HomePolitics Independence:' No cause to celebrate'
Independence:' No cause to celebrate'
Written by Emma Amaize
Saturday, 04 October 2008
SOME Niger-Delta leaders and activitsts, among them, a former chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) and paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Pere (Dr) Charles Ayemi-Botu (JP), a conflict management expert in the Niger-Delta, Prince Clement Bebenimbo, a member of the Delta Waterways Security Committee (DWSC), Chief Dennis Otuaro and national president of the Ijaw National Human Rights Organization (INHRO), Olotu Festus Koremene spoke to Saturday Vanguard during the week on the country's 48th Independence Anniversary. Excerpt of the interviews.
No cause to celebrate – HRH Ayemi-Botu
How would you assess the Nation at 48?
Well, so far so good, we thank God that we have come this far. Incidentally, it has not been Independence so to say and a
His Royal Majesty, Pere (Dr) Charles Ayemi-Botu (JP)
Republic also, all were seen as, if you say 48 years of Independence and out of these 48 years, we can as well consider that it has not been smooth sailing as a country because after six years of Independence, the Military came in and you know that the military government is an aberration and out of the 48 years, the Military has a greater share of governance, that is 27 years and 8 months of military rule.
The military government as you can agree with me from 1966 all through to 1979 and again from December 1983 they struck again and had been there until 1999 and apart from the few months of the Interim government by Shonekan, it was all military. So, if you want to assess anything about Nigeria's independence from 1999 to date when Obasanjo had the singular opportunity of ruling for eight years and even if you want to assess what he did during the eight years, it is as good anybody can assess it. So, 48 years of a nationhood I could still see Nigeria as a toddler and still in the doldrum, the country cannot be seen to have eventually benefited as a sovereign nation. Do you think that our leaders have failed the nation and the people?
It is a very clear truth that Nigeria is a blessed country with natural and human resources that can compete with any country in the world. We are naturally blessed and we have enough manpower, unfortunately, our leaders are bad managers. Those who find their way to the corridors of power are so unpatriotic; they are selfish and self-centered; they are people who in my own candid opinion have no interest of Nigeria at heart, they are only there pursuing how they will get to power and corner the oil money.
I remember some Northerners were saying that political power controls economic power. Most of our leaders, when they get into power, they see the Petroleum Ministry as a portfolio that belongs to the Presidency. Before the military even struck in 1966, is because the Government was not seen to be doing well. We need dedicated, patriotic, selfless and transparent leaders at this stage of our nationhood. We need leaders who are accountable and will put the interest of the nation above their personal interest.
Our leaders should listen to the yearnings and aspirations of our people. The major problem in this country which is power supply cannot be addressed and we are aspiring to development. What is making this country not to progress; when a leader is found to be corrupt, such leader should be brought to book. Our leaders who have been indicted of corruption, including former President Obasanjo are walking tall all over the place. Look at South Africa now, the people did not want Thabo Mbeki again and he was asked to resign and he did so. But our leaders here will never do so; they should learn a lesson from South Africa if this nation must move forward. We must begin to start probing our past leaders and sending them to jail.
At 48 years, it looks as if we have not started. I will not say that the 48 years are wasted. God loves Nigeria that he gave almost everything to make the country number one country in Africa and can even become a world power if we can harness and harmonize what God has given to us and use it to the best interest of the people. Is there any cause for the celebration of the 48th independence anniversary?
If we want to celebrate, are we going to celebrate that we have uninterrupted power supply for 30 days or for one year? Or are we going to celebrate because we now have access roads all over the country, dualised the entire trunk A roads? If we have to celebrate our 48th Independence Anniversary, are we talking of healthcare; do we have well equipped hospitals when our President falls sick he has to be going for medical check-up, our Governors and Senators will go out for medical check-up? Our educational system is not the best; teachers are always on strike in the country because they are not properly catered for. So, if we are talking about celebration, are we going to celebrate because of the sharing of the national cake by a tiny cabal in power?
The celebration we are talking about, we should be inward looking, this should be a period of stock taking. We should reflect on the past 48 years, this is a period of sober reflection for our country. If not for divine intervention, this country would have broken into pieces by now. The only way for us to celebrate is that Nigeria is still one nation after 48 years inspite of the maladministration in this country. My appeal is for sober reflection, let us take stock of what and what that happened during the military era and what is happening now even in a civilian dispensation. Let us see that those who are found to be corrupt are brought to book; they should be tried and send to prisons and the wealth and properties acquired illegally should be confiscated and given to the nation. If that is done, other people who are coming will have the fear and they will rule well. We have not reached the Promised Land yet, we still have a very long way to go. We must fix our leadership and corruption problems in this country. We, the royal fathers are always praying that divine intervention is the only solution to getting good government in Nigeria.
My goodwill message to fellow Nigerians on our 48th Independence Anniversary is for us to pray to God Almighty, let us pray to God for divine intervention in the affairs of our country. Let us pray to God to give us God fearing leaders; leaders who will have the interest of the country above their personal interest; leaders who will be courageous enough to do what is right; leaders who are honest and transparent. So, let us all pray to God that if we find any bad leader, let us also be bold to come out and call for his resignation as it is obtained in the developed world. I thank God that we have attained 48 years of independence, but we should pray that the situation should change for better. We want good leaders and God should send all bad leaders away from us. Anybody that is coming to plunder our hard earned wealth for his own selfish interest, God should remove that person. Let good leaders come and if there are bad leaders we still appeal that they should be tried and their ill-gotten properties should be seized and they should be sent to jail. Moment for temperate reflection — Chief Otuaro
Chief Otuaro said it was a matter of regret that, "Rather than handle the problem of Niger-Delta firmly, the nation prides on the continuous occupation of the region through the military as an economic enclave. It is high time the Niger-Delta region is accommodated into the political landscape and foundation of the country. Let us resolve the Niger-Delta quagmire because this question is a national one in its entire ramification".
