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The Niger Delta Debacle By Comrade Sylvester I. Ukusare Esq. The word “Genocide” reminds one of felony against humanity also is not a genuine form to administrate a country for the reasons that it is identified with despotic and barbaric actions in it display hence it is related to dictator pedigree, more so it indicates crime against mankind hence the repressive acts of the current dispensation in the Niger Delta should come to stop now before it lead to a civil war and would not yield good dividend to the central government rather it will humiliate and bring the management to a final collapsed, if not cautioned at this time. As with the above expression, it’s indeed the ripe time that the questions enveloping the Niger Delta should be sincerely and amicably resolved once and for all, hence it should addressed the problems of degradation, exploration, exploitation, spillages, unemployment with a balanced socio economic positions as well as a true fiscal derivation policy thereby giving way to resources control via the natives as it was in the first republic of the Nigerian state. Despite the government exploitive positions to curb the militants insurgences, instead the restiveness of the region is dimensionally increasing as a consequence becoming a big threat to the federal government also it economic growth. The slummy living condition of the inhabitants of the region has fuelled the insecurity state of the people whereby they now decided to take their fate in whatever way they sees it, due to the complete persisting neglects without intension of improvement by the unit states and the central governments of the federal republic of Nigeria . The embattled region has been undergoing a status of underdog in the context of a true federation platform from time immemorial thus they have been denied of equal status because of the categorically classification that happened to placed them in the minority ethnic groups of the federated ethnic nationalities. Although, this region is the economic machinery force of the country, even though the golden eggs of the nation is incubated in this part of the nation although it is very unfortunately that the people are being underrated, been assumed as “EXTRA COMMUNITY BEINGS”, accordingly, indicating they are not Nigerians other than the land they reside belongs to Nigeria . The situation has being enduring since 1956 although, and there was a ease in the Nigeria’s first civil government of the 1960/66, before it was later interrupted in 1966 by a junta, through the military coup was conducted by a radical group of junior cadets of the Nigerian army led by Kaduna Nzogu and since this period till now the military has manipulated the amalgamated constitution of 1963 to their personal glory as a result it established the blinkered laws that deleted all avenues of rights by the natural owners of the solid mineral resources, in addition to, it being empowered to the jurisdiction of the federal government till the present second. Thus, they have usurp the rights of the citizens through tyrannical process and slingshot with obnoxious laws through a dishonourable sense of living especially in the rich oil region of the South-South that persist till moment without adjusting the past mistakes created by the junta of 1966 and as a result to this, the region is culminated now with insecurity due to mass unemployment of the indigenes with uncivilized and the continuous abuse of fundamental rights including a profound state of poverty enveloping the natives without solution by the government to restore the plight of the grassroots that in terms of juridical they are Nigerians by right . Consequently. the sceptics act of the past governments to the present one are so oppressive to the extent of subjugating the peoples with military might such as the continuous occupation of the region without consideration for a constitutional solution to resolve the amoral governmental position in the Niger Delta. In view of the foregoing, it is noted that in any angle of the world today that has strong resources such as the solid minerals that sustains the government is compensated with fiscal incentives with the application of a principle derivation formula with a true federalism concept and especially to the regions and communities breathing with the oil resources. But it is sadly that the Nigeria context is a reverse in design and consequently it’s now a bone of contention between the natives as a result being sponsored by youths militants that now seeks redress by all process as to accord the indigenes the autonomous rights to participate in the economic affairs of their natural resources as it was one time practiced in the country hence if accorded with this strategy it will create windows for a quick recovery of the country’s economic situation and such will galvanised the governments machineries to create employment for the down trodden masses yet awaiting in the labour corridors. Therefore, it is an appeal that the government should stopped the psychological threat to the peoples that dwell in this region by means to demilitarise the region with its fearful army and stopped the suppressive laws with the incessant killings by security operatives agents such as the arbitrary arrest and judicial killings by the police and army