By Tony Uranta
“We wouldn’t be true friends with someone who we didn’t think was a true friend to us - and someone with many true friends is far more formidable than someone with many fair-weather allies.” — Eliezer Yudowsky
Dear Governor Fashola,
When in September 2007, American lawyer and geopolitical analyst, Jonathan Strong, in calling for a radical restructuring of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) warned that the western war machine born during the cold war required “allies who are willing to act preemptively and swiftly to confront threats”, he emphasised the need to “also put other ‘fair weather’ allies, who are less than cooperative, on notice that their voice will not be heard, or can at least be ignored, if obstruction is chosen over cooperation.”
One is reminded of this in the light of the recent unfortunate MEND attack on the federal government’s Atlas Cove Jetty and the many outcries by Lagosians who (rightly so) are worried about what the sudden shifting of the theatre of attrition from within the Niger Delta’s boundaries.
These outcries, as normal as they may appear, remind many of the Yoruba adage that say “esu ma semi, omo elomiran ni ko se”; which could transliterate in this context as “we all support MEND’s struggle for fiscal federalism for all of us, provided we do not have to pay any price the Niger Delta is paying.”
Nobody faults Your Excellency’s chagrin at the Atlas Cove Jetty “affront” and the resultant strong call on the Niger Delta armed groups not to bring “war” into your area of security -jurisdiction. As Chief Security Officer of Lagos State (though this is a mere empty appellation without the concomitant executive powers that you would have in a true federation!) you probably did not see how else you could justify the oath you took to serve the people of Lagos aright.
This missive may not have been necessary.
But many progressive political players and analysts, from all over our nation_space and abroad, have however wondered at the mileage hoped to be gained by the many other traditional, government-driven and socio-cultural groups that have since been belligerently beating drums of potential ethnic war between the Ijaw/Niger Deltans and their Yoruba/South Western brothers who have hitherto lived for decades not only in peace and harmony, but have been (together) the prime apostles of the need to restructure this contraption known as Nigeria. Could it be true as many have posited that there are cabals in Lagos which have diesel-millionaires funding the cries for “reprisals” against Ijaw/Niger Deltans?
Thank God for the quick intervention of progressive “factions” and leaders of Afenifere (the umbrella body that speaks for ALL Yoruba/South_Westerners) and Oodua Peoples Congress (the OPC is the “military” wing of ALL Yorubas) who have come out to state solidarity with MEND and declared that MEND’s attack of the Atlas Cove Jetty is was not targeted against the Yoruba/South-West…and went on to nip a potentially_explosive ethnicity-based incident in the Badagry sector of Lagos State this week!
The puzzle of why certain groups and persons have began to inflexibly threaten MEND with reprisals from Lagosians/the South-West becomes seemingly more complex because MEND has exhaustively explained severally that the Atlas Cove Jetty attack had nothing to do with the geographical location or demographic realities of what it accurately defined as a federal government owned installation.
MEND explained that it targeted the Atlas Cove Jetty because it fell within the purview of the “oil war” it has long declared against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the oil multinationals, in its bid to gain justice for the demonised Niger Deltans and regain true federalism for the whole nation. MEND said all such oil installations and facilities, wherever they may be in Nigeria, are “legitimate targets”.
Finally, MEND say it regretted any civilian deaths caused, and commiserated with the government and good people of Lagos State on their unfortunate losses.
Apart from MEND, many other Ijaw/Niger Delta groups (including the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy—UNDEDSS—the aggregation of all Niger Delta ethnic nationalities and civil society) were also quick to express empathy with Lagosians and meet with leaders of thought of the South-West to soothe ruffled feathers.
Still the drumbeats of “war” have not ceased. The question has been raised by reasonable observers of this quirky trend of threats by groups and leaders of the South-West: “Exactly what shape would these threatened reprisals take?”
Will the South_West mobilize against an amorphous organisation as MEND?
As boxing great Mohammed Ali succinctly put it, “your hands can’t hit what your eyes don’t see!” Or are Lagosians going to witness pogroms….introducing the lynchings and rapings that are more synonymous with the North against their innocent Ijaw/Niger Delta neighbours who have co-existed with all tribes up to date, a la Nazi Germany against the Jews?
Would this not result in a “free-for-all” that would end with, at best, a State of Emergency being declared in Lagos; and Lagos having a military force of occupation repressing the easy-going people of Eko as is the case now in the Niger Delta…or, at worst, would this not speed up the US-predicted failure of the Nigerian state?
Can both Lagos and the Niger Delta not avoid this? Can both not work together for the common good of all Nigerians? Is there cabal interested in there being no peace?
