I have no apathy to Odili. He burned down my village. I hope that bastard rots in hell as well as all the kidnappers and criminals, especially Ateke who carried out the dastardly act - but a wise man does not fight 2 enemies at the same time. The Nigerian Government would have loved it if MEND went after Ateka and Odili. It only distracts MEND and creates bad press - we saw what happened when Ateke fought Soboma George (who was hired by Odili because Ateke will not obey him anymore). Do not think they haven't considered killing Odili and do not think Odili will go scot-free. Why do you think he didn't want to come to PH for the TRC? He is scared for his safety.

I really don't know what you are getting at with all this NNPC conspiracies. Please provide a list of all the oil attacks, let us see what you are talking about. Did MEND not threaten to blow up that NNPC pipeline within the next 30 days? However, I would not be surprised if some Hausa men are helping militants ship their bunkered oil. My friend is a soldier and he used to help some militants do it. If anyone is helping MEND ship out oil, whether they know it or not, they are helping the war effort because that money is going into buying guns  . So they are pawns. . . . Nigerian society allows such corruption to take place and if such unscrupulous Nigerians do not believe in one Nigeria, then why should we?

I can't believe that Bystander is here, inviting Nigerian forces onto our land and claiming to be from Niger Delta . . especially after seeing what they did in Odi. . . .tufiakwa . . .shame on your household. . . . bloody simpleton. . . simpletons only think about peace and stability, even under poverty and oppression.

I am not going to bring myself down to your level by insulting who disagrees with me.
I know what a few hooligans with guns like MEND can do to who disagrees with them when they have authority over a village, talkless a region like the Niger Delta.

The army are made of all ethnics in Nigeria, it might be dominated by one or two tribes dough. I have a brother who died in the Biafra war. Part of my family lived as member of minorities under the Igbo-Biafra occupation. They know what they went trough under those hooligans with guns. Don't be so one-sided and argue reasonable without insult.

Let me just bring your attention to other parts of the world, the minorities with the weapons control the destiny of the armless majority. Don't be cynical, disagree with MEND, it will be a straight bullet to your head. If MEND is so beloved as you said, they would larger in numbers. Look at the time of Saro-Wiwa, he controlled 1000's if not 1000000 when he spoke. Not an illiterate like Mujahadin Dokubi-Asari - by the way, as an insider, can you tell me if there was a deal between him and Al-Quaida as he converted to Islam?

A quick question, tell me which state in the Niger Delta is dominated by a "foreign" governor? All of them are sons of the soil. Why can't they do something with the allocation they get? The Niger Delta states receive more funds than other states get. If the madness-MEND are so popular, why didn't they drop their guns and run for election?

there is more than one way to kill a cat.

A fight that's been going on for forty years and yet still no end in sight?

I think people on both sides of the conflict need to sit down and ask themseves just how long they intend to keep on killing each other while the rest of the world gapes at them and goes on by.

It doesnt speak well of anyone to continue holding on to an unending 40 year old grudge with an everlasting cycle of violence. I'm sure that's not the only way to resolve this issue, even for the undercover foreign sponsors who are profiting from the militants activities. The whole thing is getting pointless, just like the Congo, and Ugandan mini-conflicts. After a while, the original grievances get murky.

Shell caused environmental degradation. The militants are also causing environmental degradation. What's the difference. Even if shell wants to make amends and clean up the area, how can they do so now?

bystander:

If MEND is so beloved as you said, they would larger in numbers. Look at the time of Saro-Wiwa, he controlled 1000's if not 1000000 when he spoke. Not an illiterate like Mujahadin Dokubi-Asari - by the way, as an insider, can you tell me if there was a deal between him and Al-Quaida as he converted to Islam?

This just proves that you don't know what you are talking about - the leader of MEND is Victor Ben, not Asari. Yes, you have never heard of him, because his only concern is guerrilla warfare, not political thuggery or big man behaviour.

Asari is the leader of the NDPFV. Please do your research. And your anti-Islam views just show that your opinions are formed from hearsay.