branded with imaginative accusations through the collaborations of the state and federal SSS body as well as the continue methods of bombarding and terrorising the creeks and villages in the Niger Delta, thus the inhabitants of the environment don’t deserves these sort of treatment employed by the federal government as the alternative solution to the persistent crisis in the region. As such, the Ijaws which are the majority in this swampy region should be well treated and their rights should be well protected and such should extend to the entire ethnic nationalities groups that resides in the littoral zone known as the Niger Delta. The arrest and prolong detention of Mr. Asari Dokubo wont stop the militia actions to liberate the region from the continuous occupation of the central government even they intend to arrest and arranged a million of Asari Dokubo like, the insurgences can’t be bunged up. Subsequently, the arrest of the leader and symbol of the freedom crusader for the Niger Delta had not stop the militias operations in the region but it rather fuel it to a very high dimensions that now stages a threat to the country’s foundation hence the essence of his arrest is futile and thoughtless and as such the government should considered him be freed quickly without condition as essential means to restore peace in the region and should as well give consideration to Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha immediate liberty from further incarceration, however, he could as well be considered to benefit from a form of house arrest till the completion of it judicial processes. These illustrious sons of the Niger Delta soil, as well as the esteem radical attorney of Mr. Asari Dokubo, the learned person of Barrister Uche Ukwukwu should be all freed now as to appease the nation and galvanised it economic growth from further interruption since it is said that the circumstances that led to the arrest of these socialist minds accorded with the symbol of liberty is so cynic that it is beyond definition hence is being reason with political motivations. Notwithstanding, to put a total conciliation into the country’s insecurity status to a security state it is strongly pinioned that the erstwhile ethnic groups leaders currently attesting to judicial process with the predicament of continuous detentions such as the OPC leader and it activists in the likes of Dr. Fredrick Fasehun of course below par of being aged and Mr. Gani Adams coupled with Mr. Ralph Uwazuruike of the MASSOB should be all awarded with an immediate freedom and this will act as a friendly background for further dialogue to renew peace, harmony with unity within the framework of the unit states of the federal republic of Nigeria, of course, it is the time for the UNO and Mr. Koffi Annan to intervened since it is part of his jurisdictions to put wrongs to rights and not to wait till it gets to an explosive level that will culminate to civil war, however the present tendency in the region is threatening and looms toward separation that might imply to self sovereignty but this we don’t pray for now and never. Nevertheless, the federal government should strongly reflect by considering the total redeployment of it military presence in the Niger Delta axis to their barracks immediately so as to reflect a democratic plus a civil environment and not being construed as a state of emergency, just as being perceived by civil spirited Nigerians as well as the universal world, thus it would be insincere and unrealistically with the motion of immorality to solicit for the continuous stay or occupation of the military forces in this geopolitical districts of the federation if not for sceptic reasons that may involve to it selfish ends, thus it should be totally disallowed now, but the government should as well be praised for have taken such untraditional decision to redeployed the commander general of the JTF, Brig-General Elias Zamani to Abuja for another assignment since his presence has created lots of damages to the region and the country through it arbitrary uses of force to the inhabitants of the region dwelling in the cities, towns, villages and creeks of this oil rich blessed area, as a consequence it motivated to the impulsive situation such as the continuous militants actions to resist it occupation with illegitimate actions in this zone and it affected the economic growth of the country grossly and the federal government should apply more dialogue forums on behalf of the inhabitants and give more attentions to the militants groups demands as to compromise peace with the government, multinational oil companies with their employees as well as the indigenes of the embattled Niger Delta that breeds and sustains the economic mainstay of the country so we should solicit for peace but not war, otherwise let justice and the principles of democracy prevails. My cherished and prize, Mr. President, I noted that you have love for Nigeria and Nigerians but your focuses are being distracted by those sycophants and those unpopular elements in your present cabinet that uses the forum of partisan’s with the pretext of being sincere but armed with devilish motives to paint your image black as for them to achieved their selfish interest, thus it is of my emotive reflection to avoid these mask elements that appears to be brave men before you but