₦airaland Forum

This is what OPC will face heheheheheh

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria -- Signs of harmony seem to be budding in Nigeria's conflict-plagued Niger Delta region amid a government offer of amnesty to rebels and a leading militant group's halt to its attacks and kidnappings. But here in the swampy heart of the oil-rich but impoverished delta, many analysts and observers warn that the calm could be a prelude to all-out war.

Two weeks before the government is set to begin disarming as many as 10,000 militants in a 60-day amnesty program, it has revealed little about how it will reintegrate participants into society or address the demands for increased development and oil revenue that Niger Delta militants say drive their campaign of attacking oil installations and holding foreigners hostage.

The offer's vagueness is fueling fears that it will fail to lure militants and instead trigger a full-scale military offensive that could ensnare civilians living on the remote creeks where militants keep their camps.

"This is a window of opportunity," said Ogbonna Nwuke, a government commissioner in one of the Niger Delta states. "But the alternative, in my view, will be increased military operations by the Nigerian government. When that happens, ordinary men, women and children will be at risk . . . these are the things that happen at war."

The fate of this restive region, its lush land crisscrossed with creeks and oil pipelines, is of vital importance to stability in West Africa and to U.S. energy security. Sabotage by a web of militant groups has cut Nigeria's oil production by nearly one-half since 2006, but the nation remains the fifth-greatest oil supplier to the United States, which is turning more to Africa as it seeks to decrease its dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the principal militant group known as MEND, launched a guerrilla-style battle three years ago. It attacks oil facilities and kidnaps foreign oil workers in what it calls a crusade to bring development to a region whose residents have enjoyed few of the riches from 50 years of oil production.


But the militants also steal and sell oil, and many began their careers as thugs hired by corrupt Niger Delta politicians to ensure electoral victory through intimidation. Most analysts regard them more as cash-hungry gangs -- often in cahoots with politicians and military members -- than freedom fighters.

"None of these people, not MEND, not the military leaders, not the politicians . . . none of them really represents the interests of the people in the delta," said a Western diplomat in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. "Too many people don't have an interest in settling" the crisis.

Starting Aug. 6, the government says it will give cash, job training and pardons to militants who turn in weapons. Earlier this month, officials granted one MEND demand by releasing the group's leader, Henry Okah, who was jailed on treason and weapons-trafficking charges.

Okah's release prompted MEND to declare a 60-day cease-fire and, on Monday, to free its last six hostages. But the group, which wants a military-led security task force to withdraw from the delta, has shunned the amnesty offer.

The developments followed shows of force by the government and the militants in a conflict that has grown increasingly bloody and aggressive. In May, after rebel attacks killed one soldier and left 18 missing, the task force bombed militant camps in an offensive it says scattered fighters. Human rights groups said the bombings displaced and killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of civilians. Those claims have not been substantiated.

Two weeks ago, MEND attacked an oil installation several states away, near Lagos, the nation's largest city, in a brazen display of power that killed eight guards. The group said this week that it would "revisit" any facilities it destroyed if they were repaired.

"The current offer does not make any reference whatsoever to the root issues," Jomo Gbomo, a MEND spokesman, said in an e-mail, adding that the group expects renewed military offensives. "The African adage that when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers will ring true when the oil industry suffers a total collapse should such an attack on us occur."

Nigeria, which derives 90 percent of its foreign export earnings from oil, insists that its amnesty offer is a sincere peace effort. But it has also said that it would not cede to rebel demands and that it was prepared to take necessary action to curb the conflict, comments, some observers say, that show the military is eager to prove its might.

"These people are not real agitators. They are just bandits, criminals," Col. Rabe Abubakar, a spokesman for a Niger Delta military task force, said in an interview in the delta city of Warri. "For how long would this kind of thing go on in a normal country? I say no, we cannot allow this thing to continue."

Abubakar declined to speculate on the response if militants do not take the amnesty offer, which he insisted would work.

Previous government attempts to end the crisis have resulted in more bureaucracy than action, analysts say. Last fall, the government convened a "technical committee" on the Niger Delta, which recommended an amnesty and disarmament program facilitated by a third party, as well as increased oil revenue allocation and boosted infrastructure in delta states.

But the committee's leader, human rights activist and attorney Ledum Mitee, said he had to seek outside funding to even print the report, which he said he is not even sure government officials read.

In Port Harcourt, residents are wearily hoping that this attempt at peace succeeds.

"We pray it works, because the militants have disturbed us greatly," said Anthony Ejirimuo, a driver who said he lost clients as nervous oil companies pulled out foreign workers. "They say they are representing the people. Who sent them? They are only representing their own pockets."

