GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA: FOR WHO THE BELL TOLLS NEXT.

Just five people shy of Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting incident that claimed 26 lives, the Uvalde Texas Robb elementary school mass shooting at 21 victims, now ranks among the highest grossing gun carnage in America. It is sad that such frequent blood spilling has tragically become part of our culture as a society. May the souls of the killed now rest.

25th AMENDMENT: ITS NOW ALL CRICKET.

Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi once questioned former President Donald John Trump's fitness to remain in office due to what she claimed was his declining mental capacity. Does anyone know what Madam Speaker presently thinks about the incontrovertible case which America is now saddled with? Just curious!

WHO WILL REBUILD UKRAINE?

The West should convert frozen Russian assets, both state's and oligarchs' owned, into a full seizure and set them aside for the future rebuilding of Ukraine. Like the Marshal Plan, call it the Putin Plan.

A HERO IS BORN.

I am staying put. I will not run away and abandon my people. The fight is here in Ukraine. What I need are weapons and ammunitions, not a ride out of town like former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani - President Volodymyr Zelensky.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

"There is too much hate in America because there is too much anger in America." - Trevor Noah.

WORD!

A life without challenges is not a life lived at all. A life lived is a life that has problems, confronts problems, solves problems and then learns from problems. - Tunde Fashola.

NOW, YOU KNOW.

When fishing for love, bait with your heart and not your brain, because you cannot rationalize love. - Mark Twain.

JUST THE FACT.

In our country, you can shoot and kill a nigger, but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings - Dave Chappelle

DO YOU?.

“What you believe in can only be defined by what you’re willing to risk for it." - Stuart Scheller.

HEDGE YOUR CRISIS.

Never get in bed with a woman whose problems are worse than yours. - Chicago PD.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

'The best way to keep peace is to be ready to destroy evil. If you Pearl Harbor me, I Nagasaki you.' - Ted Nugent.

OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

Empathy is at the heart of who we are as human beings. - Cardinal Matthew Kukah.

WORDS ON MARBLE.

"Birth is agony. Life is hard. Death is cruel." - Japanese pithy.

REPENT OR PERISH - POPE.

Homosexuality is a sin. It is not ordained by God, therefore same sex marriage cannot be blessed by the church - Pope Francis.

CANCEL CULTURE IS CORROSIVE.


FOR SAKE OF COUNTRY.


MAGA LIVES ON: NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER!

TWITTER IS BORING WITHOUT HIS TWEETS. #RestorePresidentTrump'sTwitterHandle.


WORD.

"If you cannot speak the truth when it matters, then nothing else you says matters.” - Tucker Carlson.

#MeToo MOVEMENT: A BAD NEWS GONE CRAZY.

"To all the women who testified, we may have different truth, but I have a great remorse for all of you. I have great remorse for all of the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country. You know, the movement started basically with me, and I think what happened, you know, I was the first example, and now there are thousands of men who are being accused and a regeneration of things that I think none of us understood. I’m not going to say these aren’t great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I’m just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue. We are going through this #MeToo movement crisis right now in this country." - Harvey Weinstein.


RON DELLUMS: UNAPOLOGETICALLY RADICAL.

"If it’s radical to oppose the insanity and cruelty of the Vietnam War, if it’s radical to oppose racism and sexism and all other forms of oppression, if it’s radical to want to alleviate poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, and other forms of human misery, then I’m proud to be called a radical.” - Ron Vernie Dellums.


WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE - STEVE JOBS

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me. God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth. Memories precipitated by love is the only true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on. The most expensive bed in the world is the sick bed. You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear sickness for you. Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life. Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat yourself well. Cherish others.” - SJ

EVIL CANNOT BE TRULY DESTROYED.

"The threat of evil is ever present. We can contain it as long as we stay vigilant, but it can never truly be destroyed. - Lorraine Warren (Annabelle, the movie)


ONLY THE POOR WISH THEY HAD STUFF?

“I’m not that interested in material things. As long as I find a good bed that I can sleep in, that’s enough.” - Nicolas Berggruem, the homeless billionaire.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

SOUTH-SOUTH, SO SLAVISH TO THE NORTH?

