₦airaland Forum

Oga GEJ at it again.

Jonathan exonerates MEND again .
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 04:45 Idris Ahmed .120
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President Goodluck Jonathan
.The massive oil bunkering currently going on in the Niger Delta region is perpetrated not by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta [MEND] or other militant groups but by “criminals” who are not in any way related to the militants’ struggle in the region, President Goodluck Jonathan said in Abuja yesterday. It was the second time this month that he was exonerating the militants in his native Niger Delta region of blame for major crimes.


Speaking at the opening of the 16th edition of the Nigeria Economic Summit, Jonathan said the current wave of kidnappings and car bombings in the country is not linked to the Niger-Delta agitation but is an organised crime perpetrated by dissidents. The summit is jointly organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the National Planning Commission (NPC) and was broadcast live by CNBC Africa television network.


The president said, “Government is strengthening the security agencies to meet up with the security challenges and I can assure you that in the next 12 months, we will be in a position to curtail the excesses.’’ He also said the militants are defending the interest of the region because they felt that they are not having enough share of the resources taken from their communities, while the bunkerers are criminals who are after money.

“What is happening now is excessive bunkering and has nothing to do with the Niger Delta. They are criminals and they are not protecting any community”, Jonathan said.

He said selfish individuals hijacked the struggle of the militants for criminal activities. “What is happening now is commercial and because it involves money those involved in it would not stop,” he said.

According to the President, the recent car bombing in Abuja that killed over 10 persons had nothing to do with the Niger Delta. He said that while the amnesty programme initiated last year by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua for the militants to curb their excesses is on still on course, it faces some challenges that the government is trying to tackle. “We have some challenges on amnesty, we are working on that. The amnesty is not perfect but we would reach where we want to go.”

The umbrella body of the militants’ group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has said it was behind the Abuja car bombings that happened during Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary celebration on October 1. President Jonathan said MEND did not do it, but that some terrorists outside the country did it.

Leader of MEND Henry Okah has been linked to the bombing and he is currently in a South African jail. His young brother has also been arrested.

President Jonathan said that overall, security is a challenge and that government is setting up a special fund to fund the police to fight crime. “In the next 12 months we will be in a position to curtail that,” he said. He also said Nigeria needs a revolutionary leader to move the nation forward, where everyone would do what is right.

He said while it is the responsibility of the President to select competent individuals to head various institutions in the country, their jobs are not directly executed by the President. “Mr. President is not the police officer but Mr. President should be able to monitor the police and if he is not doing well, he should ask him to go,” he said. He said the notion of Nigeria being the most corrupt country in the world would wither away in the next five years.
http://www.dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4971%3Ajonathan-exonerates-mend-again&catid=2%3Alead-stories&Itemid=8


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As usual, when critical decisions are necessary, Oga has not balls. We need this like yesterday, Nigerians must sit down and decide how they want to be governed. Anyway I wasnt expecting anything better from him, he is too weak to rule this country. Tough decision have to be made, and once again Oga has failed us.

I beg careful with the use of the term Mama Africa, that title belongs to an accomplished artist "Maryam Makeba", not some senseless village idiot. The constitution of Nigeria does not make provision for the first lady. The Bitch is recklessly spending our money, GEJ had better control his wife of she will be the downfall of him. I hear she is already starting fires wherever she goes.

@ohnyore,

Dont worry yourself with Uduaghan, he is next, they will smoke him out like grasscutter. Ibori and his brother are responsible for the unrest in the Delta. That one Uduaghan is so greedy that the thing is turning him uglier everyday. he is not prepared to share with anyone.

I hear all the major contracts in the state are being run by his wife. Take the Asaba street light issue, it cost about 4m naira to run generators to power them every week, and his wife is responsible. I cannot imagine the kind of devils pit they have come from. But thier time is up

@Whizkid don,

Are you kidding me, do you know that the Nigerian constitution does not make provision for the office of the first lady, So the question begs, where did she get the money from.

