This weekend we wake up to the reality of the devastating effect of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta which has brought the nation's oil production to a twenty year low, and the militants resolve to cause more havoc has never been stronger.
In as much we all know the Niger-Delta militancy is more political than resource control as evident in their past actions; for example the amnesty programme. Nevertheless it is the responsibility of the government to bring about the best and lasting solution to the problem, and for an optimist like me, I believe every problem has a solution.
It is not a rhetoric that the United States loves to repeat "we don't negotiate with terrorists" It's because of the advantageous nature of the stand.
Militancy (Terrorism or insurgency, whatever you want to call it) either with the carrot or the stick. OBJ chose the stick, and Yaradua chose the carrot. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
1. THE CARROT
The advantage of this as evident in Yaradua's regime is that it gives short term results within a month militants can be settled and production will immediately sour high.
The disadvantage is that the militants are now empowered and emboldened! A gang of 20 militants can divided into three and recruits their younger ones. With the money they are getting from the government they can get more weapons, bomb an oil installation and demand for amnesty for themselves again. This is what was happening throughout GEJ's reign. The problem becomes hydra headed ant it would not stop until virtually all Niger Deltans end up on amnesty payroll.
2. THE STICK
The stick as applied by OBJ has its disadvantages. The militants have the ability reduce the nation's oil production to an insignificant amount. The inevitable destruction of lives (civilians, security men, oil workers and the militants) and property worth billions of dollars will be at an unprecedented level. This must be why Yaradua went for the stick approach, because it would take not less than a year for militants to be completely routed from the creeks.
The advantage is that this is the only sure way for a lasting solution to this economic sabotage. Only time will tell which option PMB is willing to take.
Cc: Tonyebarcanista modath omenka mynd44 chukwudi44 dropshot Firefire et al correct me if I am wrong.

I'm a fan of real solution not mere military war or financial gratification

Waiting to see how PMB will resolve this.

My dear, these leaders know wat to do, but won't do it... all I can say that buhari's approach now, can't solve d prob. Wat I will do is to give d contracts to protect the pipes back to Tompolo, implement Confab report, Pass the PIB and after a while, we start practicing True Federalism. But some people(northern elites) willl never allow all these see the light of d day.
Worst of all Buhari is a tribal bigot, even some of his statements can sprung up these, den going after Tompolo again; he totally missed it,. Unlike GEJ who wanted equity and justice.

We are not slaves .


Bring your army and way how the world will abandon your Useles president.

Now you are advocating for mass murder on innocents Niger Deltans so the oil money keeps flowing.


Una see whyi keep telling you that Yorubas are snakes

The people are not happy.

The only solution is political by drawing up a new constituion and returning back to true federalism any thing else will fail and hasten Nigeria's dissolution.

Either uphold the supremacy of the state or just give up.
In doing so, you are either ready to throw the kitchen sink and be ready to lose everything or continue on the path of destruction.
No sane country can continue to compensate lawlessness and be expecting to develop.
The country is losing trillions of naira because of the refusal to write off the Niger -delta as a source of revenue and gas.
Same thing with the fulani herdsmen refusal to change from their nomadic lifestyle.
Carrot and stick is the approach of the elites benefitting from the fraudulent Nigeria as it is.
They want the gravy train to continue.
An upright state and leader uses the stick and the stick alone
All these groups
Boko haram
Fulani herdsmen
Ipob
ND oil criminals
And ethnic militia like OPC, APC,Bakassi bit are resting that supremacy.

TonyeBarcanista:
I'm a fan of real solution not mere military war or financial gratification

i agree with Tonye barcanista.
I will suggest every community vigillante protect pipeline along thier community. With monthly allowance paid directly to the community vigillante.

I dont believe in giving contract to war lord like Tompolo who end up using d money to oppress niger delta people and further promote millitancy as a career path.

Pavarottii:
My dear, these leaders know wat to do, but won't do it... all I can say that buhari's approach now, can't solve d prob. Wat I will do is to give d contracts to protect the pipes back to Tompolo, implement Confab report, Pass the PIB and after a while, we start practicing True Federalism. But some people(northern elites) willl never allow all these see the light of d day.
Worst of all Buhari is a tribal bigot, even some of his statements can sprung up these, den going after Tompolo again; he totally missed it,. Unlike GEJ who wanted equity and justice.

So you are suggesting absolute carrot on this one. But remember that approach didn't solve militancy.

tuale4u:


i agree with Tonye barcanista.
I will suggest every community vigillante protect pipeline along thier community. With monthly allowance paid directly to the community vigillante.

