It is pertinent to put the records straight on the current agitations of the Niger Delta so that we do not deviate from the issues as usual and continue to pursue meaningless shenanigans and circus shows.

In the last few days, we have had the media awash with news that the President is launching the Ogoni cleanup exercise. This has been celebrated with the usual photo ops and selfies for which this administration, in the last one year, is well known. But amidst all this Nollywood drama, we must not lose track of the clear agitations of the Niger Delta people.

Irrespective of who is talking in the press, whether it is Tompolo or the FG or state Governors, no one can change the genuine agitations of this region that has spanned over four decades and no one can trade it off with a morsel of political meal. First, Let us state here clearly what the agitations are not.

1. The agitation is not the cleanup of Ogoni land
2. The agitation is not paying of salaries to militants
3. The agitations is not pipeline protection contracts
4. The agitation is not NDDC
5. The agitation is not even government positions

The agitation is and will continue to be the non-negotiable restructuring of Nigeria that returns the country back to full resource control by the regions. There must be a complete change of the status quo. Any other action or option is only going to postpone the peace and tranquility of the Niger Delta and as we can see from the happenings in recent times, the peace of the entire nation

You cannot have a status quo where some persons, all the way from Zamfara or Kano or Adamawa or Osun, own the oil wells in far away Bayelsa or Akwa Ibom or Delta and makes diabolical billions of dollars from it and then attempts to offer the people of the land stipends and candies and call that peace. It is a waste of time. The agitation is not about the Niger Delta Avengers. They might be at the forefront of the struggle today to push the agitations but they are only a product of the grave injustice that has gone on for decades. We should realise that even if you catch and kill all the members of the NDA today, more groups will contiue to spring up and the militancy will never stop.

It is important to make this clear as the president and his team attempts to do an Ogoni cleanup photo show with the thought that that will asuage the people of the Niger Delta. It will not. It is a meaningless exercise as far as the Niger Delta demands are concerned. The demand is full resource control. Any other thing is considered a greek gift and at worst, an insult to the real yearnings of the region.

After the president takes his selfies on thursday and leave, will the owners of the oil wells change? Will the injustice and fraud have changed? To think that the same president who budgeted over 60 billion Naira for the rehabilitation of the North East that just got devasted in the last few years from insurgency is celebrating a government counterpart cleanup contribution of Ten Million Dollars ($10m), which is about two billion dollars for the Ogoni land cleanup in a Niger Delta that has been plundered and devasted over the last 40 years is laughable. Why do you think the Niger Delta people will take him seriously? Ogoni is a small area in just one state of the Niger Delta. How will the Ogoni cleanup solve the environmental devastation issues in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, etc?

It is like a man who comes to your house and steals all your money and food and then attempts to offer you breakfast and he claims he is actually doing you a favour? This is the argument. This is the injustice. This is what must change. No one is interested in handouts and candies. We are not begging the president for gifts and incentives. We want a total restructuring of Nigeria and full resource control. At the least, we can have true federalism. Let every region go and develop their own and pay a contribution to a weak center. The present unitary system is a leech and it must stop.

It is also laughable that a president, who just days ago declared openly that he didnt even bother to read the last national conference report also claims he is interested in fixing the Niger Delta. That report, though it doesn't completely satisfy all the agitations, is the closest thing yet to fixing the perenial issues. But the president in his usual arrogant way, believes he can offer candies to the region in place of real solutions. He is definitely chasing shadows.

It is also laughable that a president who just went to Ogoni land to humiliate a paramount king thinks he can go back there to shoot photos of himself cleaning up the land and the people will clap for him? We do not seem to have learnt anything from the Ken Saro Wiwa tragedy. You cannot arm twist a whole region. You cannot bully them. If you do that, you will only have temporary victories. The agitations will only grow. The people will only disdain you more as the years go by. The president has shown he doesnt respect the Niger Delta. He seems to think he can also bully the region. But he is making the same fundamental mistake many before him have made. Generations will always rise and ask questions.

Ironically, this same President Buhari was chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (an agency whose funds were exclusively sourced from the oil drilling in the Niger Delta), between 1994 and 1999 and there is no record of any tangible thing he did for the Niger Delta region. Nothing! Even worse is the fact that the late Saro Wiwa was murdered by the Nigeria government while he was the PTF chairman. He cheered it on. He has since gone on to celebrate the same Abacha, even declaring openly that Abacha was not corrupt! So any story that tries to twist history and present him as a lover of the Niger Delta is futile.