To me the two actions are the same. Nigerians do not need a preseidents wife that goes about dashing our bags of rice whe cannot account for, neither do we need a Grand thief of the highest order, donating 10m to flood victims. If he had done what Nigerians expected of him while he was in office, there would probably have been no need for this.

Nigerians need to wake up to this kind of rubbish that has enslaved them for over 50yrs. 50yrs and even the supposed literate amongst us as still being decieved cheaply.

@MetalGong4,


Atiku, is just another Big Thief and should be treated as such, in my opinion this is insulting the people of Jigawa state

what a joke. This country doesnt cease to amaze, so the sight of this in a practicing democracy doesnt worry anyone?

My people, we must start asking this basic question, where did he get 10m naira to donate. the same can be said of PJ, where did she get the money to start buying and distributing rice. This simple question goes to the heart of corruption in that country, we must start challenging those who claim to lead us, only to steal from us.

@Edoyad,

I am sure even motor park tout, can give that sort of money, which to some may not be much, but the bigger question is where did he get it from. A politician turns up with the viable or visible means of earning, and you dont question him? This is the problem we have with Nigerian politics and Nigeria as a whole. We dont ask questions when we should, we just accept things the way it is. We see public servamts as gods, rather than public servants which they are.

If you house boy or girl turns up someday with 20m naira and a brand new rolls royces, would you question them?

@blackcat1,

Maybe if you get your act together as a country, you can start challenging all that, for now, the British are looking afther their own.

Cheap stunt, where did he get th money from. Nigerians should be asking such basic questions. Former Customs man, turn VP.

@Orangemen,

Ibori commited a serious crime in the UK, and that is what he is going to be tried for. If the Nigerian government chooses to try him after, that is a different kettle of fish.

But remove joke, Ibori is a big Thief.

Listen guys, lets not condemn this guy. He has taken a very difficult but honourable stance. I say so because I have been in the same situation.

Whether we like it or not, Nigeria needs us. I understand that people have had very difficult and challenging experieces with our dear country, but I am convinced that the time is now. For those of us who choose to not get involved, we are fast running out of moral space to complain. I have always said that our country is what we make it. We cannot complain about bad governance if the people who know what to do are not prepared to get involved, the clever ones amongst us must show interest. Freedom and good governance is not a gift, as a nation we need to earn it. That is what every prosperous nation has done.

Now what can the country do for me? this is no joke, the opportunities in Nigeria are plentiful. With a bit of cash, clear direction and sticking guts, one can succeed. For those with Entrepreneurial spirit, the field is green. Nigeria is tough, but the rewards can be fullfilling. We need to pull our collective strengths and make a great nation of that country, we all come here and pour out our hearts, because we love that country dearly. I believe there is something in it for everyone. So I say for those who have chosen to take the bold step, Well done, after all the saying goes "There is no place like home"

While I do think that GEJ should speak with restraint and caution, I dont think this is an issue worth resiging for.

Ibori should stop prolonging the inevitable. I have already bought my ticket to the UK, and a bag of rotten tomatoes. He must get it.

A very sick country. But wait, as usual we will do nothing. We must all agree that Nigeria Defines Corruption.

Well its Delta state next. There was no election in that state, Ibori stole the office and handed it over to his younger brother. Uduaghan must be next

If true, the approach is wrong. In most cases innocent people are caught up in this. We all know what policing in Nigeria is like.

Dont give yourselves headache. Na today Ynash dey back. We do this all the time. A known crook exilses for a few years and comes back to a heros welcome.

