NIGERIAN leaders and groups across the country yesterday took different positions on the ongoing military campaign against militants in the Niger Delta region. While some deemed it necessary, others accused the Federal Government of systematic extermination of a people.
The House of Representatives, which had earlier endorsed the military offensive, appeared to have softened its stance as it directed the Ad- hoc Committee on Niger Delta Crisis headed by Alhaji Abdul Ningi to meet with the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and the Inspector-General of Police over the exercise.

But Northern elders under the aegis of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday asked the Joint Task Force (JTF) to go ahead with the expedition until normalcy returns to the region.

Their position is however at variance with that of their counterparts under All Niger Delta Peoples Assembly, which decried the killings of the people of the region and called for an immediate cessation of hostility in Delta State and the entire region.

The House of Representatives' directive was announced by the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, who presided over yesterday's meeting.

He said Halims Agoda had in reference to his earlier motion last week, which led to the House resolution that the military operation in Delta State be extended to Rivers and Bayelsa states, requested that the House meet with the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.

Bankole said instead of inviting the Service Chiefs and the IGP, the parley is better conducted at committee level particularly by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Niger Delta crisis.

The planned meeting of the House with the military top brass may have been prompted by reports that innocent citizens caught in the action have been killed and several communities sacked indiscriminately.

Agoda had last week moved a motion seeking the Federal Government's intervention to check the bombardment of Delta communities to avoid civilian casualties.

The House however resolved that the military operations be extended to Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The ACF National Working Committee members, who met in Kaduna yesterday to deliberate on some contentious national issues, including the situation in the Niger Delta, the influx of foreigners into Nigeria, especially in the North, unemployment and the dwindling fortunes of the textile industry, said no patriotic Nigerian would oppose the government's against the militants.

In a statement signed by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, the elders said: "The ACF observed the increase in the insurgent activities of the militants in the Niger Delta region and the corresponding responses by the JTF of the Armed Forces. Nobody with his right head, with a heart and with patriotic courage, can withhold support for JTF, and thus, for the Federal Government over the current campaigns against the militants for the express purpose of bringing the situation under effective control."

It further said: "No responsible government can afford to fold its hands and watch a few misguided elements of its citizens hold the nation, including their own people and communities, to ransom.

"More depressing, the will of the Armed Forces is being challenged when their members are killed in the course of their national assignment. In such circumstances, government cannot reasonably be expected to shirk in its responsibility of maintaining law and order. Hence the recent campaigns by the Operation Restore Hope by the military, aimed at ridding the Niger Delta region of criminal activities of the militants."

Sani admitted that "the campaigns must necessarily come with collateral damages," which he said "the JTF must maintain at its possible minimum", concluding that that is how the current actions of the military in the Niger Delta should be viewed by all fair-minded individuals with patriotic courage."

After its 2nd Assembly in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the 150 delegates of Niger Delta leaders in a statement issued yesterday by a prominent monarch, King Alfred Diette-Spiff and Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, declared the military operation a "genocide."

The Assembly said carnage in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State, which has been described as a "genocidal by local, national and international observers" was avoidable.

The leaders condemned the delay in inaugurating a multi-stakeholder committee by the Federal Government to work out the comprehensive modalities for credible and gazetted amnesty, disarmament, decommissioning, demilitarisation, rehabilitation and reintegration processes to expedite sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta as severally promised by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

They also decried the "inexcusable delay in releasing the Federal Government White Paper on the Report of the Niger Delta Technical Committee, which was submitted to Yar'Adua on December 1, 2008, with recommendations that, if already implemented, would have averted the present humanitarian crisis."

Among the leaders who signed the statement on behalf of the delegates were Pat Utomi, Desmond Wilson, Austin Ikein, Kevin Etta, Eze Young Ogbonna, Pere Kalanama VIII, Dr. Monique Ekpong, Ambassador George Kobani, Dr. Omawunmi Davies, Chief Asuquo Ekanem, Annkio Briggs, Mr. Iniruo Wills, Mr. Albert Esiri, Emem Okon, Chief Francis Ifie, Mrs. Baarong Tony-Uranta, Eneruvie Enakoko, Ms. Joan Unuane, John Adie, Mrs. Sotonye Fulton.

Others were Mr. Onengiya Erekosima, Gloria Onowighose, Mr. George Kerley, Hilda Dokubo, Rev. Tony Essien, Bassey Henshaw, Mrs. Laura Erakpor, Mr. Belema Dickson, Tome Omu, Mr. Timi Igoli, Florence Kalio and Mr. Tony I. Uranta

They added that the persistent and inequitable under-funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of the Niger Delta, contrary to the provisions of the NDDC Act contributed to the escalation of the crisis.

The leaders also cited the rampant electoral and institutional corruption in the region, which continues to deny the people true representatives as worsening the situation.

Even the Federal Government's plan to commence dredging of the River Niger without carrying out comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments was faulted by the Assembly.

