The Network of Niger Delta Republic Fighters (NNDRF), has threatened to declare a Niger Delta Republic on June 1, 2019 following alleged injustice meted out to indigenes of the Niger Delta region including the former acting director general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Matthew Seiyefa as well as the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
In a statement on Monday, spokesman for the group, Maxwell Dan who alleged selective maltreatment of the people of the region by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration also talked about the 2018 police invasion of the Abuja home of a Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
“It is quite unfortunate that the story has not changed till today and we are standing on that declaration; we are standing on the declaration of the sovereign state of Niger Delta and we will declare Niger Delta Republic on June 1, 2019.
“It is a common fact that Nigeria has completely derailed from the path of peace, justice and progress as proclaimed by its founding fathers.
“As that could not pay off, they removed a Niger Delta son, Mr. Mathew Seiyefa, the most qualified Director of DSS without any due process. Not satisfied with his cruel and selective onslaught against the Niger Delta people, they plotted again and remove our son Justice Walter Onnoghen from office on frivolous allegations without following due process, neither was he given an opportunity of fair hearing.
“It is also unfortunate that after four years of this administration, there is no single viable project executed by the federal government in Niger Delta despite the billions of naira accrued to the government from the resources of the Niger Delta as a result of the ceasefire in the region,” said the group.
NNDRF also deplored killings in the country saying the federal government had fail to protect its citizens.
“The blood of innocent citizens is becoming alarming and it is clear that the government cannot protect the citizens, instead they continue to make unguarded statements without recourse to the safety of the people. It is a common fact the country is under siege and we cannot allow it to consume us.”