JTF arewa people your days are numbered 60 days will soon be over

Omo i dey go yankee shay see igbo

One of the more controversial ideas is to legalize the sale of marijuana, as proposed in a bill introduced in California's state legislature by Democratic State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano this year. The bill proposed taxing pot by $50 per ounce. If legalized, marijuana could become California's No. 1 cash crop, bringing in an estimated $1 billion a year in state taxes.

The bill was shelved this session, but a revised version will probably be reintroduced

Legalized lala

We should help them teach them how to use bombs so that they can win easy for everyone hahahahahaha

Why can't they send JTF to the north because they are muslims barawos

It is a shame that fellow Nigerians are already shouting please stop the hostilities look at them no brainers animals in human skin you are happy to leave in bondage.
You have not seen anything yet the tides are turning very soon we all will come out for all out war to fight for our right.
Why can't the other regions in the country support this just cause it does not affect only the Niger Delta but every region in the country.
You have the yoruba people screaming abeg o no involve us o e no concern us na niger delta wahala bloody ingrates lagos will be no where without the funds from the niger delta.
For once we all should stand together to fight these northernization of nigeria.
The fight is not for one region.
After 60 days my guy if your papa,mama and any one you know is Nigeria you better tell them to run because it will be fire raining down from heaven.
Elijah called down fire from heaven so shall these case be we will call fire from heaven to consume these animals.
No hiding place for the wicked.
If the hand refuses to support you cut it off.

Now the game starts

babapupa you be comedian abi na watine u dey smoke hope say no pawpaw leaf ooooooooo

we are waiting for orders that is it then those aboki will know what jihad is all about.

Amnesty: S’South Govs Threaten to Back out
•Say Lukman is anti-Niger Delta
From Victor Efeizomor in Asaba, 07.24.2009

South-South governors have threatened to pull out of the amnesty arrangement for militants except certain issues are addressed quickly by the Federal Government.
Arising from the follow-up meeting to the South-South Economic Summit held earlier in the year in Calabar, Cross River State, the governors, under the aegis of South-South Governors’ Forum, said in Asaba, Delta State, early this morning that the Petroleum Industry Bill, which seeks to reform the oil sector, was “a slap in the face of the local communities”.
The governors, under the chairmanship of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, also kicked against the reported movement of the proposed University of Petroleum from Effurun, Delta State, to Kaduna State, while accusing the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman – who incidentally hails from Kaduna State – as being anti-South-South.
The third point of departure, according to the governors, is that the Federal Government does not have any concrete post-amnesty plan on the ground.
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in an attempt to douse the Niger Delta crisis and bring an end to militant activities which have brought the all-important oil industry to its knees, had offered amnesty to the militants.
However, the amnesty plan, which had the backing of the governors from the South-South geo-political zone, is now in jeopardy with the latest threat from the governors.
The petroleum industry bill, which has also been opposed by the oil majors and some other stakeholders in the industry, is said not to be in favour of the host communities, considering the need to provide for local content and promote a sense of ownership among the communities.
The original bill gave five per cent of the royalty to the community that produces the oil and 25 per cent to the states where the oil is produced.
It was however withdrawn and a second bill was introduced in which the host communities would not be entitled to any interest if passed.
The meeting was also angry the proposed Petroleum University would be located in Kaduna State, arguing that it was against the interest of the Niger Delta.
The university, which is estimated to cost N14 billion, will train high-level manpower, whereas the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun trains mainly low-level manpower.
It had been speculated that PTI would be upgraded to university level, but Lukman has denied the claim, saying the institute would be retained to train low-level manpower while the degree-awarding institute would be sited in Kaduna.
He specifically denied reports that the Federal Government promised to convert the PTI to a university, saying that doing so would deny the oil sector the needed middle-level manpower.

No need to quarrel or fight simple solution is this.
LET OPC ATTACK THE PEOPLE FROM NIGER DELTA IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE CAN SETTLE THIS MATTER ONCE
MOUTH NO ACTION

PDP is a clandestine manover by the Northern Oligarchy to hold unto power by all cost and by all means.
Nigerians have to wake up and smell the coffee.
Very soon sharia will be the main law in Nigeria.

We have to stand up for once in our life as Nigerians not ibo man or yoruba man as Nigerians we have a common enemy.
If the west cannot shake away there tribalistic tendencies then we have a problem.
The west has been sucking up to the north for patronage why.
I want you to read this.