I dont believe in giving contract to war lord like Tompolo who end up using d money to oppress niger delta people and further promote millitancy as a career path.

You are not in a position to suggest or agree with anybody, you are not from NigerDelta.


They'v made their demands, and there is nothing like awarding contracts there. Let us discuss our state of unity as a country through SNC.

Let us discuss our progress in a round table including all stake holders big and small or everybody suffers. This demand is genuine and ideal.


I think every party should agree without reservation.

tuale4u:


i agree with Tonye barcanista.
I will suggest every community vigillante protect pipeline along thier community. With monthly allowance paid directly to the community vigillante.

I dont believe in giving contract to war lord like Tompolo who end up using d money to oppress niger delta people and further promote millitancy as a career path.

But it is the warlords like Tompolo that have the tendency to blow up the installations, not ordinary village people.

tuale4u:


i agree with Tonye barcanista.
I will suggest every community vigillante protect pipeline along thier community. With monthly allowance paid directly to the community vigillante.

I dont believe in giving contract to war lord like Tompolo who end up using d money to oppress niger delta people and further promote millitancy as a career path.

The problem with this is that one way or the other, a particular set will turn themselves to warlords and Lord it over the budding militants who will then continue the vicious circle.....without giving back mere crumbs to the communities on whose backs the "benefits" of the "struggle" are derived.

Tompolo has billions, one kindergarten centre, primary health care facility for at infants and mothers or vocational school to learn trades he didn't establish.

Asari has a university but the whole of south south of Nigeria isn't good enough for him to establish it..

1 thing that is in the charter of demands that is baffling is the clean up of the oil producing areas.... you are complaining of degradation and you are still doing this to your people??

This is not a fight about ideology, this is sabotage....

Pedropa:




You are not in a position to suggest or agree with anybody, you are not from NigerDelta.


They'v made their demands, and there is nothing like awarding contracts there. Let us discuss our state of unity as a country through SNC.

Let us discuss our progress in a round table including all stake holders big and small or everybody suffers. This demand is genuine and ideal.


I think every party should agree without reservation.

We all know that majority of the militants are looking for money. Those demands are just a cover up. Apart from monthly alert Yaradua didn't implement all those promises not to talk of GEJ. Even those that started bombings much later in GEJ'S tenure were calling for amnesty phase two and phase 3.

EazyMoh:

So you are suggesting absolute carrot on this one. But remember that approach didn't solve militancy.

Did u see where I said at d end FISCAL FEDERALISM. That is the solution.

EazyMoh:

So you are suggesting absolute carrot on this one. But remember that approach didn't solve militancy.

What has helped ? Stick ? Cos it is not your area ? Mind you, this your stick approach is to kill and destroy lives and properties. Has it helped from the time of Abacha till OBJ ?



Why don't you ask we try the option of the people controlling their resources while the FG stands in the position of begging crumbs from them, afterall oil isn't the only resouce Nigeria is blessed with.

Pedropa:



What has helped ? Stick ? Cos it is not your area ? Mind you, this your stick approach is to kill and destroy lives and properties. Has it helped from the time of Abacha till OBJ ?



Why don't you ask we try the option of the people controlling their resources while the FG stands in the position of begging crumbs from them, afterall oil isn't the only resouce Nigeria is blessed with.

Pavarottii:

Did u see where I said at d end FISCAL FEDERALISM. That is the solution.

Pedropa:



What has helped ? Stick ? Cos it is not your area ? Mind you, this your stick approach is to kill and destroy lives and properties. Has it helped from the time of Abacha till OBJ ?



Why don't you ask we try the option of the people controlling their resources while the FG stands in the position of begging crumbs from them, afterall oil isn't the only resouce Nigeria is blessed with.

Am sorry but I don't think that's a realistic option, for now.

oduastates:
Either uphold the supremacy of the state or just give up.
In doing so, you are either ready to throw the kitchen sink and be ready to lose everything or continue on the path of destruction.
No sane country can continue to compensate lawlessness and be expecting to develop.
The country is losing trillions of naira because of the refusal to write off the Niger -delta as a source of revenue and gas.
Same thing with the fulani herdsmen refusal to change from their nomadic lifestyle.
Carrot and stick is the approach of the elites benefitting from the fraudulent Nigeria as it is.
They want the gravy train to continue.
An upright state and leader uses the stick and the stick alone
All these groups
Boko haram
Fulani herdsmen
Ipob
ND oil criminals
And ethnic militia like OPC, APC,Bakassi bit are resting that supremacy.

You are on point, but the consequences are grave. Imagine oil and gas production brought to halt for 8 months. Certainly no government would want afford such waste of resources and time.