What the Nigeria government do not realise is that they have actually had a big window of opportunity with a very reasonable set of people from the region over the last two decades but they are throwing that goodwill away and the new set of people that will come after them will be as resolute and dangerous as have never been seen, ever!

I was here

Trash from pig a**.

Smh... So much ado about nothing..

princemillla:
Trash from pig a**.

You dont have to post on a thread you cannot comprehend. Its not by force

DiAmOnDrUbY:
Smh... So much ado about nothing..

Yeah. Its nothing to steal from a whole region. I can see that

SuperS1Panther:


I have heard too much of Northerners own our oil well. Where were you when they were bidding for the oil wells? No.wonder Seriake Dickson said it all by saying "we are lazy". You cannot.bid for oil well on your own.soil but you can be investing in other countries by establish a university. Your commonwealth that the combo of Diezani Alams, and Ibori stole is sufficient to buy all the oil wells in the desert of Saudi Arabia. If it was even invested on your soil, sincerely i.will hail them. It would have been they stole it for their people. No, they would rather keep oiling the economy of the useless deceptive and corrupt western countries by warehousing the stolen funds there.

Stop pointing accusing fingers to a wrong direction. Face your leaders. The same Nigeria has given you 13% derivation NDDC, Min of Niger Delta, Normal allocation, CSRs of Oil Majors, Amnesty Programme etc and show the world what the ijaws have done with it. We can see what Akwa Ibom did with theirs, we can see to a large extent what Rivers have achieved, what has the home state of the Izons, Bayelsa, achieved that is heart gladdening? NOTHING.

You can keep editing your post for ages but it won't change anything. Only one question for you. When did the present owners of the oil wells bid for it? How much did they pay? Alhaji Mai Daribe owns an oil well worth about $50billion. He was dashed just like that by Sani Abacha under the watch of President Buhari as PTF chairman. Just like that! No bidding, no payments of any money to even Nigeria! That's how all the oil wells where allocated to cronies and family members by IBB, Abacha, OBJ and Abdusallami

How IBB, Obasanjo, Abacha, Shared Nigeria's Oil Wells

Read more: https://www.naij.com/429772-how-ibb-obasanjo-abacha-shared-nigerias-oil-wells.html

Following

Swift and timely this article is....let he who has ear,hear and understand the spirit behind this pwerful article

A word is enough....

BRAVO!!!!

The so called clean up is s Greek gift. Fortunately the average person has seen through their games and the APC trying to use it to score cheap political points is dead on arrival.

Why do you think election results in Rivers State have not been declared by INEC for over three months? Why do you think elections in the Ogoni axis have been outrightly cancelled without any possible date of rerun?

Ok na.

What were you looking at throughout the time when our Hero, Lord of Otuoke Westeroos, was President?

Do you now agree with us that our Hero was indeed Clueless if he could not achieve just one thing that was dear to the hearts of his people in 6years, but will rather give his time to debauchery.

Why is it that you just remembered suddenly you needed Resource Control or whatever is your flimsy excuse as the reason for your terrorists acts?

Even if the clean up is a Greek gift, what do Ogonis have to lose? Why was our Hero not able to offer the same Greek gift to the same Ogonis when he was the president? Probably because they are not Ijaws. No wonder 98% of Amnesty Programme beneficiaries are Ijaws. It says it all.

The world can see through the criminal and violent tendencies of Ijaws and Enough is Enough. Never Again will some terrorists command the president of Federal Republic of Nigeria not to step on the soil of a part of Nigeria and he will chicken it out. Rather such a soil will turn to dust. No one has a monopoly of madness, violence and criminality.

The Ogonis are peace loving people and they welcome the clean up of their environment. Ijaws should keep blowing up their lands while the Itshekiris, Ibibio, Efiks and Annags keep living in peace and developing their land progressively.

The country needs to be restructured. That is an unquestionable fact. But, it will not be achieved by act of terrorism and lack of respect for the state. The agitation for restructuring should be an effective and efficient battle of the brain and not the stup1d and condemnable acts of terrorism, violence and testing the will power of the State.

