The Niger Delta Youths Patriot (NDYP), a group out to ensure peace and development in the oil rich region has identified causes of continued violent activities .
At its first National convention where the Nine states that made up the region gathered in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state Capital, it expressed determination to proffer solutions to the myriad of issues resulting from oil related activities.
After a critical study of the crisis situation in the region, Comrd Archt. David Awasa, the National President , accused the multinational oil exploration Companies as behind the violence that has engulfed the region for decades.
The injustices created in the remote oil producing Communities by the oil bearing Companies has continued to ignite counter activities from the local Communities where oil is produced, he added.
"After a long period of research on the solutions to the Niger Delta problems, it was noted that majority of the problems are directly or indirectly contributed by the multinationals", said Awasa who noted that most of the problems are carried out in the remote areas around the oil producing communities by the multinational Companies.
"Technically these problems are done in the remote areas where over 75% of oil installations are located" , said the National President of NDYP .
According to him, the NDYP decided to embark on proffering solutions to the myriad of problems facing the region by embarking on empowerment programmes in conjunction with some organizations and individuals Including Defat Global Respurces, Step of Faith Instant Food, Kabod Integrated International Ltd, HIGH Chief (Capt) Uzoka Ossai( Rtd) , GonakProjects Ltd, Sini- Harp Concept (Nig) Ltd, De World Galaxy Boutique, De World Galaxy Wine, NUEL Medical Variety , PIA Medical and Variety , Johnson Digital Primting Press, 3GNetworkServicesLtd,Terriz Hotel Ltd, Amicable Bussiness Centre etc.
Describing the NDYP as a group made up of Professionals, think tanks, Technocrats, Oriented men and Women in the region, aimed at forming a strong synergy that will promote and metamorphose peace and stability in the region which has been bedeviled by violence and underdevelopment.
The entrepreneurial empowerment skills, he added, would include creating skills/ techniques in productions and entrepreneurship that will be marketable at the rural areas, Community to Community sensitization programme for youths who sees violence, kidnapping , Sea Piracy , Pipeline Vandalization, gun fire agitations, Crude oil theft and the amnesty stipends as the only way for survival and breaking the bridge of Communications between the multinationals, government representatives such as Councillors, Assembly members, Federal House of Representatives .
According to him, the NDYP has also designed a micro and macro mechanized farming project to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and will formally be presented as Project "G0-1+( Agro) , aimed to maximize food security in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large .
The project G0-1+, if adopted would go a long way in solving the myriad of problems in the oil rich Niger Delta region, added the Awasa who further expressed fears that If the project is not timely adopted and implemented to keep youths off their current agitations, youths may be encouraged to continue "increase in techniques in various channels or gun fire agitation processes"
"It is also recorded that the techniques and tools used by youths in the early 80s to 90s were not the same as the ones used recently because of current advanced technology and information exposure", he noted.
Chief Edege Peter Edege Chairman of all Chairmen, Yenagoa host of the Convention , noted that NDYP is an organization with the best structures that is well instituted to empowering the people of the oil rich region, especially the grassroots Communities where the oil is explored .
Edege who eulogized the doggedness of the NDYP especially in connecting federal government to understand the challenges of Niger Deltans advised members to see the group as an instrument that will bring development to Niger Delta people.
Others who spoke at the event included Chief (Chief ) Gregory Onah, Governor of the National Advisory Council NDYP.
"Our vision is to ensure that the industrialization and economic empowerment of the youths in the oil region is realized ", said Onah stressing "We shall succeed in our vision because the vision is not for personal goal but for the whole of Niger Delta, not just for ND YP alone".
He advised the Federal Government to appreciate and recognize efforts of the NDYP at rooting for peace in the hitherto violent region.
Also in his speech, Dr. Emmanuel Opia, a Security Expert, who represented Chairman Board of Truees, NDYP, High Chief (Capt) rtd. Godwin Ossa Uzoka, recalled that the region is engulfed by crisis since the discovery of oil in commercial quantity at Oloibiri.
Opia noted that the crisis situation in the region was caused by the inability of successive administrations in Nigeria to take along the owners of oil resources in the management of the oil revenue.
He decried that the people of the region have made lots of sacrifice for the stability of Nigeria, yet there is nothing to show for it.
"As you all know it, Niger Delta is a region that is engulfed by many resources Since the discovery of oil at Oloibiri .The enterprenuering aspect of oil activities began in 1958."
"The prospective administration of the oil resources have eluded the land mass of this region which necessitated the agitations leading to violent clashes with government"
"We have put lots of efforts in the past to ensuring that the Niger Delta problems of Neglect are corrected but in vain"
Recalling the popular saying of Marthin Luther King that one day the colour of his Children will not be discriminated as they would the streets of America. So also, one day Niger Deltans will come together to speak with one voice on how the region would be emancipated from the current neglect .
"Over the years we have failed to receive the reward of our sacrifice for Nigeria", noted Dr. Opia who however pointed out that "The future of the Niger Delta is glorious . Niger Deltans are peace loving people .... Today, Niger Delta has given birth to NDYP"
"NDYP will rewrite the history of Niger Delta ,
The multinational oil Companies have exploited us for so long
Today is heralded to the World and it's focusing on the Niger Delt"
Alluding to the recent visit of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to Warri and it's environ as part of the peace process for the region, Opia quoted him to have said "i want to have rappore with the youths of the Niger Delta."
According to him, , the Vice President says they "are tired of working with the elites of the region "nHe says he want to meet face to face with the Niger Delta patriots.soon"
"We are not forming a think for the Niger Delta, we know the problems of the region already"
"Even Vice President says the Region have noting to show despite its enormous oil revenue for Nigeria , it is the goose that lays the golden egg."
"We should rise up to the challenge by using advocacy to the Niger Delta challenge."
In his speech, Comrd Paul Uwadia Vice President , NDYP , says the group "Want to ensure that all the grassroots are empowered.".
He frowned at the situation where "All our governments of the elite have done is to develop from up to bottom approach , but we , members of the NDYP, want to start it from bottom up approach".
"It will be a peoples oriented mission so that it won't be only a government of the elite, government for the cactus by the cabal which is wrong. The grassoort Ecoonmy is the best and that is why we want to begin from the grassroots empowerment drive"
In her remarks, Easter Fafaa. Women Leader NDYP, says "We want to empower the Niger Delta youths for them to get better , to get something doing, not to carry guns.
She believes that the Niger Delta Youth Patriot is capable of meeting the obligation of empowering the youths for their future, and advised the youths to be patience and cue into the development agenda of the NDYP.
"They should be patient because we are preparing something good for them", she said.
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