Movement For The Emancipation Of The Niger Delta (MEND)

Who's punishing anybody for Saro Wiwa's death here. Who am I to punish the great baba OBJ who's following in the footstep of Abacha. Stop blowing hot air and face reality. OBJ's angling for third term now and he's not kidding about it. What makes him different from Abacha now? He's even more concerned about his third term ambition than the well being of the Niger Delta people.

As far as I'm concerned, OBJ, Abacha, IBB, etc are the same set of heartless people who are milking us DRY. And we've got to deal with ALL of them as our common foes.

That sounds funny to me o! I want to agree with Ono that there really isn't any difference between OBJ and Abacha. Common man was not suffering this much during Abacha's regime. At least I don't have to spend up to 5000 naira to fill the tank of my jalopy car. Obj has been and is still gunning down every single soul who makes any attempt to stand against his third term bill. You talk of corruption in high places being punished: Tell me where is that high place and who's been punished? Mark my word for it, Alami will be allowed go scot free, just as Tafa only spend a few months in jail for defrauding the NPF.
Most (if not all) of those who have been tainted as corrupt and punished harsly have been victims of Obj's anger. Tell me why Alami should be behind bars and Odili is walking freely in Rivers. You know why, Alami na Atiku boy but Odili na staunch Obj supporter. I wonder whatthe likes of Tony Anenih (Mr Fix it) are still doing in this government.

The only side of Obj's anticorruption campaign I like is that whoever gets to his post from an opposing camp will equally unleash Ribadu on him and his cronies.

Ma brother, Baba Iyabo's anticorruption campaign is all about victimization, blackmail and attempts at cowing anyone who'll want to run against him in the 2007 elections. It's all a big facade of lies and total ruse.

If only all the yoths in Delta state will take up stones and throw them at those who will come to campaign for third term,
Throw rocks at them. Stupid fools, 

Kalu should just shut up! If any body must say something, definitely not Kalu!,  How come Aba has been voted as the dirtiest city on this forum?

like what abeg ma brother, ?

A government that was called to a conference on how to improve the wellbeing of it's citizens in london. Instead of going there for the good of the people went there with a shoping list of Military Hardware to use in killing them, does not deserve the loyalty of it's people.

Thank God the west turned down their requests,  I also pray they go after them like they did in Iraq and Afganistan. May God puish those who went in the guise of NNPC to buy weapons that will be again and as usual used on Innocent Villagers in Niger delta ,  You have not only stole their livelihood by bringin greedy oil firms but want to also take away their breath, adn wipe out their existence, 
Any body who thinks any member of our government is out for our good is mistaken seriously,  :-[Am afraid I cannot be fooled further,
May God deal with those military hardware shoppers and those who sent them, May the tears of those that have been uppressed go after their childrens children, May the pain that befel those parents that watched their children die in their arm for lack of good health care come on them and their supporters, 
May the earth reject their bodies, may they be fed on by vultures and wild birds,

@seun
My name is Seun too, but i have to agree with the others. OBJ is a monster. Why was there so much resistance to him in the West in 1997? He couldnt even win at the polling booth in front of his family house in Owu. A man that is know for torturing and killing pilfering farm workers.
All the apparent gains that we may see during this regime are the natural consequenses of a "Democratic Dispensation" and the reciprocal effect it has on the way we are treated by the so-called Western Powers. Also OBJ has had the devils luck of making some good appointments eg Okunjo-whats -her-name, Aunty Dora, Ribadu (regardless of what u all say), Nweke Jnr etc.
But let us not be decieved, OBJs rule has witnessed an unpresidented number of unsolved political murders; Bola Ige, Harry,Dikibo, Mrs Rimi, should I go on?. What of the outrightly treasonable offences that happenned in Anambra an Oyo states?Nobody has been held accountable

Seun,
I beg your pardon. I'm gainfully employed and I thank God I'm quite comfortable. If Obj takes his fuel pump price to 200naira per litter, I will still be able to fuel and drive my car. But can I say same for the over over 130million 9ijans. The answer is "NO". The fact that I'm comfortable does not mean I should not weep when I see others being oppressed by a government that is making unsuccessful attempts at fooling the polpulace that it's perfoming miracles.

Ma brother, abeg shine your eyes o!

The so called "military shoping list" was a call for speed boats with which to safe gaurd oil facilities. Much as some of you try to paint a picture of doom, it doens't fool most Nigerians. And it was just one of the many things discussed. And the US government did not even reject the request. They just placed conditions on the sale and the Federal authorities felt the situation wasn't being treated as urgently as they would like.