The Assembly expressed dismay at the "unconscionable attempt to institutionalise genocide in the Niger Delta, as evidenced by the House of Representatives passing a resolution, which callously implores the Federal Government to extend the carnage in Delta State to Rivers and Bayelsa states, plus the condemnable call for the extermination of the 20 million Niger Deltans by Representative Bala Ibn N'Allah of Kebbi State."

As a way forward, the leaders asked the Federal Government "to end the humanitarian crisis that has attracted widespread opprobrium throughout Nigeria and the civilised world, by immediately declaring a cease-fire and stopping its bombardment of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and totally ignoring any untoward calls to expand the carnage into any other part of Niger Delta.

They also asked that:


the National Assembly should immediately rescind its licentious call for the spread of the regrettable hostilities in Delta State to other states of the region;

the Federal Government should allow unfettered access to the Gbaramatu Kingdom so that international and national relief agencies can better deploy resources to the grieving people, and

the Federal Government should take full responsibility for all acts of misdirected military action against the Nigerian citizens and communities of the Niger Delta, including making full and appropriate reparations before June 30, 2009.
The Assembly threatens to use legitimate means and channels such as mass civil social action, litigation and advocacy to seek redress if its demand were not met.

Also, the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) has admonished Niger Delta governors pushing for death penalty for kidnappers to change their stance and deal with the symptoms that necessitated the nefarious act.

It said only sustainable human development programmes and enhance social security in the region would solve the menace and not draconian laws and bullets.

Meanwhile, the leader of the militant gang in Odi, fingered in the killing of 12 policemen in 1999 at Odi town, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Council of Bayelsa State, Mr. Ken Niweigha, has been confirmed killed in a gun battle between his members and a police team.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Onuoha Udoka, who confirmed the death of the militant to journalists in Yenagoa, said after the arrest of Niweigha with five members of his gang yesterday, he had confessed and promised to take the police to their arms depot.

Udoka said as they were going to Odi at about midnight, the police didn't know that he had planned with his members to attack the police.

In the pandemonium that ensued, Udoka said there was an exchange of fire and "Ken was shot in the cross-fire and died."

The Bayelsa State government yesterday disowned Niweigha, who had allegedly told the police that he was licensed to carry arms because he was an official of the state security outfit "Bayelsa Volunteer" in Odi community.

But spokesman of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Jomo Gbomo, said Niweigha was summarily executed at the Bayelsa Police Headquarters without a chance to defend himself in the court of law.

Gbomo said the Nigerian government in authorising extra-judicial killings is sending a clear message to youths from the region that it is better to die fighting for freedom than be killed by a lawless system of government.

"Facts also emerging from the recent indiscriminate attack on civilians by the military is that the punitive action is a deliberate punishment to instil fear in civilians and turn them into informants.

"Even animals were not spared. All the horses in the royal stable of the king of Gbaramatu were shot in the head and the dogs were bludgeoned to death by Nigerian soldiers," he said.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths and the Co-ordinator of the Volunteer Group, Mr. Sunny Israel Ikoli, told The Guardian that as a government that preaches the rule of law and respect for constitution, Niweigha's action could not be condoned.

He said Niweigha was indicted by the SSS for carrying arms along the Kaiama axis, suspended and was later sacked after a review of his case.

There were claims in military circles yesterday that more Air Force fighter jets had been deployed in the Niger Delta to strengthen the JTF personnel on ground.

A Defence official told The Guardian that the military would continue to protect the civilians because they are not the target of the action.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01//indexn2_html?pdate=280509&ptitle=Arewa%20backs%20action%20in%20Delta,%20S'South%20alleges%20genocide

[b][i]My Comment:[/[/i]b]
With each passing day, the Northern-Southern divide continues to get wider and wider. After the current military campaign, there will be "peace" for a while. Yet truelly, Nigeria will never know peace.

Hausa/Fulani Northern Goats can say anything they like,

They are the slowpoke those Northern.I cant leave with those fools. I need this country divided.

Hmmmmm


you can see what I have observed the "notthern" leadership and followership are more advanced than the South or East. If it was an Igbo leader doing this you will see people from his side castigating him.

The north dont pretend they are following their leaders.

The military should make sure that they arrest  all those miscrants masquerading as freedom fighters.
Ask youself who causes the spillage in the creeks it is the people.
The very avenue for employment they have destroyed
Foreign investment to the state they have destroyed the chances.
The said oil companies am not saying they are saints but boy it is better to dine with devil than the angel you do not know.

Hmmmmm


you can see what I have observed the "notthern" leadership and followership are more advanced than the South or East. If it was an Igbo leader doing this you will see people from his side castigating him.

The north dont pretend they are following their leaders.

That is not what is called advancement. Advancement is when Wole Soyinka or Gani is fighting Obasanjo that is from his own state. It means the people are more educated and have an independent mind. Even the most civilized nations have citizens that speak out against them. The igbo system is 100% democratic and it seems to be working against them in Nigeria but shouldn't that be how things should be done?. Few Arewa top guns says kill all the Niger Deltans and the whole region agrees?. in this 21st century?. Ridiculous.

