summit Group has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rearrest and prosecute the prime suspects in the murder of their kinswoman