If you are confusing MEND with Asari, then I don't blame you for your antipathy. Asari is involved in many dubious things however I respect him because he is the only thug that supports the struggle (despite his other thuggish behaviour) and because he was the one who went after Ateke when Ateke burned down my village.

bystander:

Look at the time of Saro-Wiwa, he controlled 1000's if not 1000000 when he spoke. Not an illiterate like Mujahadin Dokubi-Asari - by the way, as an insider, can you tell me if there was a deal between him and Al-Quaida as he converted to Islam?

Saro-Wiwa is a political leader, not a militia. How many members of the IRA do you know? Even if they support the IRA, they are not members. I am a supporter of MEND, not a member. So are many members of family. It is good to be informed. Any Naija-Deltan who is informed will know who to support and who not to. Not everybody is meant to carry guns . . . . but we support the ones who carry it for us. . . . and they support the political wing who carry out negotiations for them. . . unfortunately, in this Nigeria, no one dare claim to be a member of the political wing because they saw what happened to Saro-Wiwa. But I know professors, learned men who support MEND with advice and strategy. That is why their press releases are always educated and have strategy.


Lemme tell you why I support MEND, from brother to brother:

(1.) MEND is the only group who have a clear strategy in this insurrection.

(2.) They are the only group who put out press releases informing the world of their actions. This gives you a semblance of organisation.

(3.) They are the only group who did not get involved in PDP election thugging. They were not paid by any politician and that is why you never hear them involved in any political scandal.

(4.) They are the only group seeking to unite all the fighters in the region to go against a common enemy (Nigerian Government) and stop inflicting harm on the people.

(5.) They are the the only group with a solid base of intellectuals behind them

(6.) They are the only group who are not involved in kidnapping

(7.) They are the only group who attack oil installations and tell the world about it. And I am not talking pipelines like common thugs do. I am talking highly specialised engineers blowing up highly flammable installations - and they even travelled 200 miles into the Atlantic ocean - what other group can do that?

(8.) Victor Ben once said: "Even if all these other militants sell out the struggle, God must use one person to make a stand because all this injustice cannot go on."



They may have some dubious elements and animals amongst them but a flawed freedom fighter is better than none at all. After all, during the Biafran war, the Biafran soldiers oppressed their own people, ate their food and even raped their own women at times - but the people still supported them.


And BTW, MEND does not run for election under a constituion they do not respect. That is like Ojukwu running for election when he does not support the notion of one Nigeria - it only brings shame on you.

First of all, I never stated that Dokubo-Asari was the leader of MEND. But is he not associated with MEND? When MEND even demands his release along with this former dubios governor of Bayelsa state (so far for not being involved with thuggish politicans). You even say you respect him, whereas I have nothing for him.

I am not against Islam at all by the way.

Thank you for the (1) to (8 ) lecture, but I am still waiting for you to answer my question with regards to what MEND-madness has done with the millions from kidnappings and oil smuggling to improve the living conditions of the ordinary Niger Deltarians.

The time is coming when the federal government will run out of patience, you and I know who will pay the price for that: the ordinary unarmed millions of Niger Deltarians. Look at what is happening Sudan, look back at what happened in Sierra Leone, in Liberia, Angola and Congo. Or did you forgot about our history: who suffered most in the Biafran war? Not the likes of Ojukwu et al but the masses of ordinary Igbos and other Nigerians were slaughtered and starved. By the way, you made reference to Ojukwu before: you are wrong, he ran for election in both 2003 and 2007. However, as expected, with little success. So, let the madness-MEND bring out their candidates in the Niger Delta and let's see how their turnout will be. Even with their guns I doubt they would make any major success.

Stop being naive. War is always ugly, the innocents are always caught in the crossfire. You seem to oversee that with your idealistic mindset.