they are logically cowardices, and not confidence and hence I wont hesitate to give you my honest advice as to reflect on the dangerous movement ahead of the “Third Term Agenda”, it’s being digested as immoral and unconstitutional likewise against the oath you sworn to retain your incumbency for the second tenure that tendered to expire by May 29, 2007, and hence you should uphold to this by relinquishing your post through the contracted date but if you so insist, you could as well relief yourself of the position now and seek for an interim government that would conduct the 2007 elections and you should use the opportunity to prepare your candidature for the forth coming Presidential election as a means to test your popularity but not by the present approach you’re being lured into because of those unpopular figures in your party the ( PDP) and in your current cabinet composition, they have the lust for power and wealth and they knew they can’t win election again as to serve in the present capacity they’re enjoying at the moment. From the onset I have been one of the admirer’s of Mr. President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo ( a.k.a. Baba ) even at 1999, despite I am an Urhobo man I strongly canvassed for him and to the extent I went against Yoruba’s people that were then castigating the president capability and excellence but I was able to penetrate most of these my Yoruba friends that OBJ’S past records was stimulated enough despite been a military figure but he governs with democratic motions coupled with a detribalised deportment and this is enough to qualify him to become the president, although, they shy away the idea then. But I was very alleviated when he won the presidency with the hope that the future shall be bright for Nigerians of course we were where then very optimistic but suddenly, after the first four years tenure went away, we stated being disappointed with the discovery of inadequacy until moments, even though the fact of imperfectness in governing, he should have avoided the sudden style to his mood of government at this instant which could have emanated from wrong advisers that now portray him as a dictator hence for this reason, he should respect the supreme constitution and vacate it position at the end of the two tenure and rescind it prolongation so as to be recorded in the world book of Guinness as an African statesman and a world diplomatic figure, thus, these honours are a enough for any Jupiter living in this contemporary times of the civilized world.. As with the foregoing, I also observed that the hurried prepared reviewed constitution by the Mantu commission although was not anointed by the national assembly of course presented a reviewed constitution to the president and about certifying it in the national congresses but it was faulted for the president ambition for the third term project as such it incumbency prolongation beyond 2007. However, the Mantu proposed reviewed was articulated with suggestions such as the clauses to “IMMUNITY and DERIVATION” Acts by which it stipulated a 18% approval instead of the 25% with succession to 50% in five years been demanded, to the Niger Delta rich oil resources and it also lay down by seeking that the immunity clause to be cancelled from the constitution that henceforth, thus criminal, civil cases should be instituted against the president, the vice and the governors as well as their deputies, however, this is a welcomed development because it is one of the fundamental clause’s in any democratic government but if accorded to by the parliamentarians it should be officiated with the new breeds of political leaders in the next dispensation, and accordingly, the present leaders should all relinquished themselves from the political corridors for a new class political order in the fifth republic. Finally, the stability of the country should conform with the lay down two tenure arrangement as permitted by the 1999 adopted charter hence the basis for the continuous reformations policies of this government as the pretext to prolongation of it stay should be derailed because it will suddenly permit to a dull state that eventually will discourage fast development of the socio economic political ramifications hence we should seek for a new class of leaders with the futuristic ideology that would that would buttress democracy and permits optimism to the citizenry… Furthermore, it would be wrong if the government should dislodged the hope and the slot of the South-South to produce the next president in 2007 after lots of contributions to the making of the federation looking great before the international world hence it should contemplate justice by awarding the presidency position to this geopolitical bloc of the federal union. In a nutshell, it is strongly opinioned that Mr. President should adopt to “DIALOGUE and REFERENDUM” in sensitive political issues that will affect the generality of the citizens coexistence of this blessed great country Nigeria. Therefore, freed us from these shackles. Olorogun ! Degwo oh !!! May the God omnipotent bless Nigeria. Truly Yours, Comrade Sylvester I. Ukusare Esq.. Sec-General: National Association of Nigerians Niger Delta Natives in the Diaspora – NANNDN ONLUS Italy. Chair-Coordinator: Urhobo Uvwie Community CUU Italy.
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