Chairperson of Ijaw Mothers Union, a group at the forefront of the campaign for a better Niger Delta, Doris MacDaniels has highlighted what the people of Niger Delta would be expecting the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari to do for them to ensure that peace reigns.
“Our brother (President Jonathan) did a lot for the North regardless, if Buhari comes with such gestures of non-tribalistic rulership like Jonathan, then we may witness peace,” she told Vanguard in an interview.
“The oil producing states must not be treated with disdain like it happened in the past. There is so much awareness in these communities and it will not be business as usual, the PIB provisions on oil producing communities should be adhered to.and these communities must be treated with utmost care.”
Asked whether there was a chance ex-militants in the region would return to the creeks following the loss of election by their brother President Goodluck Jonathan, MacDaniels said it all depends on Buhari.
“I don’t think it is in their program for now but let us not rule that out. It all depends on how tactful the president handles it. If he listens to the likes of Amaechi on how to handle Niger Delta, then a lot could go wrong.”
She admitted that the people of the region were not in support of Buhari’s presidency, but now that he has won elections, no one goes against the will of God.
“We opposed Buhari obviously but now he is president-elect. I believe it is an act of God and no God-fearing person will oppose God’s verdict.”
She therefore called on Niger Deltans to support the new government.