₦airaland Forum

The link you provided like most of how our Generals want the History to be told talks about counter-revolution and what led to it. But the question is, the underlying issues that led to a disagreement at all in the first place no one talks about it.

after reading your post, I regret engaging you in a discuss because you are lumping everything and don't seem to understand the difference between Igbo, Niger-Delta, South-South and South-East. I will not lecture you that as am not your tutor.

My advice for you is, go and advice your brothers to find something better doing. Their criminality in the name of struggle is no longer popular. Their game will soon be up, they should go and engage in legitimate bussiness.

The problem with you guys is that you play the tribal card, when others play your own game you brand them tribalistic. Go through the thread again and see who between us was the first to mention tribe. alright let me give you a clue.

The Igbos went to war with the Nigerian state because of crude oil deposits in the Delta. They want complete and unhindered ownership of the resources there. But their greed was met with the ''might'' of the Nigerian state. They were forced to settle the matter out of the war front.

Probably it was I who made the above comment. Or probably a swear word against the Igbos is not tribalistic because it has become so common in our society.

40years ago, Ojukwu thought Nigeria would be a better place if it was a confedration. The Hawks in the North led by Gowon threatened to secede. It was after Western Governments led by Britain who knew they will find there way arround Northerners easier than Southerners prevailed on the North that Gowon dropped the secession idea after the famous peace meeting in Lagos and then Ojukwu picked it up. The Igbos were not the brainchild of secession though our history has been so basterdized in this country that no one knows the truth anymore.

Talking about the Murder of Sarduna of Sokoto, Kaduna Nzeogwu who led and executed that operation is from Delta State what is today South-South or Niger-Delta. Yet everyone wants to blame the Igbos in the South East for the problems of Nigeria. Besides that before the attack there has been Election violence killings in the North against Southerners.
After all these came Major Gen Jonson Thomas Aguyi-Ironsi, Nigeria's most senior military officer as it were then, the gentleman general who thought he could restore hope by preaching peace. To prove this he hired the services of Northern Bodygaurds, his own bodygaurds gave him away to his assasinators led by Gen Theophilus Danjuma. That was the height of this crisis and then Ojukwu attempted to secede.

A country without a history will never be able to plan its future. Some people have over the years blackmailed the truth, but truth like what it is remains the truth. Go look the meaning of Confedration in your dictionary and compare it with the local control of resources you are fighting for and see if there is a relationship.
There is a saying that only a mad man tries to block two parallel roads at the same time and that is what you guys in the Niger-Delta are doing.

You can not celebrate the structure of Nigeria as it is and yet call for local control of resources, these are two parallel lines that will never meet. Your struggle if there is one is so misguided. You guys are even lucky "thanks to OBJ" that 13% derivation was granted. Otherwise going by our Gospel of Nigeria being so sweet as it is, they are not supposed to even grant that.
Only last week Afenifere, was blaiming OBJ that instead of restructuring Nigeria to a situation where each Geopolitical zone generates its own revenue and pays tax to the central government, he was busy restructuring personnel.
The beauty of all this is that the criticism it is not coming from the South-East, the Nigeria we in the South-East foresaw 40years ago others are seeing now yet you guys will not admit the truth and apologise to the Igbos. What has Nigeria achieved since independence the way it is Nothing.

Talking about the whole Ndigbo backing Ojukwu, I don't think anybody who knows the truth will regret what our forefathers did. Maybe Ojukwu may have overplayed his hands sometimes. But the fact is that If Nigeria had an honest debate on the issue raised we would not have been where we are today. When I look at the crisis in the Delta I find reason to appreciate Ojukwu even more, is it not funny that those who sabotaged the struggle are fighting for the same course today?? May be the abandoned properties belonging to Igbos given to them for free can not accomodate them anymore.
What is more worrying is even 40years latter you guys still don't know your opponents, PH refinery has been bought by Dangote he is not Igbo, the Genarals who owned the oil Wells in the Niger-Delta are not Igbos, yet you guys keep on thinking Igbos are your problem. I don't get it. Why can't you just leave Igbos alone