Since both the South-West and the Niger Delta seem to the same thing ultimately: to end the corruption that has plagued our nation, to restore justice and equity in all of Nigeria, and to rejuvenate the vision of holistic federalism of our founding fathers, as enshrined in the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions, why do both not realise that in the making of omelettes eggs must be broken? Or are some people suggesting that only Niger Delta eggs be broken…as always?! Or must the Niger Delta lead the necessary struggle for change, whilst the rest of Nigeria leads from the rear?
Leading from the rear is a pejorative term that applies to leaders who lack the strength to be ahead of followers. Its origins probably lie with the military, where the leader (often aged generals) sits behind the lines and makes decisions without being in the midst of the battle.
Leading from the rear often results in the leader being out of touch with the realities of the context, and out of touch with the needs of the situations and followers. In this case it means “monkey go work, for baboon to chop”. Well, the Niger Delta “monkeys” don wear suit now…enough is enough!
MEND has said it is not repentant of its “oil war” and has called on the world to implore President Umoru Yar’Adua to stop posturing and embrace the positive 60-days ceasefire MEND is holding out; vowing that should the federal government not do so (or should the JTF attack any of MEND’s positions) it will unleash more plagues in its “oil war”/Hurricane Moses arsenal that will compel this nation to come out of its pseudo-comfort-zone and expedite the birth of justice-for-all in a fiscally-federal Nigeria.
Can MEND force the hand of government? This writer is a pacifist who knows next nothing about war. Maybe an answer lies in the conclusion of a very recent US Government Report which says “The militants cannot defeat the JTF militarily, but the JTF cannot prevent the militants from engaging in economic sabotage.” Shalom. Egberi fa.
Special thanks to Vanguard
Who are the president’s advisers ?
Who are the smugglers Or Wharf rats in Nigeria ?
I am still asking questions o.o!
at any rate i belief things will soon be settled in some years to come. that will be when the petroleum products are finally outdated. a yoruba adage says “ohun to run fe tan’le” as the western world are planning to introduce electric cars just to enbrace the green slogan. but for now i will implore all parties concerned to thread it softly.
Oil must stop flowing for nigerians to come together and reason well. Because right now, every one is gone crazy. Live and let live, thats the only way forward.
And what is The JTF still doing in the entire region ?
Are the South-South governors still paying JTF to continue bombing their people ?
Who are the Ohaneze Ndigbo advisers ?
Who are the Afenifere’s Advisers ?
Can they, the Igbo Elders and their Yoruba counterparts advise their house of assembly to toe the line of justice and equity ?
I am still asking questions o.o. ?
-May the souls of Boma, Stanley and our heroes past Rest with The Lord. AMEN.
Felix T.S,well done!i so much appreciate your comments…You are 99% perfect
it is unfortnate that the only language the Nigeria Government understands is violence, which is clearly stated in th bible that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and men of violence takes it by force.if i may ask the federal government have you visited the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta, you need to visit so you can see for yourself the suffring of the bless rich people,you peopl know what to do but just be wicked and selfish.how can peace rain when the basic needs are yet to be put in place. i study abroad in a universtiy where sons and daughters of Governors,ministers,commissionals and top politician children from the north are lavishing money why we from the Niger Delta are begging to pay our fees and even sometime we have to defile semesters to engage in hard labour job to pay for our fees and to make ends meets.now tell me after all this struggle return home,God fore bid you stay at home witout job.you can image what will happen next. is not all about providing amnesty,is all about meeting the basic needs of the people which MEND and other true freedom fighters are agitating for. although some of our Leaders are really really bad but i have good news for them ” it won’t be long they will be a war against Niger Delta thiefs and selfish leaders / Nigeria corrupt leaders”but the war will begin at home.those who have ears let them hear….and turn from their evil ways….because it will be too late to cry when the head is already in the grave…..
I am of the opinion that the people of Niger Delta and all of those referred to as militants have been very unfortunate for having oil and gas in their land. Today, many short-sighted Nigerians see them as a people from a different race because of the way they have been on the front line expressing their pains to fellow Nigerians and the wicked government that has been imposed on the generality. Today, we hear that despite all the backlog left by the government of the day to evolve a system that will ensure National Peace and Security, they have gone a step further to move the PTI University to Kaduna. And the same short-sighted Nigerians have nothing to complain about it. The people of the Niger Delta should be comfortable with every little slap that they can receive from the so-called Federal Government. For sure, some of the solutions adopted by the government of ther day will continue to divide the country into little bits if we all fail to think together and advise, and warn the government the consequences of their actions in the near future. We are walking on dangerous grounds with the way events are unfolding. There are many issues that could impact a sense of responsibilty, patrotism for the development of nationhood. Instaed, the government of the day derive joy in looting, playing politics of nepotism, self-enrichment, survival of political parties to the detriment of nation building. And until the root causes of the Niger Delta problems are addressed, it is better for the nation to stop all all exlporatory and exploitative activities in the Niger Delta region. In that way, we may all look into other meaningful avenues to funds for the nation. There are regions that we may gain so much by concentration of agricultural produce; there are other with economic minerals etc. Why can’t we live the region alone and look at other areas for survival? The 13% derivation will help regions contributing to the national earnings. Let us try to leave out a true dream of national unity. The Niger Delta region may be able to improve on their produce in palm oil, rubber etc for which they were known in the old regional distribution.