The Northern Union recently met with Niger Delta's South-South over the future of the current restiveness in the area. Before delving into the meat of this meeting, Icheoku wants to caution the leaders and elders of the South-South, to please not compromise the brave efforts of the youths of the Niger Delta; some of whom have already paid dearly with their lives. Their supreme sacrifice should not be be in vain or trivialized by such a meeting with an insincere North? It is because of their patriotic efforts and sacrifices, that the Northern Union ever contemplated meeting with you, their "subjugated" South-South, in the first place?
Now, in order to attempt an understanding of the intent, purpose and trajectory of the meeting, the following questions ought to be first asked and answered:- (1) Were the Northern Union at the said meeting as equal partners of the South-South or was it a case of a "subjugated" South-South being "told" what their "masters" from the Northern Union desires? (2) Did the Northern Union start the meeting by first apologising for their killing of South-South states-men, Ken Saro-Wiwa and Isaac Adaka Boro or was it with their business as usual "who are you to query our actions" mentality of the North? (3) What about the continuous detention and secret-trial of the freedom-loving Henry Okah and the incessant harassment being meted out to the other man of the people, freedom-fighter Dokubo Asari? (4) What was the real agenda of the meeting or was it simply a ploy to further isolate the South-South from their big-brothers in the South East in order to further weaken their resistance and completely emasculate them? (5) Whose initiative was the meeting anyway? If the Northern Union's, is it a sign that they are beginning to feel the heat of the Niger Delta activism and if the South-South's, was it simply an evidence of their complete capitulation, laying supine?
Where was the olive branch from the Northern Union when their thugs in army uniform were raiding the palace of a royal father in the South-South, to arrest a youth-leader who had gone to the palace in honour of an invitation for a peace-meeting? And this was concurrent to the same time the supposed "peace" meeting was going on? Icheoku knows for a fact that the palaces of the Emirs and the Sultan in the North are totally off-limit for any intruder/s. Icheoku is also aware that any intruder who breaches the "do not enter" Islamic order of "Ba Shiga" always faces a certain death in the hands of such husbands who keep and maintain those harems behind those walled-off enclosures! So why should the Northern Union's army badge into the palace of a South-South King and drag out a person who dutifully answered their King's call for a peace meeting? Or is there no reciprocity of respect between Northern Union Kings or Emirs and their South-South counterparts? Yet the meeting was between "friends" and peace-seeking?
This hobnobbing does not bode well for Nigeria, especially the Southerners and must be resisted or sabotaged forthwith! It appears that the North is cleverly manipulating the South-South into an island of weakness by effectively deploying their divide and conquer strategy masked as a "peace" meeting to completely isolate the zone from the rest of the south? Eventually, when the south is so balkanized into three weakened, isolated groups of South-this, South-that, then each of them will become a vulnerable prey for the ravenous North to devour at their pleasure. Also the Northern Union is not Arewa Consultative Forum (AFC) and could not be said to be speaking for the entire North? This is yet another example of the "use you dump you, Northern-syndrome" with which the North have been mistreating the entire Southern Nigeria, as well as the other minorities of Southern Kaduna, Benue and Plateau regions of Nigeria, ever since independence in 1960.
The only thing deductible from the meeting is that the Niger Delta agitation is working, otherwise these mallams will not bother to sit in a meeting with the people of the South-South, whom they hold in contemptible servitude? Admitted Icheoku would rather the Niger Delta activism is better organised and more target-driven, since they cannot match toe to toe, in a shoot-out war with the killing-machine which is the Nigerian armed forces. As always, in a guerrilla warfare, there is usually no theater or drawn battle-lines, the entire estate of contention or country-wide is a fair operating ground! Freedom-fighters operate ghostly and with stealth, in a hit and run schematic-fashion. They assume the position of the under-dogs and the essence of an underdog in a fight is usually not to win outright, but to wear the oppressor out! So for the South-South to declare victory, the Northern Union's enforcement apparatus must be worn out or bogged down in an impasse; which in turn will force a meaningful dialogue, during which time, the bone of contention can be settled in a peace conference brokered by an impartial third party. This is the way and the only meaningful way; no other way makes sense as trying a direct confrontational approach will be suicidal, too calamitous and consequential to the peoples of the South-South.
According to report reaching Icheoku, the South-South presented a ten-point prayer request, soliciting the understanding and support of the Northern states, regarding some pertinent issues affecting them. Icheoku asks, why should the South-South condescend so low to beg the Northern Union for what is rightfully theirs? The land of the South-South and all that is on it and underneath it belongs to the people who own the land. The people of South-South do not need the permission of the Northern Union to harness what is theirs! All they need to do is to stand firm and be supportive of the effort of the Niger Delta youths to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
The North will not voluntarily let go the goose that lays the golden eggs, which the bowels of the South-South has become. So the only viable, meaningful and feasible alternative "sea route to India" is for the South-South to rise up and take back their possession! All it demands is a today's sacrifice so that the future of their children and children's children shall be finally and fully secured in a settled-Nigeria or a Republic of Niger Delta, which ever comes first? The hallowing poverty of today's South-South must and should be forever forsworn! Northern Ireland did it! Tamil Tigers are on course! Kuwait was formerly part of Iraq! Palestine could be heard today, despite being faced-down by one of the mightiest army on the face of the earth; and digging 20 feet deep-below the ground tunnels through hard desert soil for thorough-fare? So why not Nigeria's South-South with their open access to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and also an international airport? The South-South should just show some seriousness of purpose and the world will take sides! Their God-given oil resources can always serve as collateral?
To Chief Edwin K. Clark, Icheoku says, the Northern Union is not your friend! They are just using the aegis of the meeting to put a lid on the Niger Delta agitation and by extension, maintain their stranglehold on your oil! Please quit whining or complaining, rather reclaim your oil and with it you can solve all the enumerated problems. With a direct fund South-South can tackle all collateral damage from oil exploration activities including oil-spills, oil-pollution, environmental-degradation, gas-flaring and other concomitant problems militating against your region. Icheoku queries, how can the pangs of poverty be severest in your area when it provides all the money that Nigeria spends to build and transform the arid North? Have you been to Abuja lately? The life-blood of Nigeria, oil, is located in the deep bowels of your earth, yet your people have been debased into the pan-handling Nigerians, now begging the North for some hand-outs? This is abhorable and shameful indeed! You deserve better and must earn the respect of the North, convincingly, in order to make a headway; as without respect, no Northerner will ever take you seriously! It is only through a proven-conviction, that any man begins to respect a fellow man! So know ye, South-South, that you cannot beg yourself to relevance in the Northern Union controlled Nigeria! If you desire something so bad, fight like you mean it! In fact, you do not need to beg for positions for your sons and daughters in your oil-backed ministries or parastatal; just take back your oil and your problems are solved! You can then do with it whatever you please including indigenizing NNPC, NLNG, PTDF, PPMC and what have you! But to go cap-in-hand to the Northern Union for their understanding, is simply outrageous and a sign of weakness on your part; which the very crafty Northern Union is all too aware of and so will never take you guys seriously.