God will bless MEND and all the Freedom Fighters for their good work.

bystander:

Thank you for the (1) to (8 ) lecture, but I am still waiting for you to answer my question with regards to what MEND-madness has done with the millions from kidnappings and oil smuggling to improve the living conditions of the ordinary Niger Deltarians.

I have already answered this. Must you persist? Please read my previous post. Does anyone ask the IRA why they have not developed Northern Ireland? The IRA's job was strictly to fight, nothing else. Have you been to ask the local communities how MEND may or may not have helped them? If they do, will they announce it? If they announce it, will the Government not attack that community as MEND sympathisers? What the phock are you talking about? A freedom fighter is not a philanthrophist. How much money does MEND have and how much good work can they do? After they spend their money, will you buy guns for them?

Ateke donated N150,000,000 to Okrika. Does that make him a good man? Please stop sidetracking with all this shenannigans about development.

Why should MEND not ask for the release of Alamaesiagha. Do you know how many guns he bought for them? Whether good or bad, his money is welcome. How many corrupt politicians gave Ojukwu money during the Biafran war? Ijaws have a right to be angry that Alama is being arrested when far bigger animals like Odili are roaming around freely. What kind of double standard is that? Either we fight corruption or not at all, stop being selective. Were they not investigating Alama simply because he gave money to MEND?

BTW, everybody knows Ojukwu ran for President - and look how they laughed at him.

When a people have little avenue to complain about social injustice and the system is skewed against them, violence is a natural option.
The area boys in Lagos, Ibadan and the western part of Nigeria terrorize transporters collecting illegal monies, no body calls it militancy even when they fight for control.
Northerners use political influence to steal our resources; I see it as social violence against the poor people in the Niger delta.

You all criticizing the the movement can go sit down in the Sahara desert, long live MEND; long live the struggle and certainly victory is assured.

Thank you Oracle. I take the liberty to post the Kaiama declaration declared by Ijaw youth and instigated by Asari-Dokubo who Bystander loathes so much. The same Asari who all the tribal chiefs went to collect on his release from prison, who was greeted with gunshot salute on his return amidst jubilation. Yes, Asari, the terrorist.



INTRODUCTION

We, Ijaw youths drawn from over five hundred communities from over 40 clans that make up the Ijaw nation and representing 25 representative organisations met, today, in Kaiama to deliberate on the best way to ensure the continuos survival of the indigenous peoples of the Ijaw ethnic nationality of the Niger Delta within the Nigerian state.

After exhaustive deliberations, the Conference observed:

a. That it was through British colonisation that the IJAW NATION was forcibly put under the Nigerian State

b. That but for the economic interests of the imperialists, the Ijaw ethnic nationality would have evolved as a distinct and separate sovereign nation, enjoying undiluted political, economic, social, and cultural AUTONOMY.

c. That the division of the Southern Protectorate into East and West in 1939 by the British marked the beginning of the balkanisation of a hitherto territorially contiguous and culturally homogeneous Ijaw people into political and administrative units, much to our disadvantage. This trend is continuing in the balkanisation of the Ijaws into six states-Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, mostly as minorities who suffer socio-political, economic, cultural and psychological deprivations.

d. That the quality of life of Ijaw people is deteriorating as a result of utter neglect, suppression and marginalisation visited on Ijaws by the alliance of the Nigerian state and transnational oil companies.

e. That the political crisis in Nigeria is mainly about the struggle for the control of oil mineral resources which account for over 80% of GDP, 95 %of national budget and 90% of foreign exchange earnings. From which, 65%, 75% and 70% respectively are derived from within the Ijaw nation. Despite these huge contributions, our reward from the Nigerian State remains avoidable deaths resulting from ecological devastation and military repression.

f. That the unabating damage done to our fragile natural environment and to the health of our people is due in the main to uncontrolled exploration and exploitation of crude oil and natural gas which has led to numerous oil spillages, uncontrolled gas flaring, the opening up of our forests to loggers, indiscriminate canalisation, flooding, land subsidence, coastal erosion, earth tremors etc. Oil and gas are exhaustible resources and the complete lack of concern for ecological rehabilitation, in the light of the Oloibiri experience, is a signal of impending doom for the peoples of Ijawland.