While you must appreciate the fact that MEND do not have the backing of responsible people of the Niger Delta, it is on record that the whole of Ndigbo supported the cause of Ojukwu's secession

We don't believe in tacitly backing and arming criminals but yet denying them in the Open. That is cowardice
I don't know what you mean by Niger-Delta indegenes not backing MEND, when there first set of ammunition was imported by Governors, I don't know what you mean by Niger-Delta indegenes not backing MEND when the first act of Newly elected governors is to call for the release of Asari Dokubo.
Is it not an insult on the sensibility of Nigerians that the newly elected Governor of River State Celestine Omehia is placing N1m bounty on any information on Militants when on the eve of handover May 29, he deployed Soboma George (Militant Kingpin) to assasinate Prince Igodo (another Militant Kingpin) for threatening to scuttle his handover. My brother better wake up!!!!

The only benefit the Niger-Delta people have in this crisis is that people who would have been robbing them to make ends meet have simply found a more lucrative way of making money.
Otherwise I cant see why the Niger-Deltans are supporting MEND, who have simply brought them insecurity.

Shame on MEND, they released 11 hostages today. Before 3pm they will kidnap another 6. What is the point releasing the previous 11 if not that they have collected ransome on that 11 so has to release them and kidnap afresh so that new ransome will come in.

Ateke Tom, Soboma George were all thieves arround borikiri area of PH. They have seen in kidnapping expatriates a new way of extorting money in a more popular fashion.
Honestly deep down in their heart they wish the crisis never comes to an end so that bussiness of hostage taking for ransome continues. THIEVES!!!!!!!!

The Igbos went to war with the Nigerian state because of crude oil deposits in the Delta. They want complete and unhindered ownership of the resources there. But their greed was met with the ''might'' of the Nigerian state. They were forced to settle the matter out of the war front.

since that is what you want to talk about lets talk about it then. Ojukwu then one of the few Nigerian Oxford graduates, led a war with his father's resources. He used his resource to fight courageously for what he believed in. If 40years latter some of the things he tried to achieve are still haunting us then maybe Ojukwu was not wrong after all.

I also like to point out that, he did not engage in criminal acts like kidnapping people for ransome claiming he is fighting for freedom, he did not engage in armed robbery claiming he was fighting for freedom, he did not engage in gangsterism claiming he was fighting for freedom. He fought gallantly like a man for a course he believed in not the cowardice and gorrilla warfare seen in the delta today.

Guess what, yes the Igbos met the might of the Nigerian state but held sway for 3years. But I tell you what if the Nigerian Army decideds full scale military action against MEND, they will sort them out in 24hours like Gen Martin Luthar Agwai pointed out last week.

This country has other resources to survive so lets hear something, your criminality disguised as struggle is not popular anymore. Your game will soon be up.

Mamajama

Only last week you were pouring encomiums on Okiro and why he was a better choice over ONOVO.

Did those his good works you eulogised him with evaporate over the weekend?

Nobody is interested in the foul cry by MEND anymore.

The British High commission has warned its citizens from travelling to the Niger-Delta, Shell has also pledge to support any of its workers who wish to relocate from the area. So people are getting fed up with the criminality going on there all disguised as fight for freedom.

You have to first of all hold your governors and LGA chairmen accountable before you start accusing the Nigerian State.

I guess the govs and LGA chairmen have the vision and political desire to make a difference. Yet states like Rivers and Delta with Annual Budgets more than some west african states have simply achieved nothing.

Well Elections are either "Free and fair" or they are not.
Those who could not conduct free and fair elections for themselves should stop lecturing us on how to go about it. They lack the moral right to do that.

Honestly I remember mamajama crucifying BigB1 for saying IBB should be left alone cause most Nigerians are corrupt.
But from latest developments mamajama has adopted the same gospel.

I dont see how the above title translates into declaring Ehindero innocent.

