₦airaland Forum

laurel500:
My brother lets look at it this way... Let the Niger delta control their resource and give Nigeria (30)% derivation and let NNPC be the corporation that controls that derivation and lets see how they would fair... As for NDDC, NDM, amnesty and the rest we don't need them. They are just insincere duplication of each other.

A resource is the right of the people wherever found. Imagine The Governor of state crying that his state is broke and cannot pay salaries to his own state workers because another region has unrest over its own resource, this means that if the Niger delta region continues with their quest for resource control for the next year every other state will go broke and that's parasitism in its empirical form.

We cannot play blind to the fact the people of the delta are not just sympathetic to what the NDA are about but are in support of what is to be achieved though the method is what everyone seems to condemn.

The real cry is not secession but control... Let everyone control his whatever and watch Nigeria blossom.
Na wao my talk Long o.

Awesome point! Thank you

PRYCE:
Noted! Thanks

uw

ceejay4real:
Why are you threatening the young man? Is Nigeria no longer a democracy where freedom of speech is guaranteed? Na wa o!
Or are you more Nigerian than he is? Smh vigorously 4 u!

Hey I'm just kidding him.... The guy sef don fear lol

Oya stop shaking ur head, abi mek I bring spinal?

Is too bad i bumped into this thread late. We all know how much money that has been pumped to the region in the last 8-9 years or so right from the days of agitation during OBJ's second term. The agitation led to the creation of NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta affairs, 13% derivatives, Amensty programme( which includes payment in cash to ex- militants and fully funded scholarship every year overseas training), Huge allocations to oil producing states, Royalties from the Oil majors to oil producing communities. All these leading to Billions of dollars annually. When i saw the publication from RMFAC on allocation to all the states i noticed if you add all the allocation of the four major oil producing states (Akwa- ibom, Delta,Rivers and Bayelsa) all together it is more than what the rest of the 32 states earn all toghether. An educated Ijaw analyst on radio said in the last 8 years, Delta and Bayelsa states have received up to 8 trillion naira in cash payment * note* Bayelsa stills owes her workers 6 months plus salary. I have been to all the states in the Niger delta region except Akwa-ibom and can still how less developed they are ( especailly Bayelsa one of the least developed state in Nigeria).


Now let us analyse this, we cannot completely exempt the FG for the injustice done to the Niger delta over the years but i can categorically tell you that the greater injustice is been done by the Niger delta leaders.

I am very sure if all region is allowed to control their resources, the Niger delta will still be undeveloped.

The youths from ND on Nairaland keep talking abt injustice, ask yourselves what was Nigeria/the now Niger delta living on before the full exploration and production of oil in the 70's? Where did the money for exploration and production of oil come from?

These thieves are only interested in their bellies. They are the chief culprit in pipeline sabotage and pollution of the land/water in the Niger Delta.
The most sinister aspect of this negotiation/settlement with militant is that they are empowered to do more damage in the future.
The government has to be strategic in dealing with a mosquito on its balls and most importantly Nigerians should put aside political affiliation/sentiments and condemn these criminals.

Well said.

bakynes:
Is too bad i bumped into this thread late. We all know how much money that has been pumped to the region in the last 8-9 years or so right from the days of agitation during OBJ's second term. The agitation led to the creation of NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta affairs, 13% derivatives, Amensty programme( which includes payment in cash to ex- militants and fully funded scholarship every year overseas training), Huge allocations to oil producing states, Royalties from the Oil majors to oil producing communities. All these leading to Billions of dollars annually. When i saw the publication from RMFAC on allocation to all the states i noticed if you add all the allocation of the four major oil producing states (Akwa- ibom, Delta,Rivers and Bayelsa) all together it is more than what the rest of the 32 states earn all toghether. An educated Ijaw analyst on radio said in the last 8 years, Delta and Bayelsa states have received up to 8 trillion naira in cash payment * note* Bayelsa stills owes her workers 6 months plus salary. I have been to all the states in the Niger delta region except Akwa-ibom and can still how less developed they are ( especailly Bayelsa one of the least developed state in Nigeria).