As the british Foereign secretary said the conference was a success as lots of things were covered.

You guys blame Obansanjo for everything while most Governors are busy redirecting money into their pockets.

@ Seun, It's very good of you to be optimistic,  My brother I think I've been there too but these things become clearer by the dayand I do Hope you are right,  I ernestly hope Seun is not wrong, but if we face what we are seeing today and face match them with what has happened in the past, I think we are Justified to be dissapointed in our leaders, 

At least they are wise enough not to demand a Niger Delta Republic of Ijaw but a demand for release of criminals like Alams and Dokubo? I say they are not serious. 

Even then I still won't take them seriously as 'struggle fighters' for the people. Only people that use democratic and peaceful means to achieve their goal I take serious not kidnapping, oil thieving bandit like MEND. I do support recent court ruling that award $1.5billion to the Niger Delta communities against Shell for environmental pollution and gas flaring, this shows that there are peaceful means to the problem if properly pursue.


  How so???   

I agree that they are suffering, but violence is not the answer.  Read this:

A Nigerian court asked oil giant Royal Dutch Shell to pay 1.5 billion US. dollars to communities as compensation for oil pollution on Friday, but Shell argued immediately against the judgment.
http://english.people.com.cn/200602/25/eng20060225_245748.html

If spent properly, that $1.5 billion in compensatory damages can go a long way in developing the Niger Delta.  But the reality on ground is that 90% of the money will be "chopped" by your community leaders.  This court ruling for $1.5 billion was achieved without kidnapping or killing everybody.  Civilised societies fight their battles in court, and this ruling shows that the courts are willing to help.  Let us look for peaceful means of achieving our goals.  So we can live long.

$1.5bn cannot go a long way in developing the ND. It is peanuts compared to 22bn$ per annum earned from the region.

In any case, the case did not start in the courts, it started in the senate.This should help you to know that the battle is on all fronts.

But be sure that those that live the longest are not necessarily those that were the best in avoiding trouble. Only cowards avoid trouble when their life is being troubled daily.

Well Seun,
What can I say desame mistakes over and Over again, These money don't affect the youth cause they never get to their designated destinations,  and again like I've always said, Nobody is asked any questions, money being pumped into the Niger Delta if properly monitored will result to Good livelihood for these people. But they leave it to the political goons and don't prob their accountability cause they are "paddy paddy", And if these things don't get to the youths, they'll suffer and who cares afterwards, I maintain the problem is not giving money but monitoring the ways they are spent and emphasis should be on educating these people, Obj should go and remove the Faculty of Technology  foundation stone he layed in Oleh campus of Delta State University and replace it with working structures, There is enough money for this, and It will help the people there see one or more things to do apart from touting guns and kidnapping. the lesser we have of these kind of youths the better for our country.

The 'incompetent selfish goons (according to demmy) ruling Nigeria, though culpable are not to blame. They are the products of this society and are kept in power by the same people.

I have insisted time and again that Nigeria's only problem is ethnicity (and not corruption). It is this problem that is at the root of every malaise that can be identified. Unless it is denounced, dealt with and its ashes 'cremated', nothing else can make this place to work.
Ethnicity it is that
1. determines where a university, road, hospital, factory etc is built or supported by the federal government. it is what makes port harcourt airport look like a secondary school hostel compared to minna despite being the busiest and most economically viable outside lagos.
2. Determines who is given scholarship
3. Determines whether someone is given a job or not
4. Determines whether a landlord agrees to give you his house in lagos or not
and all sort of sundry things

However it is seen, Nigeria's failure and imminent collapse is a direct result of ethnic bigotry.

For the purpose of information, it is too late to share money or start building infrastructure in the Niger Delta. That should have been done ten years ago.

If advocating for the Niger Delta puts ethnic coat on me, I hereby humbly accept it.
It would not be the first or second time because, in the years between 1992-1995, advocating strongly for the west  and even campaigning for it, had put  an ethnic coat over me , which I gladly accepted.

The issues that this thread has raised are still outstanding, and they include
1. What situations on ground have raised a group called MEND (or any other name)
2. Are they just opportunists ,bent on profiteering or working for 'selfish' reasons?
3. Are the identified problems (and the leaders peretrating them) encouraged by the larger Nigerian population?
4. What is Nigeria's future in view of these groups springing up.

These and other issues related to the ND are more important and should be answered objectively.