Icheoku, while concurring with an aspect of Olusola Saraki's remark that the Nigerian people want peace, wish to add, with the exception of the North who by their wanton actions and comments have arrogated to themselves the right to every position that is golden and juicy in Nigeria! Such selfishness and arrogance of the North is what breeds the resentment being expressed by the entire South. The Northern Union is afraid of an imminent major conflict in Nigeria and hurriedly convened the meeting to sooth frayed nerves and douse the raging fire of disgust. Paradoxically, the Northern Union suddenly realised their several decades-long discrimination against the people of South-South and is now holding a meeting of peace? Icheoku says, all the subterfuge notwithstanding, the meeting is but a sign that the North is beginning to feel the heat of the Niger Delta activism! Otherwise, why wait all these years since Nigeria's independence in 1960, to suddenly realise the need for peace and call for a meeting; after-all the South-South have been under Northern bondage ever since? Icheoku says, the North is not sincere in their stated objective, otherwise they would have made it a wider, more encompassing meeting, which should have involved the entire Southern Nigeria. Why would the North be organising a so-called "peace-meeting" in Nigeria and limit it to the North and the South-South while excluding other Southern nationalities of Igbo and Yoruba from it? Icheoku says, the real intent of the meeting was to find a way to corner the South-South for an easier finish-off; and regrettably, the South-South is so naive to think they have suddenly become very important in the eyes of the North! Why did the South-South not ask the Northern Union the pertinent question of why they came to the meeting with representative drawn across the entire Northern Nigeria whereas the South-South was restricted to only their tiny self? This single omission by the South-South exposes their naivete in political grandstanding!
Icheoku identifies strongly with the position of Asari-Dokubo, that the issue of resources-control cannot be resolved through an ordinary meeting of "friends"? Such an issue is so fundamental and foundational to the success or failure of the Nigerian-experiment that only a Sovereign National Conference can conclusively resolve it! The leaders and elders of the South-South are called upon not to jeopardize the regional freedom-struggle by cavorting with the enemy, as the end to their suffering is very near! They need to become more resolute and push a little harder; as always the hour closest to dawn is usually the darkest! The last miles of a marathon is also usually the toughest, so why give up now? To the people of the South-South, Icheoku says, you shall overcome! At least the North should have shown some good intentions and made a good-will gesture towards the South-South by appointing an area person either the Minister of petroleum resources or the Managing Director of the petroleum corporation, NNPC? But no way, as only two Northern-mallams are good enough for both Nigeria's topmost gold-mines? Yet they are holding a meeting of "friends" to find solution to the "oil-crisis" in the South-South?
Former Senator Francis Okpozo of the South-South succinctly expressed the sentiment of these "friends" when he said that "the action of President Umaru Yar’Adua in appointing another northerner, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo as NNPC group managing director after his appointment of Alhaji Rilwan Lukman as oil minister may trigger another conflagration in the Niger Delta". Icheoku says, we are in solidarity with this warning! To John Odeige Oyegun, Icheoku says, no amount of meeting and deliberation will ever persuade the North to be reasonable and do right for and by the South-South; the only language such hydra-headed people as the North understands, is reciprocity in kind! The North has always been very insensitive to the feelings of the entire Southern Nigeria, including their newly discovered bride of comfort - the South-South; and so, ride the donkey they shall until forcibly stopped. When in doubt, take a look at the last ministerial appointments made by President Umaru Yar'Adua and see the lopsidedness of it in favour of the North, likewise so many other of his filled federal positions? Also suing the Federal government for redress should not be an option as such will not resolve the matter because the North has commandeered and now controls the judiciary too! Both the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the court of Appeal are from the North. The only real and meaningful option for the South-South is to galvanize the entire splintered Niger Delta agitations-groups into one coalesced, formidable, robust entity. Then re-constitute the struggle into a military wing and a political wing with identifiable leaders and a common purpose; so collectively they can push forcefully on two fronts for their desired goal of resource-control and/or a fair distribution of oil-income, in lieu. They must also avoid the kidnapping of their own fellow South-South people as this festers division and animosity amongst the people - remember, a house divided is bound to fall!
The Northern agenda as always, remains one indivisible north that appropriates what belongs to all Nigerians for themselves only! They preserve and maintain their Northern Oligarchs at the back of every other Nigerian, reserving every "juicy" positions in Nigeria for themselves while those who naturally "owns" the resources are subjugated into ordinary surrogates, destitute and beggars? Icheoku says, to the people of the South-South, desist from such meetings with the Northern Union since you cannot genuflect your way into power with the Northern Union! You should be man enough to say enough is enough and rise up and take back your God's given possession. As you may know, power does not easily yield or concede; it has to be yanked away! Power can only be taken from its' custodian/s, peacefully in a reasonable environment and otherwise, where stubborn people are the clingers! Icheoku concludes that the meeting between the South-SOuth and the Northern Union was a mistake and should not have taken place; and must be discontinued. The South-South should rather explore how to coalesce the splintered Niger Delta activism into an army of one force to make their agitation more punchy!