Now let us analyse this, we cannot completely exempt the FG for the injustice done to the Niger delta over the years but i can categorically tell you that the greater injustice is been done by the Niger delta leaders.

I am very sure if all region is allowed to control their resources, the Niger delta will still be undeveloped.

The youths from ND on Nairaland keep talking abt injustice, ask yourselves what was Nigeria/the now Niger delta living on before the full exploration and production of oil in the 70's? Where did the money for exploration and production of oil come from?

PRYCE:
Each time I hear Niger Delta Avengers, I think of Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Agent Romanov, Thor E.T.C

Well, Buhari should listen oo!...!

You are under 25, most likely you still get stipend from your parents/guardians.

I in no way support violence bur dia reasons is justified as I see no reason y government wud not pay special attention 2 d environs supplyin such major contribution to d nations socio-economic developement. It seems asa tho government of dis nation responds only 2 extreme violence. Too bad

Blame the corrupt Niger delta governors, ompadec, min of Niger delta tompolo and others responsible. The ND people and leaders are not interested in developing the region. All they want is raw cash they can lavish on mansions, exotic cars , women and private jets. That's Jonathan's policy. He made billionaires out of these people by dashing money, encouraging looting of public funds. Bihari says no! It is up to the ND people and their leaders to choose their destiny.

Horus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u_4yKrYt-8

[size=14pt]Bakassi Militants Ask Niger Delta Avengers To Stop Bombings[/size]

The Bakassi Strike Force has issued a warning to the Niger Delta Avengers over their incessant bombings of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

The Strike force stated that it was not in support of the Avengers’ activities as the bombings had a degenerating effect on Nigeria’s economy.

Sycophants everywhere
Nawa o, IPOB, Avengers, MASSOB, mossop, bokoharam, Fulani herdsmen, bakassi strike force etc. How did we get here?

PhockPhockMan:
Please remove terrorism, they're no terrorists.

I concore . they are not.

DrGud:
I concore . they are not.

A dictionary will help you to know if they are terrorist or not

qualityovenbake:
The mark of a great country is just how patriotic and prideful the citizen are to be part of it. Some of the comment here shows that Nigeria citizen practice Regionalism over Patriotism . Regionalism[ is like a scourge that begins to pit one region against another and take away the feeling of patriotism that should be present all over the entire country. Am against secession but in support of all State managing their resources.

Your last sentence means you support True Federalism.

FG only understands thug language...

Bukhara needs to shut down all production and exportation of oil in Nigeria for 1 year and guard the whole of NigerDelta with the Navy. Not even a drop should be allowed out.
Let's see how it works out for the Avengers, Niger-Deltans and Nigerians.

lordizak:
I understand their pain, but terrorism, vandalism, and threatening of war is not the answer.
Secondly, International community can't give us a swift solution, A case study is Syria, Pakistan, Russia, Secession is not as easy as you think. The major mistake of PMB's administration is the revocation of the pipeline guard contract. I believe, without violence, there's a fix. Together we'll achieve great things. For a ship to sail well, sailors will say ; All hands on deck. Give Nigeria one more chance.

I do not know your age but your reasoning is outstanding. Anytime I discus this NDA problem with people, I have always emphasized the fact that PMB should not have scattered the arrangements he met on ground concerning the pipeline guard contract. It was certainly not a wise move.

Secondly, what PMB said about that Confab report was very tactless to say the least. What he does not know is that he has offended a large chunk of Nigerians with those thoughtless and insensitive statements. SMH!

FabioPeter:
You are under 25, most likely you still get stipend from your parents/guardians.

Why do you say that?

lordizak:
Does explosion not frighten people from that area? what a a reprisal attack from the army? What of Economic downturn? low productivity?

firstly the explosions is within their region and no one of their people is complaining or running, infact the people even want the military out of their villages. Secondly What exactly is the military reprisals for? Thirdly Is it the same economy which has made the main providers suffer? Fourthly Who exactly are they producing for, when they will take crude oil from the region sell it out, then go and buy it again from where they sold it to earlier at a more exorbitant price.