Relocation to Abuja was an attempt to bring the Nation’s capital to the Door-step of Northerners that which they have since achieved. The relocation of Nigeria’s capital to Abuja has come and gone but the politics played by the North together with the bad effects which by far outweighs the decision will continue to live with Nigerians till “thy kingdom come”. Contrary to popular perception then, the setting up of the hasty panel that looked into this decision was an attempt to situate the Nation’s seat of power in the northern region.

The panel set up by the then Northern oligarchy led by the military cleverly gave the Nigerians and the world at large an understanding that everything was wrong with Lagos as the capital and that another capital which would eventually correct this impression would better be situated in the heart of the northern region of Nigeria and surprisingly prominent Yoruba personalities amongst whom were the Late Justice Akinola Aguda and Tai Solarin were made members of the panel set up to fulfill this arrangement.

In the views of these panel members, certain anomalies compelled the relocation of the capital of Nigeria. These included the city’s small land area, and consequently congestion, which according to them makes further development of the state utterly difficult, the coastal location of the city, lack of centralization of the city as the capital of the Nation, Security reason - Lagos due to its location was vulnerable to attack from the ocean, because of its location at the edge of the country, it's not very convenient and expensive for other Nigerians to come to Lagos. (These very reasons are laughable today) Lagos belongs to the Yorubas; one of the major tribes in Nigeria (If Lagos belongs to the Yorubas to whom does Abuja belong) among others too numerous to mention here.

Although Lagos, with a land area of 3, 577 square kilometers, represents only 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s land area, the city hosts an estimated 12 million inhabitants or 10 per cent of the nation’s population and still accommodates more people perhaps on daily basis such is the wonder of Lagos even at rejection as the capital of the Federation by the Northerners.

Given the United Nation’s projection that Lagos geographically has the potential to become the third most populous mega-polis by 2015 and the fact that Lagos remains the economic as well as the cultural capital of the Nation are the initiators of this relocation to Abuja not mistaken? From the “days of John the Baptist” to the years of the British colonial government in power Lagos has been “Home for all’ and is more geographically blessed and prepared for this than any other state or region in the nation including Abuja. Let there be no mistake about this.

It is incontrovertible that every Nigerian feels better at home in Lagos than in any other place. It is equally a fact that there are many non natives of Lagos today who have lost cognizance of there home towns because they have spent almost their entire lives in the state. I bet that everyone will admit that more people today speak Yoruba than any other Nigerian language. This is the influence of Lagos.

Historically, Lagos is widely believed to be an Awori town but other migrants have washed into Lagos, especially the Benin City natives (who settled at Enu-Owa, the Saro (Sierra Leonean) and the predominantly Brazilian, Aguda returnees settled mainly in Olowogbowo/Offin area along the northern foreshore of the Lagos Marina and the Brazilian Quarters. The Tapa (Nupe) mistaken for the Hausa, first settled at “Ago” (Hausa Lines) in 1860 but later relocated to Obalende where there permanent homes were found. The Igbo are today known to occupy the shops of all the major markets in the state today.

Any human complete with the five senses will easily tell that Abuja is very uninviting and that those who set out to change the course of geographical endowments should have realized that by nature, the human society is unpredictably difficult and complex and the Nigerian environment is not different from this given its extremely volatile, fragile and complex socio-economic nature relocation to Abuja was therefore rather unnecessary.

The world over except those who relocated Nigeria’ capital has realized that the growth, survival and viability of societies are dependent on the competence of good human resource and experience so it is apt to ask ourselves what resources Abuja is naturally endowed with. Those Ministry workers forced on journey to the city in the years of Babangida to begin a new life are still returning to Lagos. Many of them left without their family members. Despite the well physical and excellent planning, Abuja still strikes everyone except our big politicians most from the north as a place of suffering where one spends too much and earns very little, a city made for only the Rich. Abuja is nothing but a city of ministries and papers.

Too much of the nation’s resources from the Niger Delta had been poured into hurriedly erecting a new seat of government by the military government of Northern extraction who had hidden agenda. Most other parts of Nigeria were simply ignored so that Abuja could coalesce from a dream into reality. Money that should have been invested in electricity to power the whole country was poured down the drain to the detriment of other regions of the country. Abuja is obviously a misplaced priority as money that should have been put to more urgent use in the areas of healthcare, education and so on, was diverted through wasteful means. Murtala began it all and Babangida completed it all.

We failed to ask ourselves why all the public structures already in Lagos had to be duplicated in Abuja in the name of creating another capital for the northern region. This clearly was not risk to be undertaken by a society like Nigeria seen as one of poorest nations of the world. Today, the former National Assembly complex, The secretariat, Tafawa Balewa square and other public buildings lay neglected with Lagos itself lying in utmost neglect as a result of abandonment by the Federal Government.