4 comments:

  1. Appraising Northern Union’s romance with Niger Delta
    By Olamilekan Lartey
    Published: Sunday, 25 Jan 2009
    It was meant to be a parley for the collective good of a long suffering people, but even before the first inspired speech, the meeting of the South-South Elders Forum and the Northern Union on how to end the deprivation of the Niger Delta had been mirred in controversy and suspicion from within the Niger Delta.

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    Photo file
    Vice President Jonathan Goodlu



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    Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki

    The aim of the gathering in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, could however not be denied. The participants were men fired by the quest for the development of the zone that has produced the economic mainstay of the nation, yet has nothing to show for it.

    The Niger Delta question was the root of the meeting on January 8, 2009. The gathering, so early in the year was instructive for two reasons: it was a follow up to an earlier one that shaped the future of the nation and the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South as the vice president; secondly, the strategic role of Bayelsa State in the political equation is increasing by the day.

    With a large chunk of the nation‘s oil resources in the state, and Dr. Jonathan, as well as the unpredictable domestic politics that has seen the isolation of the governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, from the alleged mainstream of Peoples Democratic Party politics in the state, the venue of the meeting of the Northern Union and the South-South Elders Forum was highly instructive.

    Vanguard of the agitation for the development of the Niger Delta and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had left his Gbaramutu country home for the parley that was expected to change the tactics for the agitation and development of the oil producing zone, despite the hope and promise that democracy had brought the people of the Niger Delta.

    The South-South leaders at the meeting included former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun; former Transport Minister, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche; and former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Bolare Ketebu-Nwokeafor.

    The emergence of Jonathan as the vice-president had given the zone a sense of great expectations. But almost two years into the Umaru Yar’Adua administration, nothing has changed. Rather, indications are that the region would remain the way it had been during the eight-year reign of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Clark says the Niger Delta is asking for a payback for the role it played in the alliance that saw Yar’Adua in the corridors of power. To him, if urgent steps are not taken to raise awareness about that alliance, the patriotic sacrifice of the region would appear to have been used and dumped.