The IGP is simply being diplomatic and making sure he is not seen as usurping the duties of the court by passing a verdict on a case that is yet to be investigated.

u are in LA, how then u know what is happening when somebody in london can't know

I thought the same thing but could not be bothered to talk about it , LOL

Affluent Nigerians with children in primary and post-primary schools in Lagos State and its environs may have been the latest target of hostage-takers in the Niger-Delta region. This is following the recent abduction of a five-year-old girl, Chiloka Madubugwu, by some hoodlums from a private school (names withheld), in Orile-Iganmu area of the state.


Sunday Tribune investigations revealed that no sooner than the girl was kidnapped that her abductors transported her to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, called her father, Mr Jude Madubugwu, and demanded for the sum of N3million as ransom for her release, failure which she would be slaughtered.


However, Sunday Tribune was informed by an authoritative family source that prior to the telephone call by the hoodlums, who were still at large as at the time of filing this report , the family lawyers of the Madubugwus, Messers Festus Keyamo and Co, advised them to be on the look out for any strange call, papers on their wall or doors and gate among others since cases of kidnapping and demand for ransom had become so rampant in the country.


Accordingly, the source, who craved for anonymity at the weekend, added that true to type, a strange call came the following day from somebody who gave his name as Master Butchery, just as it stated further that the so-called Master Butchery gave an instruction that the parents of the victim should pay N3million.


Speaking further, the source said, “before the father of the five-year-old girl could ask who the caller was, the caller switched off the phone only to call back the following day, requesting that the girl’s class teacher who had been arrested by the police over the incident, be released forthwith, as not releasing the teacher immediately amounted to risking the life of the kid.”


ST findings further revealed that when Master Butchery was asked on the mode of payment, he was said to have told the father of Chiloka that he shouldn’t be faster than his shadow while stressing that every necessary detail on how it would be paid would be given to Mr. Madubugwu shortly.


Meanwhile, Mr. Madubugwu was alleged to have paid the said N1million ransom for the release of his child to a newly opened account owned by one Kingsley Abu at Aba branch of a new generation bank, as the kidnappers were said to have withdrawn the money at the Port-Harcourt branch of the same bank later after which the girl was dumped at a branch of a eatery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where a pastor friend of the Madubugwu had gone to pick up the girl.


Consequently, when Sunday Tribune visited the school for confirmation of the story, the headmaster of the nursery and primary school said it was true.


He, however, pointed out that the school authorities had even before the incident put in place security measures to prevent such an unfortunate incident. However, when he was asked why the school security guards and teachers had to allow the hoodlums to take away the child before the arrival of her parents on that fateful day, he said he had no answer to that.

God help us, this country is yet to see the worst.
Even a 5-year old innocent girl is suffering for the misrule of Nigeria.
This kidnap is so misplaced and misguided, what is most annoying is that her name does not sound like her father is the President of Nigeria, nor the Vice President, nor any of the Security Chiefs. It does not even sound like the recently sold Refineries were sold to his father, it does not even sound like her father may be one of those retired Generals who own oil wells in the Niger-Delta.
I simply can't figure out the motivation behind this.

The militants should kindly release the girl UNCONDITIONALLY (no quid pro quo nor ransome)so that this does not open a new chapter in the crisis.

Affluent Nigerians with children in primary and post-primary schools in Lagos State and its environs may have been the latest target of hostage-takers in the Niger-Delta region. This is following the recent abduction of a five-year-old girl, Chiloka Madubugwu, by some hoodlums from a private school (names withheld), in Orile-Iganmu area of the state.


Sunday Tribune investigations revealed that no sooner than the girl was kidnapped that her abductors transported her to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, called her father, Mr Jude Madubugwu, and demanded for the sum of N3million as ransom for her release, failure which she would be slaughtered.


However, Sunday Tribune was informed by an authoritative family source that prior to the telephone call by the hoodlums, who were still at large as at the time of filing this report , the family lawyers of the Madubugwus, Messers Festus Keyamo and Co, advised them to be on the look out for any strange call, papers on their wall or doors and gate among others since cases of kidnapping and demand for ransom had become so rampant in the country.


