Niger Delta youth threaten to disrupt 2019 elections if Nigeria is not restructured

A group comprising young persons from the Niger Delta says the 2019 election will not hold in the region if the country is not restructured.

In a communique issued at the end of a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, the youth also demanded 100% resource control.

The meeting was convened by Moses Siasia, former governorship candidate in Bayelsa state and founder of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum.

“We must go back to the round table and discuss the principles of equity and justice and this must take effect from the highest seat of power to the communities which will birth true federalism in a new people’s constitution,” the communique read.

“As a people united for our future, we must act now. We are resolved to look inward and beyond our ethnicity in the Niger-Delta so as to build a united region. We therefore call on all Niger-Deltans to work together in tackling the deep-rooted problems facing our people and environment, and define the future of the Niger-Delta.

“The Young Leaders also resolved to carry out proper sensitisation programmes in states across the region and promised to engaged with critical stakeholders on their desire to move the country forward on the basis of fairness, justice and equity.”

It also condemned “all forms of hate speech emanating from any part of the country”.