Managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has called on the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), to support President Bola Tinubu to enthrone peace in the Niger Delta region.

In a statement signed by the director of corporate affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, he said the NDDC boss made the appeal at a dinner and awards night to mark the silver jubilee of the Kaiama Declaration and Foundation of IYC in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He said the Ijaw ethnic nationality had recorded tremendous successes 25 years after the Kaiama Declaration, stating that it was necessary to collaborate with the government to maintain peace and stop crude oil theft so that the Nigerian economy can grow.

Ogbuku said, “Let us ensure that through the IYC, we collaborate with the government to enthrone peace in our society. When the IYC promotes peace, I believe the government will also work with them to achieve more because what the government needs is peace and where there is peace there is bound to be development. “As a people, I want us to support the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that we partner with the government in the centre to attract more development to our people in the Niger Delta region.

“We should be able to prove that we can support the federal government to stop crude oil theft so that the economy of Nigeria will be more prosperous. If we do this, there will be more reward for us as a people.” The NDDC boss said that the Niger Delta region had gone beyond the stage of arms struggle and violent agitations, noting that it was time to engage in intellectual struggle as the Nigerian society had responded positively to the agitations of the Ijaw people.

Ogbuku said, “25 years later, we all agree that the agitations were worth it. Within this period, the Ijaw nation has produced the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that is because we made the world hear our voice.”