g. That the degradation of the environment of Ijawland by transnational oil companies and the Nigerian State arise mainly because Ijaw people have been robbed of their natural rights to ownership and control of their land and resources through the instrumentality of undemocratic Nigerian State legislations such as the Land Use Decree of 1978, the Petroleum Decrees of 1969 and 1991, the Lands (Title Vesting etc.) Decree No. 52 of 1993 (Osborne Land Decree), the National Inland Waterways Authority Decree No. 13 of 1997 etc.

h. That the principle of Derivation in Revenue Allocation has been consciously and systematically obliterated by successive regimes of the Nigerian state. We note the drastic reduction of the Derivation Principle from 100% (1953), 50% (1960), 45% (1970), 20% (1975) 2% (1982), 1.5% (1984) to 3% (1992 to date), and a rumored 13% in Abacha's 1995 undemocratic and unimplemented Constitution.

i. That the violence in Ijawland and other parts of the Niger Delta area, sometimes manifesting in intra and inter ethnic conflicts are sponsored by the State and transnational oil companies to keep the communities of the Niger Delta area divided, weak and distracted from the causes of their problems.

j. That the recent revelations of the looting of national treasury by the Abacha junta is only a reflection of an existing and continuing trend of stealing by public office holders in the Nigerian state. We remember the over 12 billion dollars Gulf war windfall, which was looted by Babangida and his cohorts We note that over 70% of the billions of dollars being looted by military rulers and their civilian collaborators is derived from our ecologically devastated Ijawland.

Based on the foregoing, we, the youths of Ijawland, hereby make the following resolutions to be known as the Kaiama Declaration:

1. All land and natural resources (including mineral resources) within the Ijaw territory belong to Ijaw communities and are the basis of our survival.

2. We cease to recognise all undemocratic decrees that rob our peoples/communities of the right to ownership and control of our lives and resources, which were enacted without our participation and consent. These include the Land Use Decree and The Petroleum Decree etc.

3. We demand the immediate withdrawal from Ijawland of all military forces of occupation and repression by the Nigerian State. Any oil company that employs the services of the armed forces of the Nigerian State to "protect" its operations will be viewed as an enemy of the Ijaw people. Family members of military personnel stationed in Ijawland should appeal to their people to leave the Ijaw area alone.

4, Ijaw youths in all the communities in all Ijaw clans in the Niger Delta will take steps to implement these resolutions beginning from the 30th of December, 1998, as a step towards reclaiming the control of our lives. We, therefore, demand that all oil companies stop all exploration and exploitation activities in the Ijaw area. We are tired of gas flaring; oil spillages, blowouts and being labelled saboteurs and terrorists. It is a case of preparing the noose for our hanging. We reject this labelling. Hence, we advice all oil companies staff and contractors to withdraw from Ijaw territories by the 30th December, 1998 pending the resolution of the issue of resource ownership and control in the Ijaw area of the Niger Delta

5,  Ijaw youths and Peoples will promote the principle of peaceful coexistence between all Ijaw communities and with our immediate neighbours, despite the provocative and divisive actions of the Nigerian State, transnational oil companies and their contractors. We offer a hand of friendship and comradeship to our neighbors: the Itsekiri, Ilaje, Urhobo, Isoko, Edo, Ibibio, Ogoni, Ekpeye, Ikwerre etc. We affirm our commitment to joint struggle with the other ethnic nationalities in the Niger delta area for self-determination.

6. We express our solidarity with all peoples organisations and ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and elsewhere who are struggling for self-determination and justice. In particular we note the struggle of the Oodua peoples Congress (OPC), the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (Mosop), Egi Women's Movement etc.

