Inyali Peter|17 July 2016|6:01AM
Amid resumed militancy in the Niger Delta region, a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and governorship candidate of the party in the 2015 general election in Cross River State, Mr. Odey Ochicha has appealed to militants to ceasefire and embrace peace and development.
In a statement issued in Calabar, Ochicha said that there were better and civilized ways of placing their demands before the government rather than engaging in all forms of criminality.
The statement which was issued in reaction to the recent threat issued by militants during a protest to the governor's office that if their demands were not met they will take up arms against government warned that they should not take laws into their hands. He pointed out “Peace is priceless; violence is senseless”.
He maintained that the militants in the region especially the Bakassi Strike Force who have reportedly taken over control of two local governments in Cross River state should consider engaging in dialogue with government instead of violence.
The APC chieftain noted that development cannot take place in a hostile environment therefore all hands should be on deck to ensure the current security situation posed by this doesn't go out of control.
According to the statement, “The resumed militancy in the Niger Delta region is a very disturbing development to every patriotic Nigerian who mean well for this country”.
“In Cross River State, the Bakassi Strike Force is currently occupying two LGAs as reported by the media. This is not healthy for a state which pride itself as the most peaceful and tourist destination in Nigeria.
“I want to appeal to the militants not to take laws into their hands. They should engage government in dialogue and not violence as development cannot thrive in a hostile environment”.
The governorship candidate tasked government to engage all stakeholders in the state across party lines to ensure normalcy is restored in our dear state.
“Security is every body's business but the government must take the lead. We need a policy direction from the government on how to tackle the current security challenges confronting the state.
“It's high time the governor stopped this his junketing from one country to another to face good governance. No investor will dare to invest in a state where kidnapping and broad day robbing have become the order of the day.
“All stakeholders involving political leaders, traditional rulers, heads of faith based organizations, heads of tertiary institutions amongst others should be engaged in combating this heinous crime.
“Where the government continue to exercise incompetence in protecting lives and properties which is the cardinal responsibility of any government at all levels, Cross Riverians may be forced to demand the immediate resignation of the governor because the State House of Assembly may not consider impeaching him as it has made itself a rubber stamp to the Executive organ”, the statement reads.
Inyali Peter
Writes from Calabar