[quote author=omonla555 post=46457311]I am a die hard Yoruba man and passionate about Yoruba and self determination. I cried when Ken saro wiwa was murdered and during the reign of Colonel Komo genocide in Rivers state.
My concern about the touts and criminals in the Niger delta is not about the struggle we started during ERA (Ethnic Right Agenda) now Environmental Right Agency, and Campaign for Democracy (CD) Beko Kuti, Tunde Oladunjoye and host of others.

Saro wiwa we knew, any other agitator from the Niger delta is a criminal stealing oil.

I know and it will come to pass that, any independent for the Niger delta and resource control will wipe the region from the world map. [/quote) u have spoken de truth. ND don't have genuine activists or opinion leaders who have the interest of the people at heart; we no longer have the likes of ken saro wiwa,all others are criminals who capitalise on the issue of ND being neglected.

PRYCE:
Why do you say that?

Your comment and thought pattern is in tandem with the reasoning of people, particularly Nigerians about that age.

They have a good cause or what do you think?

lordizak:
According to Merriam Webster; Terrorism is the use of violent acts to frighten. the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.
Someone may ask who's frighting who. The explosions, Fear of the the civilians, when the see the force men, low productivity, destruction of infrastructure, maiming of lives. We are destroying our own homeland. Boko haram did that in the North, let it not happen here. let's not let some individuals take our security away. Thanks.

"frightening the ppl wen they see the force men" so de ppl r frightened by d force men who usually use violence according to you..cos d NDA never cos mayhem on the ppl bt on material,then d NA r d terrorist right u said it all

funkydislo:
Terrorism is terrorism.Doesn't matter the types.Have you heard of economy terrorism?

Terrorism is terrorism. Doesn't matter the types. Have you heard of dictatorial terrorism? when the military or leaders use tyrannical force and intimidations,that is it.

Niyinficient:
What about the Niger-Delta Elites who impoverish their own people by building mutil-billion mansion in a slum dat has no road, no light and d people drink-oil water?
The leaders who use Ross Royce, Lamborgini etc as Bday gift for girlfriends while his gateman children go to thatch-roofed school?

What about the so-called opinion leaders in the Niger-Delta who hijack the fund for a societal purpose into private accounts? The youths who are on regular greedy visits to multinationals in their community to demand 'oyel money'? Youth who kidnap and vandalise these multinationals' personnel and properties for ransom?

Wen youths in other places will travel home to take their share of 'oyel money' whenever their community heads have 'chequed' the 'cheque'?....all the illegall money collected from these companies are supposed to b used by these companies for the good of the region.$..but u leave them not doing anything cos of the regular milking.

The region needs to purge herself of the her parasites if there must b a change.

That is non of our business! it only shows that the govt and the companies are not ready to do the right things. there is no excuse that u gave people funds and the abscond with it. The fact still remains that the ND are badly treated. U don't expect less when the govt chose few set of corrupt individuals without consulting widely, and those people abscond with those funds, what is the business of the ordinary man in the village whose backyard produces the oil, with such lame excuses? the truth is that, the govt and companies operating on our soils are not sincere? in fact they corrupt our people in order to continue in their divisive rule. As a matter of fact, I come from an oil producing community, these companies would rather corrupt a certain portion of the people with few changes as bribe, rather than doing those things that have been agreed on especially MOU. As long as these companies and the govt are not sincere, we would always have the issue of militancy on the ND.

specimenC:
LIES!!!!!groundnut and cocoa sustained us till 70s. This same G&C money was used for oil exploration iin the fiirst place. Una neva hala. ONE NIGERIA till oil finish.