7. We extend our hand of solidarity to the Nigerian oil workers (NUPENG and PENGASSAN) and expect that they will see this struggle for freedom as a struggle for humanity

8. We reject the present transition to civil rule programme of the Abubakar regime, as it is not preceded by restructuring of the Nigerian federation. The way forward is a Sovereign National Conference of equally represented ethnic nationalities to discuss the nature of a democratic federation of Nigerian ethic nationalities. Conference noted the violence and killings that characterized the last local government elections in most parts of the Niger Delta. Conference pointed out that these electoral conflicts are a manifestation of the undemocratic and unjust nature of the military transition programme. Conference affirmed therefore, that the military are incapable of enthroning true democracy in Nigeria.

9 We call on all Ijaws to remain true to their Ijawness and to work for the total liberation of our people. You have no other true home but that which is in Ijawland.

10 We agreed to remain within Nigeria but to demand and work for Self Government and resource control for the Ijaw people. Conference approved that the best way for Nigeria is a federation of ethnic nationalities. The federation should be run on the basis equality and social justice.

Finally, Ijaw youths resolve to set up the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to coordinate the struggle of Ijaw peoples for self-determination and justice.

MEND is closely connected with Asari's Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, a rebel group with similar aims. MEND reportedly seeks "a union of all relevant militant groups in the Niger Delta."[6] However, the identity of MEND is somewhat obscure since its leaders like to remain faceless[7] and its cause has been taken up by completely unrelated groups inspired by the original MEND, one of which is claiming responsibility for some of the violence that has occurred. However, the original members of MEND (recognized as MEND by the United States government and Chevron security), have claimed that impostors are causing some of the violence that is now occurring.[8]

MEND's evolving approach to conducting warfare has been described as "open source" [9], so called because it is analogous to the decentralized communal development process now prevalent in the software industry, making it extremely quick to innovate and move new technologies and tactics rapidly from cell to cell without the direction of a vulnerable leadership hierarchy.[10] Former Air Force counter-terrorism officer, technology analyst, and software entrepreneur, John Robb, in a Wired Magazine interview about the emergence of "open source guerrillas" alleged that MEND "doesn’t even field its own guerillas. They hire their experts and fighters mostly from criminal gangs and tribal warrior cults to do their operations." [11]


Tactics
MEND's attacks involve substantially more sophisticated tactics than those of previous militant groups in the Niger Delta, which typically involved "either riots and/or protests or bunkering gone awry."[citation needed] MEND's recent tactics have included:

Swarm-based maneuvers: Guerrillas are using speed boats in the Niger Delta's swamps to quickly attack targets in succession. Multiple, highly maneuverable units have kept the government and Shell's defensive systems off-balance defending the sprawling network.

Radically improved firepower and combat training: allowing guerrillas to overpower a combination of Shell's Western-trained private military guards and elite Nigerian units in several engagements. (One of Shell's private military operators was captured as a hostage.)

Effective use of system disruption: Targets have been systematically and accurately selected to completely shut down production and delay and/or halt repairs, and the guerrillas are making effective use of Shell's hostages to coerce both the government and the company.[

Let us make clear the activities which MEND have been involved in. I am sure Texazzpete would like to pick over these bones. The bible says that by their fruits we shall know them. Let us see if MEND is terrorising Nigerian citizens or attacking oil installations:


Time Line of Activities

Nine officials for the Italian petrol company Eni SpA were killed when armed members of MEND attacked Eni SpA's security forces in Port Harcourt. MEND militants briefly occupied and robbed a bank near the Eni SpA base, leaving at about 3:30 p.m, about an hour after they showed up.

A company official stated, "Eni has temporarily evacuated staff and contractors from the area of the base affected by the incident and the situation is currently under control."

MEND issued a statement regarding the oil workers: "Be assured therefore that the hostages in return, will remain our guests,  [the hostages] are in good health and have adapted fairly well to the conditions under which the people of the Niger Delta have been kept."

