AREF Mediates in Niger Delta Crisis.
Ambassador Segun Olusola, mni, OFR has expressed joy and relief, on behalf of the international humanitarian society, at the release this morning of the three oil-workers who had been held hostage by militants in the oil-rich region of the Niger Delta; whilst thanking all national and international mediators who facilitated this positive development.
In a Statement released to the Press today, the Founder/Patron of the UNHCR-affiliated African Refugees Foundation (AREF) called on all parties to the ongoing crisis in the Niger Delta to exercise the utmost restraint in the interest of national and international peace and stability, even as he referred to the recent worrying intelligence report delivered by the USA’s National Security Adviser to the US Senate, to the effect that this crisis in Nigeria could lead to a civil war, and to a historically-unprecedented massive outflow of tens of millions of refugees, that could destabilise Africa and Europe, and possibly dislocate the UN’s crisis-management mechanisms.
He empathised with the impoverished peoples of the Niger Delta, whilst calling on the youths to eschew violence and embrace dialogue to enthrone peace and progress in Nigeria. He also averred that his appeal is in furtherance of AREF’s “PROJECT C.O.M.P.A.C.T.” (Corps Of Mediators, Peace-Makers And Promoters of Culture-of-Peace Training Programme), and calls on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta and the Nigerian entity to sheathe swords, and commence immediate and sincere actualisation of the “YENAGOA ACCORD” resultant from the 10th-11th February 2006 Special Niger Delta Consultative Forum held at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“AREF believes”, according to Chief Olusola, “that speedy actualisation of the recommendations arrived at during that Special Niger Delta Consultative Forum are achievable, given the political will to so do, since the stakeholders who were parties to the YENAGOA ACCORD included very senior representatives of Nigeria’s Federal and Niger Delta States’ governments, five relevant foreign governments (including Britain and the USA), major oil multinationals (Chevron, ENI-NAOC, Shell etc.). national and global development agencies (e.g. NDDC and UNDP), Niger Delta traditional rulers, elders, women and youth activists, and other community leaders.”
The AREF chieftain continues to vigorously employ all available diplomatic and other avenues to expedite positive action (by both the governments of Nigeria, on the one hand, and the Niger Delta peoples, on the other hand) towards a holistic solution of the challenges of this volatile and vital region of Nigeria.
Tony I. Uranta
AREF Consultant (Peace & Mediation)
Tuesday, March 28, 2006.
In a Statement released to the Press today, the Founder/Patron of the UNHCR-affiliated African Refugees Foundation (AREF) called on all parties to the ongoing crisis in the Niger Delta to exercise the utmost restraint in the interest of national and international peace and stability, even as he referred to the recent worrying intelligence report delivered by the USA’s National Security Adviser to the US Senate, to the effect that this crisis in Nigeria could lead to a civil war, and to a historically-unprecedented massive outflow of tens of millions of refugees, that could destabilise Africa and Europe, and possibly dislocate the UN’s crisis-management mechanisms.
He empathised with the impoverished peoples of the Niger Delta, whilst calling on the youths to eschew violence and embrace dialogue to enthrone peace and progress in Nigeria. He also averred that his appeal is in furtherance of AREF’s “PROJECT C.O.M.P.A.C.T.” (Corps Of Mediators, Peace-Makers And Promoters of Culture-of-Peace Training Programme), and calls on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta and the Nigerian entity to sheathe swords, and commence immediate and sincere actualisation of the “YENAGOA ACCORD” resultant from the 10th-11th February 2006 Special Niger Delta Consultative Forum held at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“AREF believes”, according to Chief Olusola, “that speedy actualisation of the recommendations arrived at during that Special Niger Delta Consultative Forum are achievable, given the political will to so do, since the stakeholders who were parties to the YENAGOA ACCORD included very senior representatives of Nigeria’s Federal and Niger Delta States’ governments, five relevant foreign governments (including Britain and the USA), major oil multinationals (Chevron, ENI-NAOC, Shell etc.). national and global development agencies (e.g. NDDC and UNDP), Niger Delta traditional rulers, elders, women and youth activists, and other community leaders.”
The AREF chieftain continues to vigorously employ all available diplomatic and other avenues to expedite positive action (by both the governments of Nigeria, on the one hand, and the Niger Delta peoples, on the other hand) towards a holistic solution of the challenges of this volatile and vital region of Nigeria.
Tony I. Uranta
AREF Consultant (Peace & Mediation)
Tuesday, March 28, 2006.
posted by TIUranta at 5:46 AM
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