Abuja may remain the pride of the North but to the rest of the nation, the mere idea of relocation of the capital from Lagos is nothing but an economic and monumental waste only meant to further or serve the interest of the few individuals. Suffice it to mean that societies cannot be built overnight. Those behind this idea of relocation presented a situation which ushered in lingering economic crisis in Nigeria which in a way depleted the economy of the nation. Abuja was foisted on the people of Nigeria. Hundreds of billions of dollars were committed into building Abuja Yet no government in this nation can factiously tell us how much that was spent to build to build the city.

The government kicked the Gwari inhabitants off their land and moved the capital to Abuja because it was searching for a central place in the North. Today we are asking whether Abuja should be classified as a state or a capital city, instead of the mayoralty that it is. Again we ask ourselves whether Abuja is the capital of Nigeria or Northern Nigeria. Nigeria remains the country in the world with its capital in the centre. The 3 most populated countries in the world China, India and the United States all have their capitals located at the edge like Lagos. The 3 biggest countries in the world by landmass Russia, Canada, and the United States have their respective capitals located at the edge like Lagos. The once location of Nigeria’s capital at the edge followed careful thought and consideration by the much wiser British than our later military junta only out to fulfill the carefully orchestrated agenda of the North.

In the same Capital of Northern Nigeria (Abuja) we hear of ban on public drinking of alcohol, and the setting up of a committee to enforce ban on smoking in public places in Abuja from June1, 2008 (see The punch, May 3, 2008) The same way we have heard of the ban on commercial motorcycles in the city so that we are once again asking if Abuja is going sharia the same way its other Northern states went.

Although the capital has been shifted to Abuja, Lagos will remain the capital of Nigeria in our minds considering its importance in the economic activities of the country.

nigerians are the biggest cowards of all time.

I thought Fashola was a smart man but now i know he his a bloody tribalist and the whole Yoruba people all bloody cowards and tribalist.
We keep saying the Hausa's are not contributing to development of Nigeria i want to WHAT HAS THE YORUBA NATION CONTRIBUTED TO THE ECONOMIC SURVIVAL OF NIGERIA I WANT TO I WANT TO KNOW.

I just read in the papers now that OPC is mobilising to go and attack people from the Niger Delta that are in Lagos.
This wan make me laugh well well.
Now they will understand were we are coming from.
Let me say OPC are they so stupid and daft that they are going to attack Innocent people am very sorry for them they will not belief what will happen.
That beautiful state called Lagos will be worst than my village in the Niger delta if they try anything.
Boyz will be very happy because this will be the best opportunity to test the consignment that just arrive on some life target which will be OPC.
PLEASE WE BEG THEM PEOPLE CALLED OPC TO CARRY OUT THE ATTACK QUICK PLEASE WE ARE BEGGING ATTACK US WE WANT TO DIE NOW OPC KILL US.
WE WILL BRING THE FIRE OF EGBESU AND ASAWANA AND MORE.
LAGOS WILL BECOME THE NEW THEATER OF BATTLE.

Former Oil Minister and Niger Delta leader, Prof. Tam David West, yesterday said that last week’s invasion and destruction of oil facilities in Lagos by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) should not be misconstrued as targeted at, or borne out of hatred for the Yoruba people who inhabit the affected territory.

The pan-Niger Delta Militia Group’s surprise attack and bombing of fuel-holding Atlas Cove owned by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Lagos had drawn flaks mostly from angry Yoruba leaders and groups who felt that the action was unwarranted.

Some of the critics had argued that the Yoruba people of South Western Nigeria had long been allies and champions of justice and equity for the oil-rich but neglected Niger Delta region and its people. Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, lent his voice to the angst, saying the militants’ action was, “most unfair, unstrategic and ill-advised,” warning of appropriate response to such ‘criminal activities’.

Also, the Major General Adeyinka Adebayo-led Yoruba Council of Elders at the weekend condemned the attack on the jetty, saying it amounted to an invitation of tribal war by the insurgents.
The widespread indignation came amid fears that the Atlas Cove vandalism would disrupt fuel supply to states in the South West, although the NNPC had assured it would not.
But reacting to the criticisms, David West said the attack had nothing to do with Yoruba, adding: “They are not the target, they cannot be the target.”

The ex-minister said the attack was obviously directed at the national assets of the Federal Government with whom the insurgents had a dispute, apparently to strengthen their hands at the negotiation table.
He said although he did not support violence, he had in the recent past warned that unless the government urgently pardoned the militants, discontinue criminal proceedings against their leaders and engage them in dialogue, “they will, like rats, nibble at crucial national and economic assets, which could cripple the country’s economy.