On May 10, 2006, an executive with the United States-based oil company, Baker Hughes, was shot and killed in the south-eastern city of Port Harcourt. At the time of the shooting, it was not immediately known if MEND had any involvement or not. Witnesses say the attacker appeared to be specifically targeting the American executive. [13]

On June 2, 2006 a Norwegian rig offshore Nigeria was attacked and 16 crew members were kidnapped. According to the news agency Reuters, MEND has not taken responsibility for this attack. [14] (Norwegian)

On August 20, 2006, 10 MEND members were killed by the Nigerian military. The members were working on releasing a Royal Dutch Shell hostage. In an email to REUTERS, MEND stated, "Our response to Sunday's killings will come at our time, but for certain it will not go unpunished."[15]

On October 2, 2006, 10 Nigerian soldiers were killed off the shore of the Niger Delta in their patrol boat by a MEND mortar shell. Earlier that day a Nigerian/Royal Dutch Shell convoy was attacked in the Port Harcourt region resulting in some people being wounded.

On October 3, 2006, a militant group abducted four Scots, a Malaysian, an Indonesian and a Romanian from a bar in Akwa Ibom state.[16]

On October 4, 2006, Nigerian soldiers attacked a militant camp, in the ensuing battle 9 Nigerian soldiers were killed.[17]

On November 22, 2006, Nigerian soldiers attempted a rescue of kidnapped oil workers which resulted in one soldier being killed.

On May 1, 2007, MEND seized six expatriate workers from an offshore oil facility owned by Chevron. The group of six consisted of four Italians, an American and a Croat. On the same day, MEND published photos of the captives seated on white plastic chairs in a wooden shelter around the remains of a campfire.

On May 3, 2007, MEND seized eight foreign hostages from another offshore vessel. The hostages were released less than 24 hours later, stating they had intended to destroy the vessel and did not want more hostages.

On May 8, 2007, three major oil pipelines (one in Brass and two in the Akasa area) were attacked, shutting down oil production and cutting power to a facility run by Italian oil company Agip, part of the ENI energy group. An e-mail statement from a MEND spokesperson said, "Fighters of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) attacked and destroyed three major pipelines in Bayelsa state,  We will continue indefinitely with attacks on all pipelines, platforms and support vessels." [18]

On September 23, 2007, a MEND spokesperson named Jomo Gbomo announced, through a communique to the Philadelphia Independent Media Center, that media reports of his arrest and detention were false; and then further informed, through the letter, that MEND had officially declared war, effective 12 midnight, September 23, 2007, and that they would be commencing "attacks on installations and abduction of expatriates."[19]

On November 13, 2007, MEND militants attacked Cameroonian soldiers on the disputed Bakassi peninsula killing more than 20 soldiers, three days after this incident; a southern camerounian rebel group claimed responsibility to the attack on the camerounian soldiers.[20]

On May 3, 2008, MEND militants attacked Shell-operated pipelines in Nigeria, forcing the company to halt 170,000 barrels a day of exports of Bonny Light crude.[21]

On June 20, 2008, MEND naval forces attacked the Shell-operated Bonga oil platform, shutting down 10% of Nigeria's oil production in one fell swoop. The oil platform, Shell's flagship project in the area capable of extracting a massive 200,000 barrels of oil a day, was widely assumed to be outside the reach of the militants due to its location 120km off-shore. This attack has demonstrated a level of prowess and sophistication never before seen by the rebels and it is now known that all of Nigeria's oil platforms are within range of MEND attack. [22]

@Ibime sorry but you always seem to be missing out part of he arguement to prove a point. So because i am not in agrement with you or in support of MEND i can't possibly be from the Niger Delta? How laughable an assumption and generalisation, so asically only those who accept wha you say as gospel truth can be from the Niger Delta? Why did i even bother? When did the issue of kidnappings really blow up. around what period, please do tell. Why are you so quick to absolve MEND of any negative impact on the economy when oil ompanies and other businesses that have pulled out of the region have left has affected th indigenes of the state negatively. I am out of this because it is just futile, have a nice day

Sky Blue:

When did the issue of kidnappings really blow up. around what period, please do tell.

