Oil Dichotomy Law: N. Delta Youths Renounce Violence

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
February 20, 2004
Posted to the web February 20, 2004

By NDIDI OKAFOR
Abuja
FOLLOWING the signing into law of the onshore/ offshore Oil Dichotomy
Abrogation Bill by President Olusegun Obasanjo last Monday, Niger Delta youths
led by Mr. Onengiye Elekima have pledged to ensure peace in the area.
At a press conference at the Senate yesterday, the Niger Delta Youth Movement
(NDYM) commended President Obasanjo for signing the bill into law and assured
him of their resolve to ensure peace in the area.
Leader of the group, Mr. Elekima said "we are using this opportunity to assure
Mr. President that youths will not relent in their efforts to co-operate with
the federal and state governments to ensure peace, flow of investment and
development in the region."
They further promised "to eschew violence, restiveness and pipeline
vandalization" even as they enjoined governors of the littoral states to spend
funds that will accrue by virtue of the abolition, judiciously.
"We are urging our governors that the accruable revenue therefrom, should be
judiciously utilized to the sustainable growth of the region and its people,
especially in the area of youth development and empowerment," the movement
said.

   

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