Is the  Federal Government  really interested in sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta region? Let it then  look beyond the shenanigans and nuisance value of faceless groups like Niger Delta Avengers. Worse still, it will be like  digging a new hole to cover an old one if the government goes ahead to negotiate with the likes of Chief Edwin Clark on whatever basis, argues Prince Michael Newgent Ekamon, National President of Supreme Niger Delta Youth Council Worldwide, SNDYCW.

The so-called Niger Delta Avengers should be regarded as economic criminals and prosecuted  says Ekamon while speaking with journalists in Abuja.

"We cannot continue doing things in the same old ways and expect changes.

"Let us also remind the  FG that the  Minister of Transport, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi who is in President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet   rejected the-cash-for-gun settlement policy of the late President Musa Yar'Adua about six years ago.

"What he had predicted then is now happening. From the North-East, the Boko Haram insurgent after devastating the Nation for so long are now seeking amnesty and settlement. Now they Niger Delta Avengers are coming with their own agenda.

"Who are the Niger Delta Avengers? What are they fighting for? Do they represent their belly or the entire people of Niger Delta region? These are pertinent questions the Federal Government, FG must resolve before   seeking to dialogue with these people

"The presence of Chief Edwin Clark claiming to be chief negotiator for this faceless group is equally exasperating and offensive to the sensibilities of all right thinking Niger Deltans. We members of SNDYCW reject him intoto" 

"If President Buhari wants to do right for all Nigerians for once, then he must not discuss with Clark. 

"We, Niger Delta youths cannot sit by and watch our common wealth being frittered away to serve the interest  of a few. Clark should rather be telling us what he and our so-called other leaders had been doing with  FG interventions in the Niger Delta so fa" Ekamon maintained

"FG must make up its mind whether it wants sustainable peace and development like we do  or to dialogue  with 
criminals whenever the need arises.

"Our position for now is that the Niger Delta Avengers do not represent us the youths and people of  Niger Delta,  we do not know they cause they fighting or who they represent" Ekamon averred.

Ekamon who equally dismissed the alleged choice of Prof. Wole Soyinka And former governor of Abia Chief Orji Uzor Kalu as negotiators for the Niger Delta Avengers.

"We respect the fact that Prof Soyinka is a literary figure and international personality, but we are not aware of  his empathy or passion for the affairs  the Niger Delta region. As for Chief Kalu, the man is an interloper and 
an inconsistent politician, we dont see how these two gentlemen can adequately represent us. They dont have us in mind,  they have never been interested in us, so how can they understand  our pains and grievances.  Selecting these two to represent them makes the motives of the Niger Delta Avengers suspicious" Ekamon added.

WAY FORWARD
Ekamon explained that dialogue rather than show of force or daring the FG remains the way forward.

"The SNDYCW has conceptualised the 'First Niger Delta Youths Peace, Unity, Security, Reconcilliation and Empowerment  Conference - Edo 2016.'

"The theme of the conference includes: Eradication of Youths restiveness inn the Nine Niger Delta oil producing States Economic empowerment as mechanism for sustainable and rapid development of the region, amongst others.

"Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has graciously accepted to be the chief host for the conference which holds from September 28-30, 2016, from 10 am each day.

"Governors from the other 8 states are equally co-chief hosts

"Chief facilitators for this conference includes: Hon. Usani Uguru, Minister of Niger Delta; Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of  State, Petroleum Resources and Brig-Gen Paul Boro, Special Adviser, Amnesty.

"We expect, President Buhari will grace the confab as Chief Guest of Honour, we are expecting international guests,  international observers and other stakerholders. Other details will be announced as soon as perfected, he declared