He said the anniversary calls for sober reflection, as there was nothing to be joyful about, adding, "It is how we lay our bed today that we will lie on it tomorrow, so the government should do the right thing regarding the Niger-Delta problem so that the nation can make progress".
Yar'Adua should grant amnesty to militants — Bebenimibo
According to Prince Bebenimibo, "Our electoral system is tutored and monitored by the international community. Moreso,
Prince Clement Bebenimbo
the factors that gave rise to the Nigerian Civil War from 1967-1970 are much more pronounced now than ever, particularly the corruption of our political leaders is very glaring in some quarters of the country. This is an indication that we have not learnt from our past mistakes but by only divine intervention that Nigerians exist as a corporate nation".
"Surprisingly, our population is growing geometrically in the midst of abject poverty. With the increase in population, the rate of want and feeling of injustice, marginalization and deprivation have resulted to the emerging of various ethnic militias, whereby violent conflicts are the order of the day. Good enough, our President, Alhaji Umaru Yar' Adua has a strong political will to introduce into the system alot of reforms in order to give hope to the suffering and smiling Nigerians for a better tomorrow inspite of his ill-health. Therefore, I use this medium to pray fervently for God's guidance and protection of our President so as to lead us to our desired destination (Insha Allah).
"I fundamentally believe that through Mr. President the Niger Delta problem, which is a problem to all Nigerians, will be a thing of the past. With Mr. President, Nigerians are destined to smile not to weep by God's grace.
"In the light of the above, I hereby sincerely call upon Mr. President to do the following in order to bring relative peace to the Niger Delta region. Grant amnesty to the wanted militants so that they can participate in the various meetings with the Federal Government so as to find a lasting solution to the crises. Negotiation and dialogue are unavoidable tools in peace process, therefore, the participation of the principal actors is obviously important", he said.
"In the principle of communication, it is undoubtedly that their representatives may not able to feed them of hundred percent of the meetings discussion, some information may be lacking or distorted along the line. The prerogative of mercy shall be kindly applied by Mr. President just because of peace and for the country to move forward. Furthermore, the giving of amnesty to the wanted militants is another device of conflict management process in the region. I am sure that they are prepared to tow the line of peace in this region and deal with the criminal elements.
"Secondly, Mr. President should give directive to the JTF Commandant to restrain his men from attacking the militant camps for now in this region because we are not at war but in the process of making peace. I strongly agree that the attitude of militants is a challenge to the military, but, advise them to exercise restraint, employ peaceful negotiation, then; disarmament and demobilization will soon come to reality.
"Thirdly, Mr. President should use men that are God-fearing and have the Niger-Deltans at heart to man the proposed Ministry of Niger-Delta so as to achieve the desired goals. The President should avoid men like Ambassador Sam Edem who fearlessly used money meant for the development of the region", he said.
His words, "Any attempt to stop the good political will of Mr. President to address the yearnings of the Niger Deltans must be met with Holy Ghost fire. At the rate Mr. President is going about the issue of Niger Delta, I am very optimistic that after this twilight, the dawn will definitely come".
No peace without amnesty to militants – INRHO
The Ijaw National Human Right Organization (INHRO) also called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to grant amnesty by fiat to Niger-Delta freedom fighters , who some people opt to call militants, saying government's attempt to achieve peace in the Niger-Delta will be futile if it continues to withhold amnesty from the freedom fighters.
President of the group, Comrade Festus Koremene cautioned the government to be wary of those who claim to be dialoguing with it (government) on behalf of the freedom fighters, but, in actuality, do not have their authorization to carry out any discussion, warning that it would turn out to be a total waste of time and resources.
His words, "(INHRO) calls on the Federal Government to stop holding unholy dialogue that will not lead to peace in the region with the so-called Niger-Delta leaders. As a matter of fact, unless there is total and unconditional amnesty granted to the freedom fighters in the region by President Yar' Adua, there will be meaningful achievement for him to show as being the President of the Nigerian state after one year in office".
According to him, "President Yar'Adua should not be deceived by leaders in Niger Delta who cannot guarantee the Federal Government permanent peace after entering series of dialogues that cannot stand the test of time".
"If Mr. President is to be sincere in his quest to address the region's problems, then, he should by fiat grant amnesty to the freedom fighters. In addition to this, there should be formal holistic dialogue with the leaders in question, but, not with pervasive third-party groups.
He charged President Umaru Yar'Adua to be consistent with his words concerning the Niger-Delta, saying the President promised to make Niger-Delta his top agenda during his campaign, but, has been dilly-dallying on the matters affecting the region since he assume office.
Koremene said the government has not fulfilled the promised, but, rather, Yar'Adua has emulated his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obansenjo's military approach where the Joint Task Force (JTF) invaded Odi community by military bombardment on land and Gbaramatu Kingdom by military helicopters/ gunships in February , 2006.
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