The issue of kidnapping is not a MEND problem. If after all this time and all these explanations, you still need me to tell you that MEND do not kidnap Nigerians, then its a lost cause. MEND started out kidnapping foreign oil workers . . . . after warning them to leave the Niger Delta . . . . . . and they have even stopped that now since every Tom, Dick and Harry started doing it. The last time they kidnapped anyone was May 2007.

All these other groups kidnapping Nigerians are not MEND. The fact is that there are kidnappings is simply because the poor are striking back against the rich. It is a Nigerian problem. If Nigeria takes care of its citizens then this will not happen. I am sure you have heard that they have started kidnapping in Iboland and Lagos. Maybe you will blame MEND for that also. Oya, don't ask me again, please.

Sky Blue:

Why are you so quick to absolve MEND of any negative impact on the economy when oil ompanies and other businesses that have pulled out of the region have left has affected th indigenes of the state negatively.

Sometimes the people gotta suffer so their children can have justice. As the Pet Shop Boys sang on their no 1 single, referring to the Spanish Revolution "If you tolerate this, then your children will be next."

To answer this, you just need to look at Resolution 4 of the Kaiama declaration:

Ibime:

4, Ijaw youths in all the communities in all Ijaw clans in the Niger Delta will take steps to implement these resolutions beginning from the 30th of December, 1998, as a step towards reclaiming the control of our lives. We, therefore, demand that all oil companies stop all exploration and exploitation activities in the Ijaw area. We are tired of gas flaring; oil spillages, blowouts[b] and being labelled saboteurs and terrorists. It is a case of preparing the noose for our hanging. [/b] We reject this labelling. Hence, we advice all oil companies staff and contractors to withdraw from Ijaw territories by the 30th December, 1998 pending the resolution of the issue of resource ownership and control in the Ijaw area of the Niger Delta

It is not MEND that said it, it is the Ijaw people. Representatives from 500 different Ijaw communities agreed on this resolution. The oil companies can all return as soon as we have resolved this issue of resource control with the Nigerian Government. Until then, they have been advised to stay away.


This is the issue of resource control I am talking about.

Ibime:

h. That the principle of Derivation in Revenue Allocation has been consciously and systematically obliterated by successive regimes of the Nigerian state. We note the drastic reduction of the Derivation Principle from 100% (1953), 50% (1960), 45% (1970), 20% (1975) 2% (1982), 1.5% (1984) to 3% (1992 to date), and a rumored 13% in Abacha's 1995 undemocratic and unimplemented Constitution.

We agreed to join Nigeria on 50% derivation and until that contract is honoured, we will not rest.

I see you don't like to fight for what is yours. That is your problem.

I shall not entertain any more queries from you regarding MEND's authenticity because a profiteer does not risk his life travelling 120 miles into the Atlantic to blow up an oil installation for no obvious profit. By their fruits you shall know them.

And eventually, the Niger Delta shall consume itself, Then shall Nigeria be in peace.

Tell ya the truth, 50% derivation seems fair.

@Ibime
Will you people be content with that? If that is done, will we have peace?

Ibime:



Sometimes the people gotta suffer so their children can have justice. As the Pet Shop Boys sang on their no 1 single, referring to the Spanish Revolution "If you tolerate this, then your children will be next."

It was actually the Welsh band, Manic Street Preachers.

^^^^Ehe. . . you know I am not too sharp on Oyinbo music. . . . but that was a good song.

@ Texazzpete,

That is all we are asking for. It is well documented in our request to the Nigerian Government. You can google search it if you wish. They asked for 50% and $1bn in back payments to deal with some of the environmental problems, thats all. You will have peace from the Ijaw people, for sure. But all these other miscreants will need to be dealt with. It should be no problem to flush them out because they will have no core support. The only reason the Nigerian Government has not been to flush out MEND is that for every man you kill, another will take his place. Otherwise, it is easy to find the core members of MEND. I am sure the Yankees have already located them on GPS satellite long time ago.

texazzpete:

Tell ya the truth, 50% derivation seems fair.