    It is this awareness that made the South-South leaders reach out to some other progressives in the North to pursue the project for the development of the oil rich zone, now that the opportunity presented itself under the Yar’Adua administration.

    It would be recalled that at a meeting of the elders from both regions in Warri, Delta State in 2007, both sides indicated interest in the office of the president. But it was agreed that the North should produce the president, while the vice president should come from the South-South.

    Although the meeting praised the Yar’Adua administration for its commitment to the development of the nation, through the seven-point agenda.

    Clark who spoke with passion as the leader of the South-South Elders Forum, said the zone required the assistance of their brothers across the Niger, particularly the Northen Union.

    Dr. Olusola Saraki, who led the Northern Union delegation to the parley tagged the first Joint Summit, said they had visited the Niger Delta because it was a response to the call from friends.

    ”We have come here as true friends of the good people of the Niger Delta and friends in time of your need, as you were to us in time of our need when we were looking for support for power shift from the South to the North,” he said.

    Clark said that assistance was needed now more than ever. ”The promise is that the Niger Delta matter must be fixed during the life of this administration. There would be genuine and sustainable development. The gangs of poverty are severest in this zone of the country where the black gold that keeps the nation alive is located.”

    He noted that it had been the expectation of the oil rich zone that adequate compensation be paid to those who are suffering the worst damage from oil exploration activities such as spills, pollution, environmental degradation, gas flaring and others. The South-South leaders said the promise had been that in the post Obasanjo years, the aggrieved youths would be rehabilitated, educated and gainfully employed.

    They further appealed to the Northern Union to consider the zone as a vital stakeholder in the administration and for a united front to achieve the worthy aims it had outlined for the nation.

    Specifically, the South-South leaders pointed out the continued marginalisation and the militarization of the region by the present administration in which it is expected to be a major partner.

    ”In the current situation of things, it is lamentable that the South-South zone is marginalised in the affairs and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Petroleum Trust Development Fund, Pipelines and Product Marketing Company and other allied industries wholly derived from the resources of the zone,” Clark said.

    He noted that the vital Ministry of Petroleum was not headed by someone from the core Niger Delta. Clark said, ”Our son who has been reporting directly to the president has now been downgraded to the rank of a junior minister who will now be reporting to another minister. Yes, a Niger Delta Ministry has been created, but who has been brought to head it?”

    The South-South leaders said it doubted if the leadership of the ministry had the sufficient knowledge to empathise with the suffering of the people of the region to know what to do. The low budget of the ministry and the inadequate funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission were also areas of great concern to the leaders of thought.

    ”We are sadly being led to believe that the political will to develop the Niger Delta and to correct the accumulated injustice and wrongs is still not manifest,” Clark stressed.

    They also informed their Northern Union counterparts that the continued deployment of troops of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta had become an irritant to the livelihood of people in the zone. It was their view that the JTF had outlived its usefulness and overstayed its welcome in the zone.

    ”A situation where the JTF is perceived as an army of occupation that usurps the responsibilities and functions of the police and mounts roadblocks to harass and intimidate law abiding citizens is intolerable and unacceptable. A situation where members of the JTF deprive the local population of petty occupation and contracts that they normally depend on for survival is both unhealthy, and conducive to public anger and unrest,” Clark said A royal father who was not at the meeting put the militarisation of the South-South even more succinctly. The Pere of Seimbiri Kingdom in Delta State, and the first elected National Chairman of the Association of Traditional Rulers of the Nine Oil and Gas Producing States of Nigeria , Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, said the prevailing situation would continue to put the Niger Delta on the precipice.

    He said, ”They are using the JTF to kill fellow Nigerians who are asking for their rights. Ken Saro Wiwa followed the same way. Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro preceded him. He wondered why the FG had not released the withheld funds of the NDDC, yet the same government was talking of peace and development in the Niger Delta.

    Dr Saraki who led the delegation comprising the former Governor of Nassarawa State, Alhaji Shaaba Lafiaji, Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, Sir.Patrick Adaba, Alhaji Idris Koko and Kabiru Taminu Turaki, said the union was concerned about the state of affairs in the Niger Delta because they had been long standing allies.

    Saraki said the visit was a response to the call from friends and elders not to stand by, and let the situation deteriorate or get out of control of the government or the people. He added that it was the responsibility of all the leaders from the different parts of the country to work together for the peace and unity of the nation.

    Saraki added that it was unfortunate that the country had been engulfed in conflicts that were linked to ethnic and religious differences.