Resource Control: Northern Arrogance and Historical Distortion
By
Moses Ebe Ochonu
ebe_28@yahoo.com
I refrain from counterfactual speculation wherever I can. It is not good scholarship to peddle “what ifs.” But I wrestle constantly with issues which tend to lend themselves to such speculation, and my wandering mind occasionally seeks out imaginary scenarios and possibilities founded on non-existing situations.
One issue which has recently tasked my resolve to only discuss what ‘is’ rather than what might or could have been is the on-going controversy over derivation and resource control. Privately and publicly, we have confronted and contemplated a slew of counterfactual questions on the raging controversy over the demand of the South-South for an initial 25% of oil revenues, with a target of 50% at the end of five years. These questions all turn on one overarching question: what if the oil was in the North….
Apart from satisfying the inquisitive proclivities of commentators, this question raises a whole set of historical issues which undermine the North’s attempt to cast the resource control agitation of the South-South as a modern-day, oil-fueled greed that negates the historical trajectory of resource sharing and allocation in colonial and post-colonial Nigeria.
Let me be more specific. In response to questions such as the one above, and in articulating an answer to the struggle of the South-South people for a fair share of resources located in their territory, several contemporary Northern Nigerian politicians, some of them prominent actors in the present political arrangement, have often asked the South-South to take a cue from the generosity of their Northern brothers before oil was discovered in the Niger Delta in the 1950s. The North, it is said, generated remarkable wealth from groundnut, cotton, and other agricultural exports, wealth which it purportedly shared with the South, and some of which, according to some variants of this story, was used to subsidize colonial administration in colonial Southern Nigeria.
This is an ahistorical claim. It bears no historical veracity whatsoever, and, as a response to or a strategy to obfuscate the poignant, if counterfactual, question of what would happen if the North had all the oil, it fails woefully. As someone who studies Nigeria’s colonial political economy for a living and who specializes in the politics and economy of Northern Nigeria during the colonial period, I can categorically state that there is irrefutable evidence in the historical sources which show conclusively that, far from subsidizing the administration of any part of the South, the North in fact received several grants and emergency funds from revenue pools which originated largely from the more expensive agricultural exports of the South—cocoa, timber, rubber, palm produce—and from customs and excise receipts collected on Southern coasts.
Before I interrogate the Northern claim further, let me state that there is a flip side of this ahistorical claim, which is no less incorrect. It is a claim which is often made by Southerners about colonial Northern Nigeria having been a fiscal leech and burden on the robust financial anatomy of the South. It is said that the South subsidized Northern colonial administration. This is at best an exaggeration. Northern contributions to the revenue pool of colonial Nigeria was considerably less than that of the South throughout the colonial period. But Northern colonial administration paid for itself for the most part. Whatever disproportionate fiscal burdens the North placed on the Federal colonial resource-pool went to fund capital projects such as roads, railways, bridges, and other infrastructures, whose benefits often accrued less to Northern Nigerians than to the colonial system and its goal of building imperial prosperity on the backs of the colonized. At any rate, direct income taxation was adopted in Northern Nigeria almost a decade before it was in Southern Nigeria, and the North was consistently taxed more heavily than was Southern Nigeria.
Back to the myth of Northern colonial generosity as a leveler in the current debates about resource control and increased derivation. The North, as a colonial entity, did generate significant wealth from agricultural exports. However, due to a multi-layered mercantilist infrastructure of produce-buying peopled rather hierarchically by European, Lebanese, and African traders, and due to a constantly rising export duty, only a small percentage of the proceeds from these exports entered the personal and group economies of Northern Nigeria colonial farmers and the federal colonial revenue pool, much of the wealth going to British shipping and produce-buying firms. This reality, to be sure, also applied to Southern Nigerian export producers.
What made the difference, then, in terms of Northern and Southern contributions to the federal colonial revenue pool was a constellation of natural and circumstantial factors. The agricultural resources of the South commanded higher prices in the world produce market than those of the North. The North’s range of agricultural resources was narrower, owing to its ecological realities. The North was also more susceptible to crop failures, droughts, and reduced harvests than was the South. Thus, in the largely agricultural colonial economy of Nigeria, the South naturally provided the bulk of the colonial state’s revenue.
The point here is that the discourse of colonial-era altruism and/or forced sacrifice which is being invoked by the North is a fallacy, as is the claim of Southern colonial-era altruism. The South’s larger contribution to the national colonial treasury was not acquiesced to or consciously advanced by its people as an altruistic gesture, or a sacrificial act of brotherly love. On the contrary, it was compelled by colonial administrative and unitary imperatives, which were anchored on colonial goals and anxieties, not on the interests of Northern Nigeria. Moreover, the differential contributions to the national colonial treasury by the North and the South can and should be explained within the context of geo-ecological, and mercantilist realities; it should not be discussed as if it was a self-conscious act of selflessness by the South.