@Ibime
Will you people be content with that? If that is done, will we have peace?

50% is as good as any other arbitrary number. they did not plant the oil, and the lands are not privately owned. The money they are getting is not being used properly and the militants will just use any money they get to buy more weapons.

The last time I read something this constructive and clear as the blue sky was when Owo was here.

Ibime, you have done so well, I bet I couldn't have gone this far. This struggle of ours will definitely yield lasting fruits. . . . . .and just like you stated, if we, the present generation do not live to benefit from these struggles, then our offspring definitely will.

The struggle continues. Let all parasitic elements beware!!

Seun:

50% is as good as any other arbitrary number. they did not plant the oil, and the lands are not privately owned. The money they are getting is not being used properly and the militants will just use any money they get to buy more weapons.

So, you sef dey among parasitic elements? Na wah o. Willy2*, give bros the kind reply wey him deserve.

Seun:

50% is as good as any other arbitrary number.  they did not plant the oil, and the lands are not privately owned.  The money they are getting is not being used properly and the militants will just use any money they get to buy more weapons.

The only non arbitrary numbers are 0 or 100. Since zero is tantamount to a suicidal conflagration, I think it only
makes sense to give 100 %.

Seun:

50% is as good as any other arbitrary number. they did not plant the oil, and the lands are not privately owned. The money they are getting is not being used properly and the militants will just use any money they get to buy more weapons.

Nigeria did not plant the oil, nor do they harvest it. They only refine it. They recieve a derivation from the oil companies.

I expect better from Mr Admin. This notion that the money will be embezzled is all part of Nigerias subversive tactics to undermine our struggle. If Nigeria want, they can put EFCC on our ass 24/7 after we get our derivation. The money will be going to the State Government, not the militants and it can be monitored. There is no will on their part to do this thats why they give this silly excuse of corruption. The Nigerian system of Government as it is now encourages and endorses corruption, not only in Naija Delta but everywhere in Naija - then they blame us for the corruption. Who halted Ibori's trial? Mr Yar'Adua himself, not the Delta people. This labelling of our people as terrorists and profiteers is a noose to hang us and is part of their strategy to win the ideological war in the minds of the people - and it is a war they are winning, by your evidence. The truth is that the militant problem in the Niger Delta was caused by the bastard sons of the PDP election machine, the same way they did in Cross River state and Oyo state. Therefore, we do not have a monopoly on militancy.

50% is simply the number agreed upon when we joined Nigeria and we demand that it is respected. I suggest other tribes do the same because one day it will be your turn. Nigeria is a country which mirrors the American system of Government and legislature. We have a Senate and House of Reps just like they do. Our Legal arm mirrors theirs. However, when it comes to the issue of fiscal federalism, we refuse to follow their example. If we aspire to be a democratic, civilised country, I suggest we start behaving as such because there are many tribes with conflict issues bubbling under the surface, not just Niger-Delta and when it is their turn, Nigeria will pull the same stunts they are pulling now, spreading misinformation about the tribe concerned.

Nigeria does not pacify its different tribes, not just Naija Delta but Ibo as well as many other tribes. After the war, instead of making sure the Ibos felt comfortable in Nigeria, they proceeded to disempower them and marginalise them. Now, this is causing problems for them because they have to be wary of their actions in Naija-Delta because there is  another hostile neighbour (Ibo) nearby. Contrast that with Britain where they gave Scotland voting power far beyond the size of their poulation. It takes two English votes to cancel out one Scottish vote. That is the behaviour of a civilised country.


I assure you, if the Hausa owned the oil, there is NO BLOODY WAY in hell they would accept anything less than 80%. If not, you can be sure they will start a civil war.

ono:

Ibime, you have done so well, I bet I couldn't have gone this far.

These guys are testing my patience brother. . . . it is not easy being a minority in Nigeria, even on an internet forum . . . . but the truth has to be told and the position made clear.