    ”We are here to join you in your effort to find lasting solution to the recurring crisis of youth restiveness, environmental degradation and lack of development which has engulfed the South-South and is threatening the socio-economic security and tourism activities of our great nation.”

    Saraki stressed that the North had never abandoned the South-South or the spirit of the alliance that produced the government of the day.

    ”While a lot of people might have misconstrued the position of the North through the seeming strident criticism of the recurring restiveness and other events in the Niger Delta, we in the Northern Union have shown an unqualified understanding and consistently maintained the healthy relationship between the North and the South-South by being cautious in our pronouncements,” he said.

    He said if both regions allowed the situation in the Niger Delta to get out of control and the government at the centre fails, ”we cannot absolve ourselves of blame.”

    The Northern Union leaders said the past sacrifices of the two zones to keep the country together as one nation should never be in vain.

    ”As respected elders of the region and Nigeria , we have come to plead with you to talk to your restive youths so that the government can be given the enabling environment to address effectively the problems of the all important region of the Niger Delta,” Saraki noted.

    The elders have identified the problems that had plagued the Niger Delta with candour, but the youths who form a major pillar of the region are yet to speak.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Enough of this deceit by Niger Delta leaders – Annkio Briggs
    By DANIEL ALABRAH
    Sunday, February 01, 2009



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    For over a decade, she has consistently stood to be counted among crusaders for a better Niger Delta. The half-caste Kalabari-born activist, Annkio Briggs, is, however, furious that the living condition of the people has remained unchanged and had, indeed, become worse despite the fact that oil from the region has ceaselessly sustained the country economically.

    Speaking in a telephone interview with Sunday Sun, the female activist and spokesperson of the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA) directed her angst at elders and leaders (traditional/political), saying their various representations at Aso Rock-coordinated parleys were self-serving and far from being altruistic.
    Her tone climbed a notch higher as she said: “We must begin to resist these so-called leaders and elders.

    Those in the 20 – 50 years age bracket, whose lives and future are being wasted, the communities and women must rise against this tyranny. For all these years, we have lived on promises that have remained what they are – mere promises. What we have is a situation where the so-called representatives of the people are getting richer and richer at the expense of the people, and this must stop.”

    Grand deceit?
    After almost 11 years as a Niger Delta activist, the reality of the situation in our region is heart-breaking. Nothing has changed. When I reflect on what the likes of Harold Dappa-Biriye, Fiberesima, Isaac Adaka Boro, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nnimmo Bassey and Oronto Douglas had done, the vision flows and flows because you can see what they achieved. But from 1999 when (former President Olusegun (Obasanjo) came into power, we found ourselves working with our so-called elders and political leaders, which gave us a feeling that this is a political era, a new era.

    However, in retrospect, it was a grand deceit. I’m heart-broken because our leaders, particularly from the Ijaw ethnic group, in the last 10 years have deceived us. From the period they all kept going to Aso Rock to meet with Obasanjo till now, what have they achieved? I challenge them to show us their achievement for the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta. Recently, the former Petroleum Minister, Edmund Daukoru, said we should blame Obasanjo for some of our woes. The question I ask is, what did he do when he was there? Why didn’t he resign when he saw that Obasanjo was working against the interest of the Niger Delta?

    Principled leaders
    Since Obasanjo ordered the invasion of Odi (in 1999), killing over 4000 men, women and children and they (leaders) started parleying with him, I want somebody to challenge me on what they have achieved. If I’m wrong I will apologize. Odi was a clear case of genocide. But what did the INC (Ijaw National Congress) and the Ijaw elders do about it? When soldiers invaded Zaki Biam under the same Obasanjo, ironically (General Victor) Malu, who was the Chief of Army Staff when the Odi massacre occurred, and his people went to court, and look at the judgment they got. The federal government was asked to pay compensation to the Zaki Biam people. That is what I’m talking about.

    Personally, I can point at only leaders like Senator David Dafinone and Pa Anthony Enahoro, who have maintained a principled stand and have been very consistent. These are the kind of leaders we should have and listen to. Unfortunately, the federal government does not want to talk to this kind of leaders. We consider it an insult for an Ijaw leader like Chief E.K (Edwin Kiagbodo) Clark to become a negotiator for the federal government. This is what Dafinone or Enahoro cannot do, and all of them are within the same age bracket.

    Vice Presidency, Niger Delta Ministry and NDDC as achievements
    I acknowledge, with all respect, that today, Jonathan, an Ijaw man, is the foremost Niger Delta leader either in government or in the ruling PDP (Peoples Democratic Party). But what is actually in the office of the Vice President? He receives ambassadors and people pay courtesy visits. Beyond this, what is his role in governance? This is not about Jonathan or an indictment on his person. Rather I have said it severally that when we express our disappointment about our people in government, it is not about them but the system in place. Jonathan being the Vice President is supposed to be a political score card for us but regrettably there is nothing in that card.

