drossy:

i cannot understand why every political thread goes tribalistic!!!!     we complain about the older generation but we cant learn from their mistakes!!!  i hate tribalism, every tribe has its issues but to generalise people is crazy. i hate to say this but, i support MEND to the bone , i hope they drop the tribal remarks though!  we cannot judge them on the same scale and not accuse the FG of same crimes. people have become so used to FG and its evil that they have suddenly become right and MEND wrong. in as much as killings are not right but they are a means to an end. Pole have become so used to the naija way that it has become the right way!! but somehow, i wish some attacks should go to our niger delta leaders sha, but i remember bringing this argument before chris ekiyor -IYC president, a while ago  as doctors in UBTH.his answer was that when the ijaw community was fighting alams over his embezzlement,the govt protected him to the bone! when the militant leaders swore to destroy him after his tenure ,he became more pro-ijaw agitating for resource control.immediately EFCC went up against him, using the same documents that were submitted previously which the govt threw out!

Negro_Ntns:

Jomo Gbomo spoke eloquently. I like the aspirations and I sincerely believe they can succeed with a few adjustments . . .political tweaking so to speak.

Afam:

The Igbos were arrogant and proud? Sounds more like envy and jealousy here. Saro Wiwa benefited from scholarships, it was alleged that an Ijaw name suggested the name Biafra and Gen Effiong who was Ojukwu's second in command was not an Igbo man.

I guess he expects an Igbo man who got an education to act and behave like an uneducated person and expects an Igbo man that worked hard to make money in business to trek to anywhere he wants to instead of buying a car because some people will feel and think that he is proud and arrogant.

It is this type of envy and jealousy that inhibits one to achieve his potential in life.

okokomeji:

Gbomo just said Igbos are arrogant and proud, he didn’t insult Biafrans in General. All the Biafrans who put theirs on the floor and carry MEND’s issues on their heads, it’s time to let go; Gbomo says he believes in One Nigeria, not like insatiable souls like Biafrans (I guess you might be mad, because that defeats your separatist mission) ha ha sorry the game is over (I believe in one Nigeria too). Gbomo, maybe you had forgotten that the same Biafrans besieged and invaded your land and had a dozen of your people butt-nakedly parading the streets and forced in reciting (“Biafrans would win in the name of Jesus, Biafrans would win in the name of Jesus, Biafrans would win in the name of Jesus, Biafrans would win in the name of Jesus, Biafrans would win in the name of Jesus. If I lie, just pull it up on YOUTUBE (just type Biafra’s war).
I heard you talking about education? Education who? You are going to let me put on my Yoruba bourgeoisie, besides remember that Niger Delta is part of Western territory.
Before independence, Naija only had 60 institutions and 45 of them are from West. You can flaunt your education to the people in the east or up north, not west where you will get your butt kicked!
If Yoruba talks now, you will play race card of Marginalization.

Beaf:

Niger Delta has never been part of "Western territory" (whatever that means). You are just one of those ignorant people who believe that Niger Delta people are somehow Yoruba speaking awon Igbo. Sorry we don't speak Yoruba and we ain't Igbo.
Please don't involve Niger Delta people in your tribal wars.

Beaf:

@ sky blue and a-town

Who say's MEND doesn't build amenities like schools? Stop expounding ignorance with confidence.

As to wether MEND is doing the right thing by violent attacks, what happened to Saro Wiwa and many like him? MENDhave found the right formula because the govt is suddenly realising that ND slavery needs to end.

Like babasoty said, some people are so used to bearing the brunt of bad govt that they fail to realise that there can be better. People get conditioned into thinking that the abnormal is normal.

prince paris:

Let us not confuse criminality with heroism. Somebody mention that MEND built school(s). Is it in his back yard. MEND and Jomo Gbomo are common criminals. Period. Anini is even better. He robbed the rich and give to poor. The market women in Benin can attest tn this. How many schools has MEND and its leadership built or scholarships they've given out. Where are the roads and hospitals they have built with the oil bunkering billions. If they have provided some basic ammenities to their communities, i would have believe their cause to be genuine but instead their leaders are buying and building houses all over Port Harcourt and Warri. Riding Hummer jeeps and choice cars. Living like Kings. This guys are just businessmen, they saw kidnapping and other acts of terror as the means to an end. Easy and heavy dollars. They should be called by their names, TERRORIST AND CRIMINALS. Shikena. Freedom fighters my foot.

