Former leaders of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) have expressed their grievances over the delay in the Ogoni cleanup project and abandonment of the East-West road reconstruction

The ex-militant leaders appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure an increase in the funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to secure lives, sustain security and increase capacity of youths in the region.

The ex-militant leaders under the auspices of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), also urged Buhari to compel the oil multinationals to employ youths from the region.

The National President of the LPCDI, Pastor Reuben Wilson popularly called 'General' Pastor commended Buhari for his developmental strides in the region and for appointing more people from the Niger Delta into his cabinet.

Reuben recalled that the region became peaceful following th decision of notable ex-militant leaders such as High Chief Government Ekpwemupolo known as Tompolo, King Ateke Tom and Dr. Ebikabowei Victor Ben popularly called Boyloaf to sheathe their swords.

He said there was a need for the ex-militant leaders to meet with Buhari to deliberate on gray areas to sustain the existing peace in the region.

Wilson specifically called on Buhari to ensure the completion of the East-West road ,lamenting that the gateway road had become a death trap.

Rising from their meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State where they took a decision to write Buhari, Willson said: 'The leaders made a plea to the president to help and complete the East-West road which has become a death trap, causing several losses of lives and damage to vehicles.

'They asked the president to look into the Ogoni clean-up to ensure the project is successfully completed.

'Also,the group pleaded with the president to compel oil companies working in the region to engage the youths in the areas of their operations to avoid restiveness instead of importing workers from outside and thus sidelining the competent youths of the region who have the requisite skills to be employed. They assured that this will bring pipeline vandalism to an end'.

Also speaking, the Rivers State Coordinator of the group, Groundville Ideye suggested that the Amnesty Office needed increased funding to enable leaders and other beneficiaries to attend leadership trainings abroad.

The ex-militant leaders warned that the clashes of interests involving appointees of the President from the Niger Delta region was causing a setback in the development of the region.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan