Dennis Udoma, Uyo
Members of the Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), an umbrella organisation of youth from the region, covering nine states of the South – South Nigeria have thrown their weights behind the call for Southern presidency in next year’s general elections.
The call was made at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the organization held at Omoku, Rivers State recently, to review situations in the region.
The issues deliberated upon include youth welfare, governance, security and the general situation in the country, especially, as it concerns the Niger Delta region.
NDYM, after deliberations on strategies and means towards enhancing the welfare of youths in the region, as well as holding governments in the region accountable with a view to ensuring good governance, declared their total support for the Southern Governors’ and Middle Belt Forum’s call for Southern presidency.
In a communique signed by the group’s president and Secretary, Comrade Amutadi Uba Tega and Comrade Ediagbonya Joshua and made available to newsmen, the group, among other things, called on security agencies and indeed the citizenry to be vigilant and proactive against proliferation of firearms in the region, as a prelude to the forth coming 2023 general elections.
The statement warned that: “for the purpose of peace in Nigeria, NDYM is in total support of Southern Governors and the Middle Belt Forum for the country’s presidency to be shifted to southern Nigeria.
“We condemn the bombing and killings of passengers on the Kaduna/Abuja train as well as the invasion of Kaduna international airport by terrorists and urge the presidency to summon the political will to stem this vicious cycle.
“While commending the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio on the seriousness he is giving to Eastwest road we urge him to extend such gesture to cover other core mandate of the Ministry.
“NDYM urge the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to partner relevant agencies within and outside Nigeria in giving assistance to Ukrainian returnees from the region.
“The new leadership of NDYM commends the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs and the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC for the synergy and tireless efforts in fostering relative peace in the Region.
“NEC commends President Mohammadu Buhari, the National Assembly and the Judiciary on the Electoral Amendment Law and for expunging section 84 (12) of the Law.
“In the light of controversies surrounding Permanent Voters Card, NDYM calls on INEC to intensify local sensitization of the youths of the region/country on electoral processes such as electronic voting”.
NDYM, while commending the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for her diligent prosecution of some returning officers in Akwa Ibom State, urged them to expend the same energy in prosecuting election rigging agents/staff in their midst and called on Nigerians to be sober and reflect on the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter season.
