biina:


I have spent considerable time in the Niger delta and in the oil and gas industry. I have also lived in the North and visited most states in Nigeria. The ND is in a bad state, and so are the northern states. The problem we need to tackle is our corrupt leaders, and not waste our efforts on tribal sentiments and superiority complexes.

asha 80:

let me ask this question.what makes us think this will not develop into a full scale war?

naijaking1:

The comparison of the north and ND is in very bad light, and very decietful.
B/4 oil took over the ND, the people farmed and fished properously. Infact, they exported fish all over W. African, I know because one of aunties is Ogoni. I know the north, infact I did my NYSC in Wudil, Kano, so I have a first hand information about the 2 regions.
As we speak, the ND people can't fish any more, because of all those pure and sweet smelling creeks/rivers have been completely covered by a thick layer of oil gue for the past 5 years. Don't talk about drinking water, or farmlands that has been turned over to the federal government with little or no compensation. Another tragedy: young people don't know how to fish anymore.
And you want to compare it tothe rural north with its desert, but intact lands? Be real
Who are still trying to convince that your'e not a northerner?

ono:

@Tex,

The military or the FG should have sent some military/security intelligence into the area to properly understand who the real agitators are and then fishout the criminal elements

And if the people we call leaders cannot think in that direction before carrying out a dastardly act like we have seen, then I wonder the crop of leaders we have governing us. A responsible government will not send out their military in the manner YarAdua did.

But, thinking about getting intelligence reports, I want to believe that the military, since the deployment of the JTF into the ND (since the early 2000) should already know who the criminal elements are. So, why not go after them? why raze down a make shift hospital? why kill innocent people? This basically underscores my fear that there is some elements of ethnic cleansing in the whole exercise.

asha 80:

u wan force nigeria on people head?na by force?

Sky Blue:

Apologies but your post seems to contradict itself. If anything you seem to be the person making the issue about tribes. Nigeria is a federation made up off states, right? Should states be allowed to control their own resource and development hence actually making the arrangement a proper federation? So where does tribalism come into play? A lot o states have multiple ethnic groups so again, where does tribalism come into play?

You advocate each part of the country developing its own industry in order to have something to present in the 'national pot' (for lack of a better phrase) yet you are against resource control which is more likely to bring such into fruition more quickly?

You seem to advocate patriotism but it seems you do not realise that you can't force people to be patriotic and that forcing people against their will while showing disdain for their rights and their own thoughts on their own development (like the federal government seems to be doing) is definately not a good way to incite patriotism.

naijaking1:

The comparison of the north and ND is in very bad light, and very decietful.
B/4 oil took over the ND, the people farmed and fished properously. Infact, they exported fish all over W. African, I know because one of aunties is Ogoni. I know the north, infact I did my NYSC in Wudil, Kano, so I have a first hand information about the 2 regions.
As we speak, the ND people can't fish any more, because of all those pure and sweet smelling creeks/rivers have been completely covered by a thick layer of oil gue for the past 5 years. Don't talk about drinking water, or farmlands that has been turned over to the federal government with little or no compensation. Another tragedy: young people don't know how to fish anymore.
And you want to compare it tothe rural north with its desert, but intact lands? Be real
Who are still trying to convince that your'e not a northerner?

biina:

The comparism is valid cos if the  northern states are also in a bad state, you cannot make the argument that the oil money is being spent by them. The money from oil has been ending up in the pocket of a few corrupt leaders.
Do you think the leaders care where the oil is from? Have they not tried, but failed, to find oil in substantial quantities in the chad basin region?
Nigerian leaders, if left unchecked, would loot the nation to bare bones, and they are not guided by regional boundaries as you seem to be.
Accountability and transparency should be the first step towards improve the lots of the people, and not wasted efforts on regional definitions.

biina:

The comparism is valid cos if the  northern states are also in a bad state, you cannot make the argument that the oil money is being spent by them. The money from oil has been ending up in the pocket of a few corrupt leaders.
Do you think the leaders care where the oil is from? Have they not tried, but failed, to find oil in substantial quantities in the chad basin region?
Nigerian leaders, if left unchecked, would loot the nation to bare bones, and they are not guided by regional boundaries as you seem to be.
Accountability and transparency should be the first step towards improving the lot of the people, and not wasted efforts on regional definitions.

Sky Blue:

The issue is the negative impact without any form off compensation whatsoever or any plans to reduce the impacts, hence you might want to re-read why the comparison might not be valid, its not necessarily about underdevelopment which is inherent in Nigeria anyway. The gas flaring deadline has come and gone, has gas flaring stopped? Is gas flaring allowed on mainland in any western country? This is getting a tad futile, so I am out : )

texazzpete:

So the federal government found out that the perpetrators are millitants from camps in delta state. So how would you go about 'fishing them out' from their well armed camps? Entice them with candy, maybe?