Since the Federal government is not willing to see reasons why the Niger Delta should be developed, I am of the belief that they should see all the reasons to pull out of the region completely as a matter of priority. We are merely calling the Dog a bad name in order to discredit it. The Niger Delta are peace-loving, and hospitable people. They equally cherish their peace and want to live an enduring legacy for their future generations. Let us leave the area at the present state of devastation in the name of enriching a few pockets in the corridor of power at the risk of a few unfortunate country men trying to survive as others do elsewhere.
I hope my readers will bear with me. I am from the Niger Delta of Nigeria and feel sick watching Maradonas toiling with our future. We are a minority that needs help and assistance from the major tribes men.
PPL should stop talking about fixing nigeria, One nigeria died many years ago,Nigeria does not exist , it exist only on the paper. is it not enough for the niger deltans to know that nigeria only need them cos of the oil from their land, it is either u fight now and get ur freedom or u live ur children in absolut slavery worst than these curent generation. If the north and west are allowed to sail through now , these opportunity may not be there again for these generation to liberate from these oligarcy. or are u ppl ND afraid of ur future without nigeria? now is the time or never.
Militancy in Niger Delta- N.D.E.N.Y.L.F.to the rescue; an article on contemporary issues and developments in Nigeria by Hon. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo- Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor;-Politics and Strategy.
After a careful appraisal of the over thirty years old agitation of the Niger Delta people for an equitable share of the oil minerals in their backyard; and the militant dimension which has been despicably expressed inform of armed struggle, and unfortunately the notorious angle of kidnappings, it has become imperative to salute the courage of the body of conveners of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum (N.D.E.N.Y.L.F.). Groups have emerged in the years past with the aim of proffering solutions to the age-long crisis, however, they were either overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges and the uncooperative intrigues of the stakeholders (the armed militants and the Governments) or they compromised.
The N.D.E.N.Y.L.F. is a coalition of ethnic nationality groups of Niger Delta region whom have been individually championing the neo-militant struggle for constructive and ideologicalised dialogue. The group’s mission statement was well captured in the opening remarks by the chief convener and acting chairman of the Forum (Dr. Chris Ekiyor) at their maiden meeting on the 16th of July 2009 in Asaba, Delta State. He highlighted groups objectives to include- to provide a platform for the non-violent approach to the age-long agitation of the region; to strengthen the cultural affinity of the region’s ethnic nationalities; to ideologicalize and advance the struggle for the restructuring of Nigeria’s political super-structure within the context of true Fiscal Federalism; to support by canvassing for the total acceptance of President Yar Adua’s offer of amnesty to all armed militants of Niger Delta amongst others. The array of personalities in attendance portrayed vocal leaders of non-violent militant groups in the region, namely- the Ijaw Youth Council; the Benin National Congress; the Isoko National Youth Forum; the Urhobo National Youth Movement; the Ibibio Youth Consultative Forum etc.
At a glance, the group’s vision was clear and unambiguous. A critical diagnosis of the leaders of the various groups that made up the alliance, it reveals a picture of young men and women whom are determined to forge a purposeful course for Nigeria even as the group unanimously agreed that sufferings of the region is not orchestrated by the Northern region per se, but a set of oppressive political and economic elites whom are even unpopular in the Northern region of Nigeria. They resolved that they will collaborate with well meaning groups of Northern extraction in building a virile and consensus national restructuring framework for Nigeria’s liberation. They acknowledged with nostalgias the liberation struggles mounted for Nigeria’s Independence and post Independence eras by the present crop of old politicians, some of whom are presently truncating the will of Nigeria’s progress by their godfatheristic tendencies.
To my mind, those who convened at the Excel Hotel, Asaba, Delta State to dissect a new and purposeful sense of direction for Niger Delta people and indeed all Nigerians on Thursday 16th of July and payed a courtesy call on the Governor of Delta State on Friday 17th of July 2008 are the emerging patriots of Niger Delta region. Nigerian politicians, captains of industries and the concerned public should embrace them so that they can work towards achieving their set goals. I am convinced that given their close contacts with the armed militants of the region, coupled with their out-reach with all tiers of government and the international public, they can help broker an enduring peace for the region and Nigeria as a whole.