₦airaland Forum

MEND set for civil war
•Says N’ Delta govs irrelevant
Sunday, April 19, 2009

Ongoing moves by the military to flush out militants from the Niger Delta might snowball into a full-blown war if feelers from the creeks are anything to go by.


•Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Investigation revealed that following last Monday’s bloody confrontation between a detachment of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and a group of militants in the Nembe Creek in Bayelsa State, some of the militant camps have commenced fresh recruitment of youths.

Three naval personnel were reportedly killed while four others were captured by the militants, who were also said to have lost scores of their fighters when their boats were sunk.

As a result, a source said the military has deployed more troops in the region as a way of strengthening its ‘Operation Flush Out Militants.’

In an email response to Sunday Sun enquiry, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) confirmed its readiness to confront the military in a civil war, warning that its fighters were battle-ready if the JTF attacks any community or its camps under the guise of fishing out militants.

Its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said in the event of war with the military, they will defend the region with the support of the people rather than rely on the Niger Delta governors, who he said were not relevant to their struggle.

MEND said it would also bank on the spiritual force of the Ijaw gods of war (Egbesu and Osuopele) to withstand the onslaught of the military even as it revealed that sympathizers in the military will “provide intelligence and materials” to the group.


“The first weaponry we have is guts and the knowledge we are fighting a just war for the control of our resources, We believe in action than too much talk. We have been prepared for a time as this and will be waiting for them to come and flush us out.


“(This) is not a bluff and the military knows that. We are waging a guerrilla-type war and there are many advantages to our side such as terrain adaptability and knowledge, natural born fighters who are not motivated by a monthly salary and, of course, the youths of the region; many of whom are itching to join our forces when a civil war begins.

“The governors of the Niger Delta states are irrelevant to the struggle. They were not elected into office and therefore are not legitimate representatives of the people. Like the typical Nigerian politicians, they are not seeing the big picture but the short-term gains of stolen wealth. Our support has been and will continue to come from the oppressed good people of the region and that is all we need,” MEND said in its response.


According to the militia group, while it would count on the people of the region to play various acts of sabotage, it said it “will employ more intelligent arsenal and tactics that will not need more than two operatives to cause collateral damage that would ordinarily have taken fifty men to achieve. Since oil is the mainstay of the enemy (Nigerian government), we will tie the oil and gas industry to the fray by shutting down the industry.”

MEND faulted claims by the JTF that its operatives drowned scores of the militants during the Easter Monday confrontation, asking the security outfit to produce the dead bodies.

“Four naval ratings were captured. The military is embarrassed to acknowledge that because it will amaze the public. To capture a soldier means that there was a close confrontation…We will try to get pictures or a video of the men with their full names, number and unit since they will have families and friends that will recognize them.

“The sinking of four boats with all the occupants numbering 14 as claimed by the army is an obvious lie. Since the bodies are expected to float, let them take journalists to the spot to proof their claim. The real figure is the death of three naval ratings, which the army denied but has been confirmed by the Navy, and four naval ratings captured, which they are silent about due to the shame,” the insurgent group stated.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/apr/19/511.html

Kobojunkie:
Same governor who announced that the Niger Bridge was going to collapse if the federal government did not come in to do something about it. lol

Kobojunkie:
Since when has the calabar been eating dog meat? There is a difference between that which is considered a part of ones CULTURE and that which a group adopts

as a result of circumstances.

Kobojunkie:
Since when did Dog meat become CULTURE in Nigeria? I believe this diet was born out of hunger.

Ujujoan:
I agree with you. But the devil you know is better than the angel you dont know. I think Anambarians learnt thar lesson with Peter Obi.

Ujujoan:
Nigeria is bad, yes!! Even worse than you described.

But you are not right. People don’t say no to sustainable development and ask for ‘food’ instead. True, the illiterate minority might mention food anytime you try to find out that they need, but I think Nigeria has come to a point whereby people don’t care how much you embezzle as far as you get the job done.

In Anambra State today, people are calling for the return of Chris Ngige because in the 34 months he spent as the Governor of the State, he was able to construct good roads in the State. The fact that a he made himself and a lot of other people rich in the process is irrelevant. Gov. Obi on the other hand who’ s busy saving money, investing money and returning balance of Government allocation is considered a failure. Why? Because the physical and infrastructural development is just not there.

OMO IBO:
pardon me, express roads or motorways are federal roads arent' they? shouldn't the FG be responsible for whatever happens to it?
or did Lagos State take it upon themselves?

ALL is now set to translate the dreams of a 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Highway and the Lekki-Ikoyi Road into realities by the Lagos State government with the presentation of cheques to the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.



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The cheques are meant for the Lekki-Ikoyi road project and the first phase of the 10-lane highway, which will begin from Eric Moore and end at Mile 2.

At the presentation of the cheques to representatives of Julius Berger at the state secretariat, Alausa, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, said details of financial commitments to the project will soon be made public.

OMO IBO:
i have no problem with this. infact i praise the guys behind this project.
but for how long are these guys going to ignore Niger Bridge and the roads that lead to the east?

Friday, April 17, 2009


Work begins on 10-lane Lagos-Badagry highway
By Felix Kuye

ALL is now set to translate the dreams of a 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Highway and the Lekki-Ikoyi Road into realities by the Lagos State government with the presentation of cheques to the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.



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The cheques are meant for the Lekki-Ikoyi road project and the first phase of the 10-lane highway, which will begin from Eric Moore and end at Mile 2.

At the presentation of the cheques to representatives of Julius Berger at the state secretariat, Alausa, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, said details of financial commitments to the project will soon be made public.

According to him, the execution of the contracts indicates the commitment of Governor Babatude Fashola's administration to renewal of infrastructure in Lagos State for the benefit of all.

Oyekan said: "The Lagos-Badagry Expressway was first constructed by the Lagos State government under the administration of Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, the first military administrator of the state. Since then, the road has suffered massive erosion of infrastructure and abuse of space.

"We are commitment to renewing the infrastructure with a 10-lane highway that will provide the basis for modern transportation for the people who live and work in that corridor. It will also provide access for people who are coming to Nigeria from many parts of the West African sub-region."

On the fate of those whose property were demolished as a result of the project, the commissioner said: "If we have wrongfully taken over the asset of any individual or group, the state government will pay. But it must be understood that the original right-of-way in that corridor is a minimum of 100 metres from one end of the road to the other. So, any structure that is obstructing that right-of-way obviously has no legal basis for being there. People who have valid claims can come forward and we will look at them, but I can say to you that the right-of-way for this particular road has been there from the time the road was first constructed. The alignment has always been there and that is what we have designed into."

On the light rail part of the project, Oyekan said the state government "is working hard to finalise that, and very soon, the state governor will make a pronouncement on the issue. But certainly, the light rail part of the contract will also be executed".

According to the commissioner, the contract was awarded to Julius Berger who constructed the road originally and knows the history of the road. He said the considerations for awarding the contract to Julius Berger by the state Tenders Board and the executive council were wide.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/apr/17/23.html

Abagworo:
Leadership shouldnt be ethnic based.i can see the emergence of a new crop of visionary leaders lead by amaechi of rivers state and fashola of lagos state.caution should however be applied because we've had some like orji kalu and alamiesegha who later showed their true colours.

bawomolo:
failed state would be somalia. Nigeria is close but not there yet.

redsun:
Good,may be it help them rebel against religious indoctrinations.May be they will see what lizards see.lizards are smart,especially the male black headed red lizards that can jump from height of three story building to ground with ease and shake its head.

DRANOEL:
asha 80 you are beginning to get on my nerves!