: Please sir can you introduce your Organization?
Concerned Christ Ambassadors of Niger Delta, CONCAN, is a vision given b
y God. According to the Bible in 2 Corinthians 5:17, for God has reconciled us to Himself and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, for we are the ambassadors of Christ. We are to reconcile men back to Christ. So, that is the vision of CONCAN, and our area of operation covers the Niger Delta Region. We want to turn restive youths into ambassadors of love and peace.
: The militants have guns as their weapon, what is your weapon and tactics?
Our weapon is God. I believe that with God all things are possible, and with the grace of God you can do all things. Our tactics is to bring men back to God, to re-orientate the minds of our youths, to give them another sense of direction and to tell them that with God we can acquire that justice we are looking for.
These crises did not just start from nowhere. The people involved believed that they have been unfairly treated; they are hungry, and angry that their land has been destroyed through oil exploration. What message do you have for these people who have oil but there is so much poverty in their land?
This story is not different from the story of the Israelites. I am from the Niger Delta region, specifically from Akwa Ibom State . I know that the Niger Delta people are aggrieved, but this is not different from what happened in the land of Egypt between the Egyptians and the Israelites. So, the last hope is in God. I am equally angry as a Niger Delta Person. The bible says that the desire of the righteous shall never be cut off, their expectation shall be granted. What is the expectation and desire of an average person from the Niger Delta? It is to see God's glory come down to justify and restore hope, to restore the lost glory.
What is the Spread of CONCAN?
CONCAN members are drawn from various Christian denominations, and we have branches in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa. A pastor from the Niger Delta is coordinating CONCAN in South Africa . We also have someone coordinating the organisation in Abuja . We are believing God that in due time we will get to other states like Edo, Cross River that make up the Niger Delta, to preach this idea of going back to God and looking up to God for God to restore the lost hope and glory in the Niger Delta region.
These people feel that the federal government and the oil companies operating within the Niger Delta are the ones oppressing them. How do you handle this kind of issue?
We know that insincerity over the years by our leaders has been part of the problem. I believe God that with the transition to another democratic dispensation this 2007, the new government will take into consideration the cry of the people because the beauty of any government lies on its ability to carry the citizens along.
How do you assess the level of development so far in the Niger Delta region?
I believe that the current administration has done well in certain areas.
The PDP presidential candidate, Umaru Yar'dua has Goodluck Jonathan as is running mate. Can this bring down the tempo of violence in the Niger Delta?
I may not subscribe to that; after all we have an indigene of the Niger Delta as the current Secretary the Government of the Federation. But I think PDP is showing some level of concern here to the
If you meet with President Obasanjo today, what advice would you have for him about the Niger Delta?
Just like what Moses said to Pharaoh I will tell President Obasanjo to consider the cry of the people of Niger Delta.