    In the Niger Delta Ministry, we have (Godsday) Orubebe, who is also an Ijaw man. But his being there does not make the lives of Ijaw people any better than it was 10 years ago. We have never clamoured for a Ministry for the Niger Delta just as we never asked for a technical committee, which we learnt was riddled with allegations of bribery while it sat. If these things are true, we must expose them. If people are going to be sharing money, let everybody in the Niger Delta, in the creeks and streets be part of it otherwise we must expose and stop it.

    As for the NDDC, it is supposed to be an intervention agency. We must face these realities, and that is why I am saying we cannot accept any longer a situation where we cannot call a spade a spade because of respect for elders and leaders. What the people want are not leaders but servants that would deliver development, justice, equity, peace and democracy.

    Disappointing Niger delta Technical Committee
    I initially opposed the technical committee but had to soft-pedal when some people said I should allow it deliver. But the fact is, we are now disappointed by that delivery. For instance, who told them the Niger Delta people asked for 25 per cent derivation? Who did they consult with? Let me tell you there was no such consultation. They only met with people like Dokubo-Asari, Ateke Tom and some others that had taken up arms against the federal government.

    Call to resistance
    We must begin to resist these so-called leaders and elders. Those in the 20 – 50 years bracket, whose lives and future is being wasted, the communities and women must rise up against this tyranny. For all these years, we have lived on promises that have remained what they are – mere promises. What we have is a situation where the so-called representatives of the people are getting richer and richer at the expense of the people, and this must stop. I’m advocating an intellectual revolution and a revolution of the mind against the people that are leading us…

    Let me tell you that the Ogoni today have achieved resource control without anybody signing anything. They have succeeded in denying Shell and indeed the federal government access to the oil in their land for more than 15 years. That is resource control. They are now in a position to determine what happens to the oil in their land. This same thing must apply to every territory, every land, every swamp, every creek and every community where there is oil and gas. The people must be partners and owners of the resources otherwise the oil price will continue to plummet and all of us would continue to suffer. But for the people of Niger Delta, it makes no difference because for the past 50 years they have not benefited from the oil.

    Withdrawal from INC presidency election
    I withdrew for the simple fact that it went against everything I’m fighting for. The process was fraudulent and money was changing hands. Money came from Abuja into the creeks and Ijaw clans to induce people to vote. The delegates list was shrouded in secrecy. So we didn’t know who the delegates were. The election itself was the culmination of a fraudulent process. If we have been complaining politicians and how they rig elections, why would the INC find itself entangled in the same thing the Ijaw people had always lamented about the system?

    One the other hand, about a week before Christmas, the vice president of the former INC executive died with four others in a ghastly car crash on his way to a meeting of the organization within the western and central axis. His burial date had not been fixed neither did the Kimse Oko-led INC declare a mourning period for him but went ahead to conduct an election. That is disgraceful and distasteful as far as I’m concerned, and there was no way I was going to be part of it. I do not recognize the newly elected executive because the process of its emergence was fraudulent. Likewise, it is not under any obligation to recognize me.

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  3. Gunmen kill militant leader

    CHINEDU WOSU, Port Harcourt

    There was uneasy calm and atmosphere of tension in Okrika in Rivers States as gunmen killed the leader of a militant outfit, the Bush Boys one Mr. Sunny Opuambe in his home town on Sunday.

    Opuambe was the leader of the Bush Buys of Okrika, a factional warring youth group in the Wakirike kingdom of Rivers State.

    The Bush Boys of Okrika is a youth wing of the Tobonuju, a group that has been chased out of Okrika by Ateke Tom’s group called the Niger Delta Vigilante Group.

    Eyewitness told Daily Champion that Opuambe was assassinated at a drinking spot along Abuluma, in Port Harcourt city local government area, where the Bush Boys have been taking refuge for close to a decade now.

    The killing of Opuambe came few hours after a deadly encounter between men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and Ateke Tom.

    It would be recalled that the JTF had attacked one of the camps that belong to Ateke Tom resulting in the killing of scores of members of JTF. Ateke in a telephone interview with our correspondent said though some of his foot soldiers had died in the process, he had succeeded in capturing one JTF naval gun boat.

    He said the attack launched at him by the JTF was uncalled for, saying such was the reason why he had to strike back to safe his life.