Accordingly, the source, who craved for anonymity at the weekend, added that true to type, a strange call came the following day from somebody who gave his name as Master Butchery, just as it stated further that the so-called Master Butchery gave an instruction that the parents of the victim should pay N3million.


Speaking further, the source said, “before the father of the five-year-old girl could ask who the caller was, the caller switched off the phone only to call back the following day, requesting that the girl’s class teacher who had been arrested by the police over the incident, be released forthwith, as not releasing the teacher immediately amounted to risking the life of the kid.”


ST findings further revealed that when Master Butchery was asked on the mode of payment, he was said to have told the father of Chiloka that he shouldn’t be faster than his shadow while stressing that every necessary detail on how it would be paid would be given to Mr. Madubugwu shortly.


Meanwhile, Mr. Madubugwu was alleged to have paid the said N1million ransom for the release of his child to a newly opened account owned by one Kingsley Abu at Aba branch of a new generation bank, as the kidnappers were said to have withdrawn the money at the Port-Harcourt branch of the same bank later after which the girl was dumped at a branch of a eatery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where a pastor friend of the Madubugwu had gone to pick up the girl.


Consequently, when Sunday Tribune visited the school for confirmation of the story, the headmaster of the nursery and primary school said it was true.


He, however, pointed out that the school authorities had even before the incident put in place security measures to prevent such an unfortunate incident. However, when he was asked why the school security guards and teachers had to allow the hoodlums to take away the child before the arrival of her parents on that fateful day, he said he had no answer to that.

God help us, this country is yet to see the worst.
Even a 5-year old innocent girl is suffering for the misrule of Nigeria.
This kidnap is so misplaced and misguided, what is most annoying is that her name does not sound like her father is the President of Nigeria, nor the Vice President, nor any of the Security Chiefs. It does not even sound like the recently sold Refineries were sold to his father, it does not even sound like her father may be one of those retired Generals who own oil wells in the Niger-Delta.
I simply can't figure out the motivation behind this.

The militants should kindly release the girl UNCONDITIONALLY (no quid pro quo nor ransome)so that this does not open a new chapter in the crisis.

University of BATH

@Imani

Let me gossip a little, heard President Yaradua's daughter is in your school.
Is that true?

Leave Niger Delta, Britons urged

Nigerian militants have been responsible for kidnappings
Britons have been advised by the UK government to leave three states in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta.
In updates to travel advice on the Foreign Office website, citizens were warned that Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States are unsafe.

The site states this is because of the very high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks.

A Briton was one of four foreign oil workers kidnapped in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, last week.

Since January last year, 31 British nationals and more than 180 foreigners have been kidnapped in the area. One Briton has been killed.

I think the oil companies have to look seriously at whether or not they can continue to work there

Labour MP Frank Doran

In its travel advice, the Foreign Office says British nationals who do stay in the region do so at their own risk.

It states this is because "of the very high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks in these areas".

It also advises those who do stay in the three states that they are doing so "at their own risk" and says they should take professional security advice.

Coastal attacks

Most foreigners who go to the area, such as oil workers, already travel there with armed police escorts.

Recent attacks in the area have led to a 25% cut in Nigeria's oil production.



Those on ships and oil rigs off the coast of the Delta should also be aware of the "high risk of kidnappings and other armed attacks", the Foreign Office said.

Aberdeen North Labour MP Frank Doran, who has campaigned for tougher travel advice for oil workers travelling to the region, said the situation had become "very, very serious".

The UK government, the Nigerian government and private security firms could not guarantee the safety of Britons, he said.

He added: "I think the oil companies have to look seriously at whether or not they can continue to work there."

Oil company Royal Dutch Shell said it would support the relocation of its expatriate staff based in the Niger Delta who wished to leave.

In a statement it said: "The safety of our staff is our primary concern and we continually review our security measures and take a precautionary approach."

I have so much respect for OBJ but once again he has erred.
If there is anything he did not learn it is how to talk.

This statement in the present world we live in is out of place, the world is striving to protect the rights of women. In fact his administration as president helped  women emancipation in Nigeria by giving loads of opportunities to women.