Remember Alameshiga, Umaru Dikko, to name but a few. We celebrate thieves in that country. So I say to him welcome

@LouisThoru,

Maybe we need monkeys to advise us, cos we dont listen to humans. By the way, learn to leave emotions apart, and lets use our heads. just as you said. I was in a taxi once in Lagos, when the truck in front collied with another truck. The passengers of the other truck were holding up a massive glass sheet which smashed to bits, the next we saw was a guy lying on the middle of the road with blood everywhere. The driver of the offending truck did not stop until we ask him to do so. By the way, I am sure that victim involved did not survive, but everyone just kept driving past as if it did not concern them. Now what quickly sprung to mind, was if this was the UK, the road would probably be closed, and an air ambulance with the best medics, police and rescue personel sent to the scene. The victim would then have a high probability of surviving.

While no one prays for anything bad, we must recognise that the average nigerian is getting a terrible deal. Why dont we give ourselves the best every chance of surviving when there is a mishap. We must not aid bad things by not minimising the chances of something terrible happening. For instance in most developed countries, cars must be road worthy before they are let out. Annual checks are done on cars over 3yrs, and a certificate issued. Now who checks those trucks and buses that ply our roads

@Birdman,

you make a very good point. Though I admire Buhari, I will face up to the fact that A Buhari in Millitary gear is not the same as a Buhari in Civillian attire, and besides I am not convinced that Buhari is better than Utomi or Ribadu

Well, make we wait and see. The Ogidigbodigbo, the Grand Thief of Delta state we salute you.

Yes, there is corruption in every society, but it is the willingness of Nigerians to embrace corruption as a way of living that is scary. If Nigerians truly find corruption repugnant and are willing to fight against it, No one would be even considering PDP and her members as a party of progress. But as usual, siddon look is the comfortable way of life for all Nigerians, and the leaders see that and are taking advantage of you and I.

All depends on what kind of wedding you want. The spectrum is very broad. How many guests?

@LouisThoru

Grow up, this has nothing to do with comparing bad things with Nigeria, but the stack fact. Progressive countries would look at this and learn. Not sit and be irrational as we always are.

There are countless tragedies that happen in Nigeria daily, what is the Nigerian Government doing about it? Road accidents, ritual killings, Kidnapping, Armed robbery, the list is endless.

We must swallow our pride and learn from others.

I just heard that a BA flight from London to Abuja, had a near miss, cos the landing lights were turned off (refer to pg8 Vanguard), the plane had to hover for over 2hrs, before it could land.

Should this be happening in present day Nigeria?

Nope, this cannot happen in Nigeria. Forgotten what happend in Ejigbo and the C130 plane crash.

@Oweniwe,

Exactly, the government hasnt got a clue on how to deal with the rapidly detoriating security situation in the country. Nigerians should start demanding proper work from their government rather than siddon look as usual

We need strong leadership, all this rubbish pussyfooting gets us nowhere. In this case it looks like the government doesnt know what to do. Clueless as usual

@LadyT,

Though I agree with most of what you have said. The matter is very delicate and most be treated as such. You and I dont have the full facts so it will be extremely difficult to make a well balanced judgement. however, I suggest that they sit down and think the issue through. The wife has to open up on how this would break her if the kids left, possibly suggest that she would be prepared to leave everything and move back if the kids did.

Get in a trusted friend or relation to speak to the father. I know it is easy for all of us to sit on the fence and make judgements, but we are not privy to all information

Cos like everything in Nigeria, no leadership so people carry on as they like. We need strong leadership, I am afraid I dont see it in the horizon.


Boko Haram, Mend, Kidnappers, Corrupt Leaders, Bad and unsafe roads, Armed Robbers, Hired Killers, Juju and Oturumakpo, Bombers. The list is endless. The typicaly Nigerian is getting a raw deal.


Please guys, open your eyes. We have a very good opportunity to choose right once again. The candidates are plenty, do not settle for PDP, they have proven for the last 12yrs that they are visionless and not capable. Dont sell yourselves short by being politically lazy, explore all the options open to all of us.

But I warned you all. And I was accussed on here by some of being Ijaw hater. I love Niger Delta people, but I love Nigeria more, and we must all e prepared to speak the truth even if it is not a popular choice.