A group of former militants in the Niger-Delta region, under the platform of the Niger-Delta Coalition, has urged the Senate to screen and confirm the former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as minister, who they described as the “lion of Niger-Delta” “represents the change the All Progressives Congress (APC) is talking about.”
According to them, Amaechi was the reason why they publicly declared their support for President Muhammadu Buhari.
A statement issued in Abuja, on Tuesday, Young Piero and Excel Toriomo, president and secretary of the group respectively said, it is time for the Senate to recognise that Ameachi and some others did work hard for the peace enjoyed during the last general election.
“The Niger Delta Coalition does not see any reason why he (Amaechi) has not been screened by the Senate. He is a leader, a coach, an instructor, a mobiliser and a motivator who put his life, family and the lives of many that believe in the struggle to bring about the change Nigeria is talking about today.”
The former South-South fighters recalled how a faction that was loyal to the then ruling PDP threatened to kill one of them (Advocate Young Piero) “and we still went ahead to protect the Niger-Delta territory for a free and fair election.”
The statement added that: “We supported Buhari-led APC because we wanted change. The Senate should know better that a fight against Amaechi is a fight against the progressives; a delay to screen Amaechi is against the peace loving people of Niger-Delta and millions of Nigerians.
“We are using this medium to call on the leadership of the Senate not only to screen this notable personality for the benefit of Nigerians and Niger Delta, but his contributions to President Muhammadu Buhari’s success should be considered”, the statement stated.