Backslider:

Hmmmmm


you can see what I have observed the "notthern" leadership and followership are more advanced than the South or East. If it was an Igbo leader doing this you will see people from his side castigating him.

The north dont pretend they are following their leaders.

You must be slowpoke and brainless chap to utter this rubbish. So, being a sheep qualifies to being advanced? In your own school of thought i think. It's only herds of sheep that follows one of their own into a hell hole, not minding what the place look or seems like. All of you nigerians being ooyess members for the hausa/fulanis idiots in the name of suppressing Igbos are the reason why nigeria is lagging behind in all aspects. In all civilized world, there are checks and balances amongst the "yes" and the "nays" and this promotes developments. But in your sorry case as the goats and sheep you nigerians are, it is only yessssssssss and arss kissing and that's why you people have plunged into big mess and aint coming out from the mess any time soon.




On the other hand, it is only the sleeping ones and their ilk that will find the above comments by the Arewa as surprising. As for we Igbos, we knew their arrogance since time immemorial and have been opposing them til today.

supported i say masacer all of them if them dont cool down for allah

I'm not surprised at the utterances of ACF.
When a so called Senator from Kebbi state called for the killing of all Niger Deltans so that Nigeria can have free access to the oil from their land, some people on NL said he was speaking for himself. Now it is clear that he spoke the mind of his kinsmen, Yar'Adua inclusive.

How many Nigerians have we lost to the militant activities?
How many Nigerians have we lost to religous crises in the North?

Some of the militants are criminals, I agree. But they have never attacked people from other parts of the north. The Northerners attack southerners (especially Igbos) with reckless abandon and nobody has ever called for the military to attack them. Now the so called northern elite, represented by ACF, is calling for what I dont know.

It is now crystal clear that the arrangement called Nigeria, is one of convenience. We don't have true Nigerians. All we have are Hausa/ Fulanis, Yorubas, Igbos, Niger Deltans.

The day the oil reserves in the ND dries up, that same day we'll see the Northerners calling for a break up of the country.
I weep for Nigeria.

No responsible government will fold its arms and watch criminality. But the responsible northern state governments are folding their arms and allowing Nigeriens cross our borders to cause havoc.

The ACF meeting had different issues in its agenda but all they came out wit was a statement on the Niger Delta.
They should have proffered a solution to the influx of people from Niger republic. The should have proferred a solution to the educational backwardness of Northerners.

Backslider:

Hmmmmm


you can see what I have observed the "notthern" leadership and followership are more advanced than the South or East. If it was an Igbo leader doing this you will see people from his side castigating him.

The north dont pretend they are following their leaders.

Is this what you call advancement?Herd mentalility in this day and age?
It is actually this lack of herd mentality that is affecting igbos in nigeria.Country of morons.

I wonder who are the miscreants in nigeria?Country of idiots,differences are rarely differentiated.

But good over evil

I'm happy many of you are beginning to realize that your enemy has never been the Igbo man.
The north succeded in convincing everyone else to fight the Igbo man as one Nigeria and they sheepishly followed including the " Naija delta".
They told you the Igbo man wanted to dominate you,they gave you abandoned property and you became a "Nigerian" , now who is the mugu ?
No matter the enmity between Ijaws and Igbos I'm certain Ohaneze would never say such a thing.
But you licked the behind of aboki now they don carry nama yansh put
The East have had their turn,it's now Ijaw people,Yorubas get ready.
The Nigeria your fathers fought for was the Islamic republic of Nigeria
Enjoy una one Nigeria

*sigh* poor Naija

$osisi:

I'm happy many of you are beginning to realize that your enemy has never been the Igbo man.
The north succeded in convincing everyone else to fight the Igbo man as one Nigeria and they sheepishly followed including the " Naija delta".
They told you the Igbo man wanted to dominate you,they gave you abandoned property and you became a "Nigerian" , now who is the mugu ?
No matter the enmity between Ijaws and Igbos I'm certain Ohaneze would never say such a thing.
But you licked the behind of aboki now they don carry nama yansh put
The East have had their turn,it's now Ijaw people,Yorubas get ready.
The Nigeria your fathers fought for was the Islamic republic of Nigeria
Enjoy una one Nigeria

Can someone proffer up a recourse to the use of military force against the Niger-Delta militants?
The militants have siphoned of billions, eyes billions, of oil resources and they have absolutely nothing to show for it.
These are supposed freedom fighters but with billions of dollars worth of stolen oil they do not operate one single hospital.
Greed upon greed that is what it's all about.

*jona:

MEND is calling for recruits and you're hiding behind your computer looking for stories from Igboland and western Nigeria to copy and paste.
There's an unmanned AK 47 with your name written on it.
Ozu

lol