•urge him to support sustenance of Presidential Amnesty Programme Leaders of the Niger Delta have commended Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for his pro-people leadership and total commitment to the welfare of the people of the area. They urged him to remain an advocate for the development of the region, saying that he should work to ensure that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is limited to the Niger Delta. They spoke through their leaders during a Courtesy Visit at the Government House Port Harcourt on Monday. Member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Smart Adoki said that : “the essence of the visit of Niger Delta leaders to Governor Wike is for him to use his position as a voice of the Niger Delta to ensure that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is handled by the people of the Niger Delta. “We are engaged in this advocacy because the programme is currently managed by persons who are not from the region. Persons who don’t know the essence of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. “ He added: “The Presidential Amnesty Programme should be given to a person who participated in the struggle. A core Niger Delta person. “We want the Federal Government to understand that the office will be properly managed by a core Niger Delta person. We are not routing for any particular ethnic group. We are advocating for the entire Niger Delta region. “This advocacy is for the benefit of the entire Niger Delta. The goal is for the benefit of the Area. “
Leader of the delegation, Elder T.K. Ogorimagba urged the Rivers State Governor to serve as the number one advocate for the development of the South-South.
He said that the Amnesty Programme is a security programme, which should be limited to only South-South .
He urged the Rivers State Governor to host the Conference of Ethnic Nationalities of the South-South to promote the development of the area.
Responding, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike urged all ethnic groups of the Niger Delta to speak with one voice, so as to develop the Niger Delta.
Governor Wike warned against actions that will weaken the prospects of development in the region. He said that Niger Delta leaders should support those in positions of authority to deliver on their mandate.
He said: “We should not restrict the fight for the Niger Delta to any particular ethnic group. “
The Governor said when people get positions, they should work for the Niger Delta region and not be used as tools against the region.
