Group accuses Obasanjo of neglecting Niger Delta

THE Ijaw National Congress has accused the federal government of neglecting problems of the Niger Delta since the crisis spurred by the introduction of the Sharia legal system by some northern states, ‘The Guardian’ reported.

The secretary-general of the congress, Joseph Evah, said on Thursday in Lagos that in light of this neglect, the call by governors of the southeastern states for confederation was timely.

“If that is the only option that will allow us to control our resources which God has given to us, we support the call of the southeast for confederation. The present situation is not good enough,” he said.

The northern governors clamouring for Sharia had been treated gently by the government which, on the other hand, was repressing other ethnic groups’ call for socio-political reforms.