Ex-Militants parley in Yenagoa thwarted as Soldiers seal off Ijaw House proposed venue

A combined teal of soldiers and policemen have been drafted to the Ijaw house venue of a proposed meeting by Niger Delta Ex-Militants.

Investigations show that the security operative were deployed following orders from Governor Dickson on Friday cancelling the proposed meeting.

Civil Servants in Bayelsa Ministry Of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs and other government agencies with offices in the same building were denied access to their offices on Friday.

The Bayelsa government had announced the cancelation of the meeting convened by ex-militants leaders in Bayelsa in a statement on Friday.

The Bayelsa Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson stated that the governor has offered to meet with the former militants leaders at a later date.

“Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has called for the postponement of the proposed meeting of the leaders of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta, earlier scheduled for this Saturday, 25th of July, 2015 in Yenagoa by them.

“The statement adds that, the Governor will meet with them soon, to discuss issues as it affects the ex-agitators and others issues of overall strategic interest of the region and the nation as a whole.

“It called for the understanding and cooperation of all concerned,” Iworiso-Markson stated.

However in a reaction to Bayelsa Govrnment’s seal off of the venue the Ijaw Youths Council in a statement by its spokesman Eric Omare blamed President Muhammad Buhari for the development.

“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide condemn in the strongest terms the military invasion of Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; the administrative headquarters of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and housing the Bayelsa State Ministry of Ijaw National Affairs and Culture.

“A combined team of military and police officers in the early hours of Friday, the 24th of July, 2015 invaded and took over Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to prevent ex-Niger Delta agitators from having their proposed meeting on Saturday, the 25th of July, 2015.

“This is illegal, unconstitutional and a draw back to the dark days of military dictatorship where Nigerians were deprived of their fundamental rights.
“The IYC wishes to remind the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari that we are in a constitutional democracy where things are done according to law,” the youth group stated.

The IYC also alleged that Buhari had a plot to attack the Niger Delta region.

“The fears of many Nigerians that General Buhari would take Nigeria back to the dark days of dictatorship where there is no regard for human rights are coming to reality.
“The IYC has it in good authority that President Buhari has an agenda to bomb and destroy the Niger-Delta region especially the Ijaw areas.

“The military movement into the Niger Delta region we have been reliably informed would commenced this week.,” Omare alleged.