As for the civillian casualties, it's worth noting that the civillian casulaty figure is almost certainly exaggerated. and it's extremely difficult to completely prevent civillian casualties in a war zone. Look at what's happening in Pakistan. look at what happens in afghanistan every time american drones carry out attacks on taliban positions.

biina:

without any form of compensation? That brings us back to the question of what has happened to all the funds that have been pumped into the region. 
Are you talking about the 36 years before 1999 or the 8 years after 1999 because you can't be selective in the fight against corruption.

The gas flaring deadline was not observed, is that the fault of the northerners too? or the selfish oil companies and their NNPC friends?
It is the fault of the FG who have not shown enough resolve to tackle the issue, perhaps they can declare war against the multinationals as this flaring is also costing the country $3 billion every year.

If the issue of underdevelopment is common to all areas, then it is wrong to point a finger at a particular region for being responsible for depriving another. Rather the accusing finger should be pointed at corrupt leadership, irrespective of the region, tribe or state of origin.
Clearly all those who contribute nothing are happy with their lot, if they weren't they would do something about it. We have been pointing the finger even before 1960, now people are doing something about it. Nobody gives you power, you have to grab it. In the new order there can be no food for 'lazy man' regardless of where they come from. If you don't work you can't get paid

Iranoladun:

The issue of Niger Delta cannot be silenced by a million JTF in a thousand year unless the source of a malaise is address/cure FG & her JTF will keep treating the symptoms which may give a deceptful albeit temporary peace! Reasonable compensation & ensuring the state/LG and the oil companies develop the ND & respect international treaties on oil exploration and safety/preservation of the environment. Anyone on this forum who has not lived or visited the Niger Delta region in the last ten years cannot really appreciate the level of deprivations & damages.

This stupid cult should have been torn apart by FG a long time ago.

freed:

I dont support militancy but your country soldiers(hausa, yoruba) attacked civilains not militants if you dont know.
the militants are in the creeks, mangrove, swamp whatever dem dey call am. they know where those militants are, just go into the creeks and meet hundreds of them. the militants have home advantage and their environment is also an advantage just like vietnam war. when the hausa soldiers decide to go into the creeks and fight them, they die like ants. your nigerian soldiers should man up and go into the creeks and stop killing innocent civilians.

texazzpete:

And how the hell do you ensure the state and local governments develop the state? Yar Adua has no power to remove an elected Governor. Only the people can, through the ballot box. And it's only when they recognise the need to heap the blame on their State and LG leaders that they can start making moves to force their leaders to do the right thing.
Instead all we have are 'elders' meeting to dole blame on others. Look at MEND threatening Northerners instead of the elected local government chairmen and governors who fail to build schools, repair roads and help create jobs.

I repeat, the bayelsa state Govt was paying millitants N200 million monthly for 'peace'. It's an open secret that the Delta state govt pays out huge  sums to these miscreants too. How will the state get developed when such huge amounts are paid out to hoodlums instead of being used for development?

otokx:

The delta state government does not pay any militant monthly money; please get your facts correctly.

otokx:

The delta state government does not pay any militant monthly money; please get your facts correctly.

freed:

I dont support militancy but your country soldiers(hausa, yoruba) attacked civilains not militants if you dont know.
the militants are in the creeks, mangrove, swamp whatever dem dey call am. they know where those militants are, just go into the creeks and meet hundreds of them. the militants have home advantage and their environment is also an advantage just like vietnam war. when the hausa soldiers decide to go into the creeks and fight them, they die like ants. your nigerian soldiers should man up and go into the creeks and stop killing innocent civilians.

freed:

I dont support militancy but your country soldiers(hausa, yoruba) attacked civilains not militants if you dont know.
the militants are in the creeks, mangrove, swamp whatever dem dey call am. they know where those militants are, just go into the creeks and meet hundreds of them. the militants have home advantage and their environment is also an advantage just like vietnam war. when the hausa soldiers decide to go into the creeks and fight them, they die like ants. your nigerian soldiers should man up and go into the creeks and stop killing innocent civilians.   

freed:

I dont support militancy but your country soldiers(hausa, yoruba) attacked civilains not militants if you dont know.
the militants are in the creeks, mangrove, swamp whatever dem dey call am. they know where those militants are, just go into the creeks and meet hundreds of them. the militants have home advantage and their environment is also an advantage just like vietnam war. when the hausa soldiers decide to go into the creeks and fight them, they die like ants. your nigerian soldiers should man up and go into the creeks and stop killing innocent civilians.   

ayomide06:




What you failed to realize Mr freed , is that your lazy ass militants are nothing compared to the Vietnamese those are very committed army who will sacrificed everything (including their life) in order to liberate their country not some bunch of criminals who has every opportunity in life but refused to take it. if they are actually committed to this struggle why the hell are they running away like armed robber been chased  by police? they should stand  fight, and die for  this course( if they actually fighting for  the course) like the TAMIL TIGER rebels did few days ago they stood their ground and die for what they believed in. but our niger delta militants are just common criminals. so whether the army killing them are yoruba or hausa or even idoma does not really matter what really matter is FLUSH THEM OUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.