I have heard too much of Northerners own our oil well. Where were you when they were bidding for the oil wells? No.wonder Seriake Dickson said it all by saying "we are lazy". You cannot.bid for oil well on your own.soil but you can be investing in other countries by establish a university. Your commonwealth that the combo of Diezani Alams, and Ibori stole is sufficient to buy all the oil wells in the desert of Saudi Arabia. If it was even invested on your soil, sincerely i.will hail them. It would have been they stole it for their people. No, they would rather keep oiling the economy of the useless deceptive and corrupt western countries by warehousing the stolen funds there.

Stop pointing accusing fingers to a wrong direction. Face your leaders. The same Nigeria has given you 13% derivation NDDC, Min of Niger Delta, Normal allocation, CSRs of Oil Majors, Amnesty Programme etc and show the world what the ijaws have done with it. We can see what Akwa Ibom did with theirs, we can see to a large extent what Rivers have achieved, what has the home state of the Izons, Bayelsa, achieved that is heart gladdening? NOTHING.

Truth is bitter but must be said. The time of political correctness is over, likewise panning to criminals and terrorists.

you didn't need to emphasize your points O.P. people have gotten wiser. Ogoni cleanup indeed. unless people in so-called south-south are as daft as people say, they should be able to see through this one.

snailspeed:

Yeah. Its nothing to steal from a whole region. I can see that

Probably an offspring of the thieves pillaging and raping the ss and se

DiAmOnDrUbY:
Smh... So much ado about nothing..

It is wrong to take something that belongs to others only thieves do that

Mr man do you know how oil wells are gotten. Or you just wake up to write trash. I advise you do extensive research so as not to look stupid.

To think that the same president who budgeted over 60 billion Naira for the rehabilitation of the North East that just got devasted in the last few years from insurgency is celebrating a government counterpart cleanup contribution of Ten Million Dollars ($10m), which is about two billion dollars for the Ogoni land cleanup in a Niger Delta that has been plundered and devasted over the last 40 years is laughable. Why do you think the Niger Delta people will take him seriously? The world is watching!

SuperS1Panther:
What were you looking at throughout the time our Hero was President?

Why is it that you just remembered suddenly you needed Resource Control or whatever is your flimsy excuse as the reason for your terrorists acts?

Even if the clean up is a Greek gift, what do Ogonis have to lose? Why was our Hero not able to offer the same Greek gift to the same Ogonis when he was the president? Probably because they are not Ijaws. No wonder 98% of Amnesty Programme beneficiaries are Ijaws. It says it all.

The world can see through the criminal and violent tendencies of Ijaws and Enough is Enough. Never Again will some terrorists command the president of Federal Republic of Nigeria not to step on the soil of a part of Nigeria and he will chicken it out. Rather such a soil will turn to dust. No one has a monopoly of madness, violence and criminality.

The Ogonis are peace loving people and they welcome the clean up of their environment. Ijaws should keep blowing up their lands while the gs keep living in peace and developing their land progressively.

The country needs to be restructured. That is an unquestionable fact. But, it will not be achieved by act of terrorism and lack of respect for the state. The agitation for restructuring should be an effective and efficient battle of the brain and not the stup1d and condemnable acts of terrorism, violence and testing the will power of the State.

Regardless of the impression made by the guys in abuja and those in the media every soul in the ND including Itshekiris, Ibibio, Efiks and Anna not just the Ijaws and Igbo yearn for freedom visit the streets and get real info...soon the agitation will assume deafening degrees and starving effect on larger society... Then the truth will stare even you in the face.

SuperS1Panther:
What were you looking at throughout the time our Hero was President?

Do you now agree with us that our Hero was indeed Clueless if in could not achieve just one thing that was dear to the hearts of his people in 6years, but will rather give his time to debauchery.

Why is it that you just remembered suddenly you needed Resource Control or whatever is your flimsy excuse as the reason for your terrorists acts?

Even if the clean up is a Greek gift, what do Ogonis have to lose? Why was our Hero not able to offer the same Greek gift to the same Ogonis when he was the president? Probably because they are not Ijaws. No wonder 98% of Amnesty Programme beneficiaries are Ijaws. It says it all.

The world can see through the criminal and violent tendencies of Ijaws and Enough is Enough. Never Again will some terrorists command the president of Federal Republic of Nigeria not to step on the soil of a part of Nigeria and he will chicken it out. Rather such a soil will turn to dust. No one has a monopoly of madness, violence and criminality.

The Ogonis are peace loving people and they welcome the clean up of their environment. Ijaws should keep blowing up their lands while the Itshekiris, Ibibio, Efiks and Annags keep living in peace and developing their land progressively.

