Pan Ijaw Socio-cultural organisation, Ijaw National Congress (INC), on Thursday lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari over what it described as his non-commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region.

The organisation said that unlike other presidential aspirants, Buhari has no plan to restructure Nigeria, adding that he is only paying lip service to the calls by eminent Nigerians.

INC made its feelings known at the end of its meeting in Yenagoa which had in attendance eminent Ijaw sons and daughters.

The meeting, chaired by its Chairman, Steering Committee, Prof. Joseph Ajierika, stressed the need for restructuring the country for the purpose of peace, harmony, equity, fairness and justice.

APC, according to the organisation, has made very scant comments with regards to the question of restructuring throughout its campaign even when the party’s committee on restructuring led by the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El Rufai, submitted its report in September 2017 without implementation.

Additionally, the INC noted that to underscore its disregard for the Ijaws and other peoples of the Niger Delta which was recently demonstrated again when the President on Monday presided over a ceremony in Aso Presidential Villa where a $30b special development fund agreement between the FG, World Bank, African Development Bank, Afriexim Bank for 3 special development zones for the proposed country’s industrial development zone was unveiled covering Lekki in the South West, Aba in the South East and Funtua in the North to the exclusion of the Niger Delta zone from where the counterpart funds needed by Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority would be derived.

“Rather than taking a critical look at the issue, President Buhari stated during his recent visit to Bayelsa that the present Nigerian Constitution which gives Kano 44 LGAs and Bayelsa 8 LGAs was perfect since both states have three senators each,” INC said.

The ruling party, according to INC, has continued to show great insensitivity and disregards for the feelings of the Ijaw people despite enormous contribution to the socio economic growth of the country.

However, the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had in the past and throughout his campaign restated his belief and commitment to restructuring the country. His views and blueprint on the matter have also been sufficiently articulated.

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