Avengers Name Soyinka, Orji Uzo Kalu as Negotiators

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu, a former Governor of Abia state are on a seven-man team proposed by Niger Delta Avengers to lead negotiations with the Federal Government.

The Niger Delta Avengers also listed Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, Etubom (Dr.) Anthony Ani, Nalaguo Chris Alagoa, Chief (Mrs.) Alice Mobolaji Osomo, and Mr. Inienimi Ballantyne Agiri, who has been acting as spokesman for the eastern and central Niger Delta faction of the group, Punch reports.

According to a statement signed by Agiri on Saturday, Soyinka will serve as adviser to the committee, while a number of personalities outside Nigeria’s shores had shown interest in observing the process, adding that the Archbishop of the Canterbury, Justin Weldy, a former Ghanaian President, John Kufuor and a few others, would also be consulted.

Soyinka was quoted in a recent interview as urging the Federal Government to open dialogue with the militant groups, while Kalu has expressed support for the negotiations on their quest for resource control, claiming “it’s the right thing to do”.

“Nigeria is our own and we must go on the path of peace. It is the right anything to do if they want to negotiate, I hope the president will accept that,” Kalu said.

“I will negotiate for them if the President agrees for us to negotiate for them. I cannot go without concurrent agreement with the President saying that we should negotiate.”

Meanwhile, Alagoa, confirmed his nomination for the dialogue, claiming he was not a member of the Avengers but was willing to be a member of the team if only it would bring a solution to militancy in the Niger Delta.