The country needs to be restructured. That is an unquestionable fact. But, it will not be achieved by act of terrorism and lack of respect for the state. The agitation for restructuring should be an effective and efficient battle of the brain and not the stup1d and condemnable acts of terrorism, violence and testing the will power of the State.

Isn't it so obvious you are not from the Niger Delta? You are one of those who try to fake a Niger Delta identity but even your post gave you up so easily! Read it again.

Full resource control or the agitation continues... Allow the state government full control of the resources in their domain.

All northerners should go and invest in the Agriculture in their region, we can sell oil and buy food from you

South Westerner should go and invest in their cocoa plantation.

Enough of the arm twisting. NDDC will not stop the agitation,

Amnesty won't stop it,

Appointments wont stop it,

Pipeline surveillance contract wont stop it,

killing all members of the ND Avengers wont stop it

even a Niger Delta ministry can't stop it.

If Niger state is unable to pay salaries Bayelsa state is not supposed to be in the same category considering the amount of resources stolen from that state by the federal governement on a daily basis.

hucienda:
At least cut the President some slack for officially launching the clean-up.

True Fiscal Federalism like is practised in the US- who we modelled our form of government from- is the solution to most, if not all this trouble... states should manage whatever you produce then pay tax to the centre. This would make states look inward to develop resources and/or prospects lying fallow in their respective domains, promote competition amongst states and the multiplier effects would be for the better of the masses.

Else, we keep turning round in circles.

No you cannot practice exactly the same type of federalism practiced in America in Nigeria. America is a nation of immigrants while Nigeria is a nation of indigenous people. Therefore, the entire 36 states must be abolished, and in it place, regions will be created. The regions must be made of ethnic groups who decide they are compatible with each other. For example, the Efik/Ibiobio people might decide they want their own region. They may even decide that they would like to join the Igbos in their region or maybe with the other minorities in some other region. That is why a referendum must go hand in hand with any attempt to return to regionalism and true federalism

snailspeed:


Isn't it so obvious you are not from the Niger Delta? You are one of those who try to fake a Niger Delta identity but even your post gave you up so easily! Read it again.

I am not from Niger Delta. Fact.

That does not mean the bitter truth should not be told.

Where I am from is immaterial in the face of.the bitter truth.

I am.not against restructuring or resource control. I will never support acts of terrorism, violence and brigandry against the State.

fedorahat:
Mr man do you know how oil wells are gotten. Or you just wake up to write trash. I advise you do extensive research so as not to look stupid.

How are they gotten? Please educate us. Did they pay for them? Was there any bidding process? How much did they pay? Please educate us! You have the floor! Don't just embarrassing yourself in the process though...

SuperS1Panther:


I am not from Niger Delta. Fact.

That does not mean the bitter truth should not be told.

Where I am from is immaterial in the face of.the bitter truth.

I am.not against restructuring or resource control. I will never support acts of terrorism, violence and brigandry against the State.

The bitter truth is the one written up there not the one you are quacking about. The bitter truth is that strangers are leeching on a region, sucking it dry and trying to hand them candies in return! The bitter truth is that the people will always rise up to fight the injustice whether as NDA or Egbesu or any other name doesnt really matter. They are not terrorists because they are fighting for their own resources in their own land. You, the infringer of their rights, are the terrorist

Bullshit article

So when their son was there milking the nation dry none of them came out to bomb oil facilities in demand for resources control, and why ask for the release of dasuki if not hypocrisy, let's see how this blackmail ends up

.....and the wailing continues....

btw, what concerns ownership of oil wells to the clean up of Ogoni Land? Ogoni people and Rivers people are happy about the clean up. Igbo man like the Op should mind his business!!

The Ogoni clean up was birthed by the UNEP report from as far back as Jonathan's government. The implementation of the report was one of the campaign promises of President Buhari. It predates the criminality currently being perpetuated by the NDA. So really, I don't see your point.

Victorvexz:
Bullshit article

What's bullshit of the article while criminality isn't a way of life?

Beremx:
.....and the wailing continues....

btw, what concerns ownership of oil wells to the clean up of Ogoni Land? Ogoni people and Rivers people are happy about the clean up. Igbo man like the Op should mind his business!!

The article isn't about igbo man incase u have lost touch with simple reality. It says leeches shud stop utter dependency on a tiny region for economic emancipation.