    Opuambe’s death has added to countless number of deaths recorded in Okrika’s traditional and political skirmishes.

    It was gathered that several peace moves as well as traditional oath taking had been administered between the Bush Boys and NDV.

    It is being suspected that Opuambe would have been killed either by security men or men from Ateke camp.

    Many who reacted on the current development said the unsuspected murder of Opuambe would lead to fresh feud between Ateke’s men and the Bush Boys, all from within Okrika community.

    Meanwhile, the NDV has threatened to carry out reprisal attacks on families of identified kidnappers if the perpetrators persist in the abduction of children and other innocent Nigerians.

    Spokesman for the Ateke Tom led militant group, Mr. Tamunokuro Ebitari, who gave the warning yesterday in a statement released to journalists in Port-Harcourt, said the group decided upon this action in order to put an end to the spate of kidnapping, especially of children in Rivers State.

    Ebitari said the NDV and Patriotic Force are therefore advising those involved in the abduction of blacks and children to desist as their actions were rubbishing the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta militants.

    "We want to warn those involved in the kidnapping of blacks and children to release whoever they’ve in their custody and also stop any further of such actions because we’ll not allow this to continue to rubbish our genuine struggle.

    "Having seen that the Joint Task Force inspite of the billions spent in the name of security can’t stop this evil against the innocent populace, we’ve decided to take responsibility of making sure that we put an end to this ugly phenomenon", he added.

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  4. Ex-Minister’s Wife, INEC Boss, Kidnapped-PM News, Lagos
    Wednesday, 04 February 2009 11:32 By Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt
    Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped the wife of Dr. Edmund Dakuro, the former Minister of Petroleum and the Amanyanabo of Nembe kingdom of Bayelsa state.

    Mrs. Gladys Dakuro was, last night, kidnapped at the D-Line axis of Port Harcourt, while returning home at the close of business. Also, last night, some gunmen kidnapped Dr. Hikiah Asintiya, a Commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, in charge of Works.


    Asintiya was kidnapped at the Rumuolumini axis of Port Harcourt, on his way home, at the close of work.

    When PMNEWS visited the home of the Dakuros in GRA, Phase Two, in Port Harcourt, this morning, an unusual crowd of sympathizers and a horde of journalists wanting to get reactions from the family had gathered there. But they were not allowed into the premises.

    However, Mr. Sam Woka, the Director of Press Affairs in RSIEC confirmed the kidnap in a telephone interview with PMNEWS, in Port Harcourt, this morning.

    A call to the Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mrs Rita Innoma-Abbey, could not go through. But a Police source confirmed the two incidents.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, has intervened in the growing tension between two rival cult groups, The Greenlanders and The Boys, as result of the killing of one Theophilus, a prominent member of The Greenlanders and Sunny Opuambe, the leader of the The Bush Boys, operating in Okrika and Abuloma areas, near Port Harcourt.

    Although there has not been an open clash since the death of the leaders of the two rival cult groups, Asari told a Port Harcourt radio station, Rhythm 93.7 FM, that the members of The Bush Boys approached him, threatening a retaliatory attack against the The GreenLanders suspected to have assassinated Opuambe at a drinking joint at Abuloma, a suburb of Port Harcourt, over the weekened.

    Asari lashed at government and the security agencies for not being able to protect lives and property.

    According to Asari; “The killing of Opuambe shows that security agencies have failed in their responsibility to protect lives and property in the state. Opuambe has long disarmed and embraced peace and every body knows that he has been leading a normal life. I wonder why he should be unprotected.”

    He warned that if government fails to carry out its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, people will be forced to resort to self-help and that portends anarchy in the state.

    It would be recalled that during the Okrika crisis between The Bush Boys and Ateke Tom, Opuambe led the Bush Boys.The crisis led to the killing of hundreds of people in Okrika. Those who managed to escape death went into exile since the year 2000 untill governor Chibuike Amaechi took a tough stance against militancy and criminality with the help of the Joint Task Force.

    However, Opuambe had publicly denounced violence and laid down his arms in several peace meetings in Okrika. It is also on record that he has been involved in the sponsoring of football competitions to integrate and reconcile youths from rival cult groups in Okrika and Port Harcourt.

    Lt.Col. Sagir Musa has repeatedly assured residents of Port Harcourt and the environs that the security agencies are fully mobilized to check any breakdown of law and order in the state. So far, there has not been any reprisal attack as a result of the suspected cult-related killing.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Council, Chief Nsirim, and the entire legislative arm have been thrown into confusion over the abduction of Mr. Martin Amehule, the Leader of the legislative arm, by unknown gunmen, over the weekend.

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