Niger Delta indigenes, on Wednesday, in Lagos, expressed dismay over the spate of killings in the northern part of the country by members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, warning the Federal Government against ignoring calls by eminent Nigerians for Sovereign National Conference (SNC).
Noting the consequence of further delay the convenance of the SNC, the indigenes, under the aegis of United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, described the conference as a solution to the civil disturbance recorded in some parts of the country.
The group in a statement signed by its general secretary, Tony Uranta, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, stated that, “enough is enough. We demand a Sovereign National Conference now.
“In a secular state like Nigeria, there cannot be putative unity by coercion from any group or part of state. Nigeria is at the brinks and can only be salvaged by a conference, where federating units will decide how they want to be governed.
“The earlier, the better. We cannot overlook the issues threatening the unity of the nation.
Nigeria belongs to Nigerians and they must sit down to decide how they can stay together.”
Condemning an alleged justification of the Boko Haram sect by some Nigerians, the group submitted that the Boko Haram was nothing but a religion-driven platform for fundamentalist pseudo-politicians and their cohorts.
It pointed out that the sect could not shun dialogue and expect the rational Nigerians to support their mass kilings, adding that the fight against Boko Haram must be seen as a collective effort by every Nigerian.