EazyMoh:

We all know that majority of the militants are looking for money. Those demands are just a cover up. Apart from monthly alert Yaradua didn't implement all those promises not to talk of GEJ. Even those that started bombings much later in GEJ'S tenure were calling for amnesty phase two and phase 3.

Is it not better each State manages her resources, that way, any militancy in any state will know that their end result will be dragging their states backward.

NigerDeltans are not terrorists and are demanding for what is theirs. Total Resource control will settle the whole issue while the FG stands in a position of "begging" for a quantity of each states resources to carry out some operations.

EazyMoh:

Am sorry but I don't think that's a realistic option, for now.

Do u think oil is the only resource we av, Nigeria is blessed with resources all over the the 6 geopolitical regions. That's what USA practices and it's works 4 dem. Av told u b4, our elites know wat to do. But they give a blind eye to d situation.

Pavarottii:

Do u think oil is the only resource we av, Nigeria is blessed with resources all over the the 6 geopolitical regions. That's what USA practices and it's works 4 dem. Av told u b4, our elites know wat to do. But they give a blind eye to d situation.

Hmnnn Ok let's hope the president picks the right option when he comes back. BTW I don't think we have oil in the NW.

I remember the words of late peter tosh. I don't want no peace; all I need is equal rights and justice. That is why USA is a great nation. They are not perfect. There is racism no doubt! This is my first comment on nairaland. Nigeria can never get it right until majority of the people know there is equal rights & justice. The present government is making maters worse.

EazyMoh:

Hmnnn Ok let's hope the president picks the right option when he comes back. BTW I don't think we have oil in the NW.

We av resources aside oil in NW. And where states can't manage their states with wat they av. They get more support from federal level(through states that av more).

Just read on fiscal federalism.

megdeik:
I remember the words of late peter tosh. I don't want no peace; all I need is equal rights and justice. That is why USA is a great nation. They are not perfect. There is racism no doubt! This is my first comment on nairaland. Nigeria can never get it right until majority of the people know there is equal rights & justice. The present government is making maters worse.

Welcome to NL, the prude of Nigerian youth.
So what do you suggest PMB shall do when he comes back from France? The BH treatment or Amnesty of Change?

Pavarottii:

We av resources aside oil in NW. And where states can't manage their states with wat they av. They get more support from federal level(through states that av more).

Just read on fiscal federalism.

I know what fiscal federalism is, we are talking of a timely decision to be taken immediately when the president returns. In reality FF is near impossible in present situation in Nigeria. GEJ was the perfect to lay foundation to it, and he didn't.

EazyMoh:

I know what fiscal federalism is, we are talking of a timely decision to be taken immediately when the president returns. In reality FF is near impossible in present situation in Nigeria. GEJ was the perfect to lay foundation to it, and he didn't.

Well u av a point. We hope we get there soon.

Amen.

Time covers many things but time also establishes many things. You can decide to use the stick and the carrot.

In my opinion, they have made demands and carried out their threats.

The move on the Nigerian "chess board" is Buhari's like you pointed out. What say ye Mr. President? Carrot or Stick? But you must choose wisely given the current circumstances. You are between a rock and a hard place.

Remember, you are currently involved with Boko Haram and Cattle Rustlers/Fulani Herdsmen. Economy is bad, infrastructure in poor state,utilities crumbled and inflation high. Approval ratings are low with the country very divided along Tribo-Ethno-Religious lines and many more issues.

This is why politics and administrative tactics and strategy are skills are important. I hope he makes the right choice(s) for the entire nation.

AnakinSkywalker:

Time covers many things but time also establishes many things. You can decide to use the stick and the carrot.

In my opinion, they have made demands and carried out their threats.

The move on the Nigerian "chess board" is Buhari's like you pointed out. What say ye Mr. President? Carrot or Stick? But you must choose wisely given the current circumstances. You are between a rock and a hard place.

Remember, you are currently involved with Boko Haram and Cattle Rustlers/Fulani Herdsmen. Economy is bad, infrastructure in poor state,utilities crumbled and inflation high. Approval ratings are low with the country very divided along Tribo-Ethno-Religious lines and many more issues.

This is why politics and administrative tactics and strategy are skills are important. I hope he makes the right choice(s) for the entire nation.

That's an excellent way to put it.
I know the general in PMB will be telling him to give them the BH treatment, but putting this new NDA on the amnesty payroll mean the list is gonna be endless, and pipeline vandalism would never cease in the creeks.
hmm let's wait and see.

The solution is simple.

Give the oil back to the people it is in their land. Let every region be responsible for their developments using the resources in their land.