“I’ m disappointed in the elders. I expect them to be circumspect in commenting on this issue. It is a very unfortunate statement coming from them. They should have been more sedate. Churchill said: “War mongers can only control the first bullet shot, not the consequencies. How would they know who will win the inter-tribal war if it breaks out?” the university don posed.

He added: “I have been staying in Yorubaland for a very long time and regard myself as a Yoruba. What I expect from them is not threat, but advice that would prevent a reoccurrence by the boys. Atlas Cove does not belong to the Yoruba, it is owned by the Federal Government, it only happened to be on Yoruba territory. Did they attack any Yoruba Government assets? The militants are humane and sensible people. They have shown this in the past, by releasing an expatriate hostage to celebrate his birthday when he requested.”

David West, an arch critic of the current regime, however, praised President Umaru Yar’Adua for the unconditional release and dropping of charges of treasonable felony against militant leader, Henry Okah.
He said the president’s gesture has vindicated his preachments on the way out of the Niger Delta debacle. I’ m personally vindicated, because this is what I’d been saying since about two years ago, that Okah and indeed all militants be given unconditional pardon and all criminal charges against them dropped. I must say I appreciate the president’s gesture which is long overdue.

“But the matter does not end there. This alone will not end militancy. The next step is to get all the militants involved in a general dialogue. They must go to the round table for sincere negotiations.”
The former minister said for the militants to have the necessary confidence and trust in the arrangement, the Federal Government should involve the United Nations, leading members of the international community such as Britain, United States and France, as well as their multinational oil firms, including Shell and Chevron.

Chinese government had agreed to issue exit visas to Nigerians resident in China illegally, to enable them leave the country without molestation, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The development is coming on the heels of street protests last week, over the death of two Nigerians who jumped out of a window to escape police clampdown of illegal migrants in Guangzhou Province.
This is as Chinese Embassy in Abuja, has said it was yet to receive detailed information on the alleged death of a Nigerian, Emmanuel Egisimba, in the Chinese town of Guangzhou last Wednesday.
The Embassy’s Spokesman, Mr Peng Yijun, said they are still waiting for confirmation and approval from Beijing before any reaction could be sent to that effect.
"There is an agreement in principle with the Chinese authority to issue exit visas to Nigerians who have overstayed without arresting and clamping them into jail,'' Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ayo Olukanni, told NAN yesterday in Abuja.
'This is what the Nigerian mission in China is currently negotiating. The mission is working with the Nigerian community to ensure that the list of those affected is compiled for necessary issuing of the visas,'' he said.
Olukanni denied that two Nigerians died after jumping through a window.
'No Nigerian died. The two people, Mr Ndubusisi Ohaneme sustained some injuries and had been discharged from the hospital, while Emmanuel Okoro, who was in intensive care, is now out and is in stable condition in the hospital,'' he said.
According to Olukanni, nearly 20,000 Africans, including 5,000 Nigerians, reside in the Guangzhou Province, adding that in recent times, the Chinese had embarked on an exercise to `flush' out those staying illegally.
He advised Nigerians against overstaying their visas to avoid harassment from the security personnel of their host countries.

Tribalist

Person dat made nigeria to join OIC

Well we all know who will win if OPC decides to fight Mend.Mend represents Niger Delta.
If OPC or the Yoruba people in Lagos should misbehave by going after the people from the Niger Delta i bet you Lagos will be another Afghanistan.
Everything dey name e dey bomboy,pumpy,AK47,smg,rpg,anti aircraft missile even bamnes dey if e too hard we go bring the full juju enter eko guy no be joke o run.
Warn OPC well well.
tell them make dem no tranga

Look at ur mouth for uttering such rubbish. Have you seen the level of suffering in the niger delta, when they do that who will benefit, what we are advocating for is true federalism nothing more nothing else.
If this was happening in the west nigeria would have been divided by now.
Abiola lost election look at what happened they had to pacify you people with obj.
Now we are asking for what belongs to us you opening your smelling mouth to spwan rubbish.
Nigeria will be better when we pratice what we preach if not blood will flow.
what happened in Rwanda should be a case study to you freaks out  there.

What is it why is my post be taking away fro these site is these the arewa conspiracy or what you cannot hid the truth.

We need to eradicate these arewa bastards.

The bomb dey tick tick tack tick na gwa una go hear.

Bialegend una u finish work for that statement.God nia go bless you. Blow the f**ker from the source