How he will be credited with such statement is a shame, referring to women as extra investment in the world we leave is shameful.

the second point you made is also important, the Igbo need to seek for true partners outside their zone and come up with a better slogan than 'its our turn' when seeking the presidency.

Well you will not convince people who think what makes them happy is to blame you for all the country's problems to be your political ally.

My strongest wish and point here is, we have a greater task as a people, which is to rebuild our zone and look after one another like civilized society does. .

When Nigeria is ready to play fair politics we will know

@Debosky

there is a basic lack of unity and focus amongst the igbo political class - Kalu was a lone voice, so was Pat Utomi, no widespread Igbo support for these men

See that mentality?? drop it. That is just a slogan to divert your attention from the real issues.
In the last election Arewa consultative forum could not broker a deal between Atiku, Buhari or Yaradua on who the North will present, so those who won it were not more united than the south-east.

Besides that, even a very united South-East will not install an Igbo President on its own, democracy is a game of numbers. Even if all the Igbo sons and duaghters both home and abroad vote for an Igbo Presidency we can not win if people of other geo-political zones do not believe they can have someone from the South-East as President.

So forget the Ideology of "Igbos are not united", that is just a slogan to divert attention from the real issues.  In 1999 the Yorubas did not vote OBJ yet he won, he was not a product of United Yoruba. In the run up to last election, before OBJ single-handedly projected Yar'adua through the PDP, all the Arewa meetings did not put Yaradua in their calculations yet he is President today. You can not tell me Yaradua is a product of United North.

On a more serious note if the talk of "one Nigeria" means anything to us why can't we look at the quality of the candidate rather than his tribe and how united they are.

In all this I don't blame the IBBs, the Danjumas, and the success of their evil machinations, blackmails against the South-East I blame our immediate Governors. Those who cry marginalisation should not marginalise themselves. I wish Igbo leaders and politicians can for once be wise, our Govs should have concentrated more developing the South-East (think of what Donald Duke did for his people) and forget the Presidency and FG politics. We can do a lot for ourselves without having an Igbo as Nigeria's President. As far as am concerned that venture is a waste of time, Nigeria's equality before the constitution only exists on paper.

Ehindero's defence will not happen in Nairaland, that is an excersize in futility.

Wonderful, the new IGP of police Mike Okiro does not know that the police was about to be paid, he does not even know the logistics and schedule involved in paying his men.

Mamajama we are not toddlers please.

Where did Oga get close to half a billion to buy this house? i'm just curious o

Oga na thief

Mamajama, in your interest either quit Nairaland or Change name. 3 different Newspapers have confirmed the arrest of Mr Obaniyi who you claim to have spoken to some hours ago.

The days when thieves are celebrated in Nigeria are gone

My only annoyance is why Mike Okiro is attempting to shield such monumental financial fraud from the EFCC. The Nigerian police is in a mess and only EFCC can unearth the fraud perpetrated by Ehindero.

'Oga Na Thief Man': Why Ex-IG Ehindero Moved His Loot So Late
Posted by admin on 2007/6/8 16:55:02 (8 reads)
By Tony Orilade/Abuja

As our headline, which is the title of a novel suggests, the lid was blown off the corrupt three-year administration of the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, yesterday when a police commissioner and others were arrested with millions of naira in a luggage. Apart from confirming the scandal, the new police hierarchy led by Mr. Mike Okiro, also ordered the detention of the police officer and other aides of the former IGP arrested in connection with the loot.

P.M.News investigations revealed that the drama started when a police aide of Ehindero was arrested when he went into the IGP’s office and brought out a travel bag said to belong to Ehindero.

The new IGP, Mike Okiro, who was in the office at the time, was said to have ordered that the bag be searched.

On searching the bag, millions of naira in both local and foreign currencies, worth N27 million, were allegedly found in it.

On interrogation, the aide confessed to Okiro that it was Ehindero who asked him to bring the bag and that the money belonged to the former police boss.

The arrested aide also reportedly identified other police officers keeping various sums of police money in their offices.