Because they are not an NGO or Government or even a "progressive movement" in terms of develolment and are therefore under no obligation to do so. Kind of like expecting an armed robber to steal and use the money to go and build a "motherless babies home" . Such expectations though seemingly innocent and coming from a genuine place in my view only shows how cowardly Nigerians have become.So we have to wait for an armed group of people to come save us before we do anythng in that country? How embarassing. Why don't we start groups like "Movement for the Materialisation of Power Supply", "Movement for the Dualisation of Lagos Benin Express", "Movement for the Particulation of Justice", "Movement for the Manifestation of Water Supply", etc? I would have found your point valid and relevant if this was an NGO, or a non violent movement, or something along those lines; but expecting a militant group to fix the woes of the country in what is meant to be a "democratic" setting? Are we fighting communist or a military dictator? Shame!

Ehoi:

Mr Gbomo and MEND are hitting some home truth about Nigeria that many of us would love to deny. It seams MEND is busy bringing out the dirts that we have swept under the carpet in the last 40 years. Jeez, its filthy.

I like reading Mr Gbomo's interview because its always filled with humour and truth. What got my attention in this interview is when he was asked if MEND wants federalism or breakup. He says the niger delta wants federalism because they would also want to enjoy the riches, hardwork and mineral resources of other regions. That was so funny if you know what he means.

fayahsoul:


I support MEND if and only if they are fighting for secession/sovereignty/self-determination.

But if they want to remain part of nigeria then fuc.k em. Nigeria and nigerians are cursed. period.

long live the land of the rising sun.

Beaf:

@Sky Blue

In fairness to you, I was too hard; I too do not relish tussles for the sake of ego.
Nevertheless, not having knowledge of an issue can lead to one making statements that are on the dangerous side. I cannot speak for MEND, but it is widely spread knowledge that MEND do indeed feel an obligation to provide for the ignored, forgotten and enslaved people in the creeks. This puts them in exactly the opposite light to the first set of bolded items in the quote from you below.

In the 2nd set of bolded items, you advocate the formation of NGO's. This is your second instance of ignorance (there are more); in this case, it expresses itself as insensitivity (though from your words I do not believe that you are insensitive).
Niger Delta NGO organisers and founders have been routinely harassed, jailed and murdered. The most successful, Ken Saro Wiwa, an exponent of non-violence as well as intellectual of World renown was executed despite intercession from the UN, Common Wealth and well meaning countries. Saro Wiwa won both the Right Livelihood Award and Goldman Environmental Prize; yet he was executed, what sort of NGO are you ignorantly advocating?
There was the Odi massacre with the loss of 2500 men, woman, children and babies. Odi was razed to the ground.
There is only so much stretch in a rubber band.
The youth, who have seen their peaceful fathers killed while their babies are poisoned by pollution, have expressed themselves violently; and for once, their voice has been heard. . . Coincidence? Why should they stop?

Learn about Ken Saro Wiwa here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Saro-Wiwa

samparian:

Dude, arent you Nigerian?? You're living within the "cursed" land, part of the "cursed" folks

prince paris:

@fayahsoul. Have you forgotten you were defeated. It is due to the magnamity of the Nigerian state you are not living in a POW or Concentration camp. So SHUSH.

Sky Blue:

If you don't fully understand what someone posted there is no shame in asking for clarity, again completely OP (off point). Firstly, not everybody will agree with you that MEND is credible hence if some might find hero or freedom fighters more beffiting a suitable comparison, allow others who will likely see comparisons with armed robbers as more beffitting to hold their own views.

With regards to your statement of the "second part in bold" as you refer to it, I would just leave it as this: the sarcasm was lost on you. The point I was trying to make was, do we now wait for formation of armed struggles for every single darn thing?

Sky Blue: Your second paragraph just threw up issues that were irrelevant to the discussion and post you berrated.

Sky Blue: I keep on asking when MEND will attack Abuja and by so doing, really shake up the federal goverment and show that they mean business, while potentially quickening the progress being sought in terms of correcting some of the injustices.

Sky Blue: Again, MEND, have you forgotten the way to Abuja?

Sky Blue: the issue has been the credibility of MEND. For me they still have a lot to answer for. The simple truth is that Port Harcourt has been unsafe for quite a while now as a result of the insecurity created by MEND.