Gambari: FG, N’Delta Elders’ Meeting Deadlocked
07.01.2008
The meeting between Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and elders of the Niger Delta over Prof. Ibrahim Gambari's appointment as chairman, Steering Committee, Niger Delta Summit, has ended in a deadlock.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), though the Niger Delta elders agreed with the idea of the summit, they rejected Gambari as its chairman.
A source said the Vice President, however, explained that the choice of Gambari was based on his experience in conflict resolution at the international level.
It also quoted the Vice-President as saying there was no need to engage a foreigner for that role, since the country was not at war. "We believe Gambari carries with him the United Nations.
"More so, the chairman is meant to moderate and not to override, and there are other skilled professionals in the Steering Committee. "This Summit will be one where Mr President and Federal Government will be part and parcel of the final resolutions," the source quoted the Vice-President as saying.
It said Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo advocated a standing secretariat of credible persons, to monitor the implementation of the summit's resolutions and expedite action on the development of the Niger Delta.
Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, according to the source, recommended a technical committee to collate and scrutinise various recommendations.
The source said Chief Edwin Clark called for an implementation committee on all the reports produced on Niger Delta development. Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, NAN gathered, advised that the committee would also synthesise all reports and prepare a programme of action.
The source said in attendance at the meeting were members of the National Assembly from the region, former Delta and Akwa Ibom governors, Chief James Ibori and Obong Victor Attah.
Others were King Alfred Diette Spiff; former Petroleum minister, Chief Don Etiebet; former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alexander Ogomudia and Sen. Aniete Okon.
Also in attendance, according to sources, were Sen. Stella Omu, Mr.Ledum Mittee of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and Madam Rita Ogbebor, among others.
Jonathan said that the proposed Niger Delta summit was not intended to draw up a new masterplan for the region , saying "The essence of the proposed Niger Delta summit is to take a major step forward from previous reports and recommendations on Niger Delta development."
The vice-president has also blamed the rising militancy in the volatile region on oil smugglers who he accused of sponsoring the activities of the militants.
Speaking yesterday at a meeting of the Honorary International Investor Council in the State House, Jonathan said the genuine agitations of the Niger Delta people have been hijacked by the criminals.
He said, "Naturally, at the beginning, people were quite friendly with the oil companies, no security was deployed to guard the oil facilities. Over the period people began to believe they were not getting enough.