This revelation led to the arrest of the Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget, Mr. Sunday Obaniyi, who was reportedly found stuffing millions of naira in local and foreign notes worth N200 million into a box in his office.
Obaniyi allegedly confessed during interrogation that the money belonged to Ehindero and he was immediately taken to Okiro who ordered his detention.

Those arrested are currently being detained on the 7th floor of the Louis Edet Police Headquarters in Abuja.

Police sources told P.M.News that the new police boss, Okiro, was particularly irked that Ehindero left behind N4 million in the police account only for him to send some officer to cart away millions of naira.

Investigations revealed further that Ehindero waited this late to remove his loot from his office because he never thought he could be removed so hastily by the Yar’Adua administration.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was said to have assured him that Yar’Adua had granted him a two-month tenure extension but was shocked when Yar’Adua asked him to hand over to the next senior police officer.

Sources at the police headquarters in Abuja described Ehindero as another police officer worse than the disgraced former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun.

The song on the lips of many policemen interviewed this morning on the startling revelations was ‘Oga na thief man’.

P.M.News reports that Ehindero’s two-year tenure as police boss was characterised by massive corruption and unresolved assassinations.

It was during his tenure that Engineer Funsho Williams, a PDP chieftain in Lagos, was killed by unknown assassins.

Up till now, the police are yet to bring the killers to book.

Ehindero also made questionable promotions in the force while he held sway.

The talk of Kieran Dudari handling this issue is rubbish.

It is financial fraud and by default is in the domain of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The Police should not try to cover it up.
It will be nice if Ribadu can add Ehindero and Obaniyi to his CV.

Only last week Ehindero was telling Nigerians how it was not enough to house police people in the barracks. That there welfare must be catered for.

The same man who could tell the whole nation this was sitting on the[b] pay of Nigerian police officers in harms way in far away Liberia[/b].

This sums up what leadership is about in this country.

eeeeeee, Ehindero is someones role model.

ALAMS is my role model

We trusted Tafa Balogun and Ehindero because they are non-Igbos

Tafa's loot was exposed and he is jail, Ehindero's loot will soon be exposed.

Well sorry I think you idea is wrong

A responsible country is responsible to the citizenry whether they are good or bad mannered.
That is why there are government policies to rehabilitate people with anti-social behaviour, that is why it is important to have good schools that will build leaders of tomorrow.

Someone will come here and tell us Ehindero's tenure as IGP was a success because he was invited by UN or because he went for courses in USA.

Are those the criteria for measure or percentage reduction in crime, number of drug barrons, oil bunkeres, thieving politicians prosecuted.

It is amazing how people can deny their identity because of oil, inspite of all the manipulations by the hawks, Imo and Abia still has enough oil to be in Niger-Delta. Even Anambra has discovered an appreciable amount of oil arround Onitsha. Enugu still has coal to commercial/export quantity, my State Imo State provided an appreciable amount of the palm fruits which is part of the economic revolution seen in Malaysia today.

How about Human Resources, the Igbos are very industrious people, appreciating and  harnessing their skills is the future of development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprizes in our country. SMEs in any vibrant economy is the backbone of most industrialized Nation.

How about other regions, this country is so blessed. Once upon a time our Nations economy depended on cereals in the North and Enugu's coal was harnessed as export. The middle belt has provided this country Hydro-Energy for so long and are also blessed with fertile land for Agriculture. The North has Normadic farming and if our country is such a serious country could harness the prospects of Solar Energy from the North.

Now the World is going green, soon the use of Nuclear Energy on a larger scale may be inevitable. Nigeria has commercial deposits of Uranium (which is the fuel for Nuclear Technology). Nigeria's Uranium deposits are not in the South-South.

So I don't see why anybody in the South-South will hold a view that some tribes are begging them to being their brothers because of oil. That thought is so myopic and short-sighted in my view.
On the whole Nigeria can only get anywhere by appreciating and respecting the importance of one another in our quest for Nation Building. A united Nigeria that is based on disrespect on a particular group of people no matter their tribe or religion will not succeed.