Following the appeal made by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Niger Delta militants on Tuesday said they were ready to negotiate with him to stop the crisis in the region.
The militants made their intentions known through a statement revealing that the decision was made after a meeting held under the auspices of the Coalition of Niger Delta Groups.
The militants also said they were ready to work with the present administration.
The statement was signed by leader of the Niger Delta Watchdogs, General John Duku; General Ekpo Ekpo of the Niger Delta Volunteers, Commander Henry Okon Etete of the Niger Delta Peoples Fighters and Commander Asukwo Henshaw.
“We wish to assure Mr. President that the Niger Delta militants and the people are 100 per cent ready for dialogue. We have no personal grudge against him and his government and we promise to work together to make Nigeria better,” the agitators said.
The militants also condemned the call for resignation of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, stating that some politicians were mobilizing militants to protest for the removal of the SGF.
“We strongly condemn the recent call for the resignation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by the Senate. The call on Mr. President to remove the SGF is uncalled for, unpatriotic and not in the interest of the nation.
“The allegation levelled against Mr. Lawal is baseless, without facts and the handiwork of saboteurs, who are planning to bring down and destroy this government by all means, knowing very well that the SGF is the engine room of this government, hard working, 100 per cent loyal to the President and a threat to some self-centred politicians.
“It is on record that the SGF has resigned his position as the Managing Director of the company (his accusers talked about) as soon as he was appointed as the SGF.
“He neither presided over nor acted on behalf of the company anymore. However, a Senate committee refused to invite the SGF for public hearing because they know what they were up to and must deliver based on the directive from their paymasters,” the statement read.