Simple but the north would never agree.

Pavarottii:
My dear, these leaders know wat to do, but won't do it... all I can say that buhari's approach now, can't solve d prob. Wat I will do is to give d contracts to protect the pipes back to Tompolo, implement Confab report, Pass the PIB and after a while, we start practicing True Federalism. But some people(northern elites) willl never allow all these see the light of d day.
Worst of all Buhari is a tribal bigot, even some of his statements can sprung up these, den going after Tompolo again; he totally missed it,. Unlike GEJ who wanted equity and justice.

What's the main issue behind militancy? It was as a result of Oil spillage in their water bodies and total pollution of majority of their farmland..
The Real solutions should be
1. Implementation of confab report which is even yet to be passed @NASS
2. Cleaning up of Ogoniland
3. Giving pipeline security contract to worthy and competent company..and not to a ROGUE like Tompolo as you suggested
4. DISSOLUTION of amnesty programme
5. Creating skill acquisition programmes and etc

modath:


The problem with this is that one way or the other, a particular set will turn themselves to warlords and Lord it over the budding militants who will then continue the vicious circle.....without giving back mere crumbs to the communities on whose backs the "benefits" of the "struggle" are derived.

Tompolo has billions, one kindergarten centre, primary health care facility for at infants and mothers or vocational school to learn trades he didn't establish.

Asari has a university but the whole of south south of Nigeria isn't good enough for him to establish it..

1 thing that is in the charter of demands that is baffling is the clean up of the oil producing areas.... you are complaining of degradation and you are still doing this to your people??

This is not a fight about ideology, this is sabotage....

Have you been to Gbaramatu Kingdom?? I'm not a Fan of Tompolo, but the guy did things over there. That guy made sure nobody lived in a thatched house in the whole community...u can confirm.

Where he missed it was forgetting the people who made him ( ND people and some of his boys) cos the struggle was theirs not his personal project.

He began to see himself as a demi god and he can go down for all I care especially after the connivance to put that docile goat Okowa as Governor and his cousin as Deputy Governor of Delta state.

You made quite a lot of sense and I agree with your recommendations though but you have to know that these people we call leaders and politicians, they know what to do but won't do it. It's just too obvious that the contraption called Nigeria can't work as a country ( I mean we are divided along many lines).

When we have sincere leaders who have the interest of the people in mind, then we can get it but till then, 9ja is just a ticking time bomb

bishopkay:


Have you been to Gbaramatu Kingdom?? I'm not a Fan of Tompolo, but the guy did things over there. That guy made sure nobody lived in a thatched house in the whole community...u can confirm.

Where he missed it was forgetting the people who made him ( ND people and some of his boys) cos the struggle was theirs not his personal project.

He began to see himself as a demi god and he can go down for all I care especially after the connivance to put that docile goat Okowa as Governor and his cousin as Deputy Governor of Delta state.

You made quite a lot of sense and I agree with your recommendations though but you have to know that these people we call leaders and politicians, they know what to do but won't do it. It's just too obvious that the contraption called Nigeria can't work as a country ( I mean we are divided along many lines).

When we have sincere leaders who have the interest of the people in mind, then we can get it but till then, 9ja is just a ticking time bomb

I've never been, aluminium roofed houses are ok but it isn't real progress, personal houses only show individual prosperity, it's not for communal good... I'd prefer stuff like Primary health care with the latest "bells and whistles", scholarships and youth empowerment ish, that is my definition of "trying" for people whose "struggled" made billionaire of him.....

The people (his own people BTW) who insist he has just used them to enrich himself and his unborn generations are probably using the yardstick of what real development (real world standard) entails...

As per sincerity of government, it's relative..who has been and who isn't? .... we live in a complex society delineated along tribal, sectional and religious fault lines, we also don't conform to any societal conventions.... one size doesn't fit all...

LouisVanGaal:
What's the main issue behind militancy? I[b]t was as a result of Oil spillage in their water bodies and total pollution of majority of their farmland[/b]..
The Real solutions should be
1. Implementation of confab report which is even yet to be passed @NASS
2. Cleaning up of Ogoniland
3. Giving pipeline security contract to worthy and competent company..and not to a ROGUE like Tompolo as you suggested
4. DISSOLUTION of amnesty programme
5. Creating skill acquisition programmes and etc

Inasmuch as the bolded part of your comment represent the only reasonable justification for any action by the militants, I doubt if it is the actual issue. I think people have turned the whole thing into a money making venture while hiding behind pollution, neglect, resource control and all that.
I wouldn't be surprised if militancy still continue even after the Government provides all your solutions