Stakeholders suspend FNDIC executive
A group known as Ijaw stakeholders, says it has suspended the executive members of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), over some allegations.
FNDIC is an Ijaw pressure group that has been brokering peace between Ijaw, the government and oil companies as well as championing the peaceful realisation of Ijaw dreams.
The president of FNDIC, Dr Bello Oboko, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday on the telephone that the situation was under control.
The statement announcing the suspension, signed by Chief Bassey Bigha and two others, said it had appointed Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a member of the suspended executive as chief adviser to a new executive.
It accused the suspended executive of working against Ijaw interest, disrespect to Ijaw elders, selfishness, high handedness and in-fighting.
Bello, however, claimed that the group was aggrieved because of his style of leadership.
``They are not too happy that the Ijaw leaders are prevailing on them not to be violent in their agitation for their rights'' he said.
He explained that the group was opposed to the peaceful approach adopted by his execxutive to ensure that their grievances with the federal government were resolved through dialogue.
``I think the onus is on us to educate them.
The agitation does not have to be aninter-ethnic war,'' Bello said.
He said the group had resorted to restiveneess because the government had been slow in implementing the peace agreement it signed with his executive.
Bello also appealed to the government to facilitate the speedy implementation of the peace agreement, to further reassure theIjaw people of its genuine intentions andcurb further crisis in the area.