The pattern of greater Southern Nigerian contribution to the nation’s coffers was disturbed with independence. It has been sustained and re-inscribed into the national order of things by the discovery and exploration of crude oil in the Niger Delta. Thus, instead of speaking in terms of ruptures and discontinuities with past colonial practice, arrogant and historically-ignorant Northern politicians should recognize the fact that there has actually been a remarkable continuity and consistency in the pattern of revenue generation and sharing as far as regional contribution is concerned. There have been two notable changes since the discovery of oil and since independence. First, the percentage of Northern contribution to the federal revenue pool has shrunk further, as agricultural exports have all but disappeared under the economic bazaar of oil wealth, which now makes up an alarming 85% of Nigeria’s export earnings. Second, the discourse of Southern (or South-south) sacrifice and subsidy is empirically true of the post-colonial period, the dominating and oppressive political hegemony which sustains this reluctant sacrifice having merely changed from a colonial state to a post-colonial nation-state. The term “sharing,” which was certainly true of the colonial period, can now give way to “subsidy.”
These changes are peripheral and do not detract from the overarching fact that there has been more continuity in patterns of revenue mobilization and extraction between colonial and post-colonial Nigeria than there have been discontinuities, and that these curious continuities undermine the break with the past that is suggested by the fallacious claim of Northern colonial-era subsidy of the South. The subtleties and changes outlined above should also not vitiate the fact that, since 1914, Northern Nigeria has, for good or bad, been the beneficiary of state appropriation of regional and sub-regional resources. The reality of the post-colonial period, especially of the last two decades, is that the oil resources of the Niger Delta have subsidized the lifestyles, necessities, and comforts of the rest of the country. Another hallmark of this continuity between the past and the present is that, like the colonial state, the post-colonial Nigerian state, has not bordered to consult with the people from which it appropriates resources, forcing the Niger Delta, much like the colonial state forced Southern Nigeria, to make more contributions to the national treasury than other parts of the country by invoking the rhetoric of higher national interests.
In view of these historical realities, it is therefore the height of arrogance and insensitivity for Northern politicians and self-interested bureaucrats to continue to repeat the lie that the North had, in colonial times, subsidized the South with its resources and that this supposed historical fact justifies the on-going subsidy of the whole country (especially the North) by the oil resources of the Niger Delta. It is morally offensive when such a historical fallacy is used to dilute and confuse the just and moral struggle of the South-south for a fair share of the revenue derived from the exploration of its resources and for adequate compensation for the environmental degradation that it has to endure.
This argument is understandably typical of the arrogant and self-serving posturing of the Northern political class, which dreads the prospect of having to engage in the hard work of devising wealth-generating mechanisms for an endowed but impoverished section of the country. But it is an argument without historical basis. Even the more moderate and correct claim that the North shared its colonial resources with the South is useless as a response to the poignant questions thrown up by the latest derivation controversy—useless because both the North and the South had to share their resources with each other, since, by colonial decree, regional resources were amassed into a common pool without regard to the preferences of subalterns.
Let the Northern political class and its intellectual underlings come up with a better reason—if there is one—for opposing what is an incredibly generous act of accommodation on the part of the Niger Delta: the demand, not for all revenue minus taxes accruing from crude oil, but of a meager 25%. I hate it when history is subjected to such vulgar distortion in the attempt to scuttle an unpalatable event.
The Niger Delta people have accommodated the interest and survival of Nigeria through their reasonable demand for a graduated 25-50% derivation. Let us see similar acts of national preservation on the part of the North, and the West, and the Southeast.
Since I have broken with my own resolve and have dignified a counterfactual question, let me conclude by speculating on something so curious it may answer the question of what would happen if the oil were in the North. I have never ceased wondering why, after several decades of vehemently resisting the unitary outcome of the amalgamation and of curtailing its reach in Northern social and political life, the North suddenly changed course, the beginning of a rather fanatical Northern commitment to a federal Nigeria having even a semblance of national symbolic uniformity coinciding roughly with the discovery and exploitation of oil in the Niger Delta. It is very curious, and I have never been able to explain that dramatic Northern shift from a jealous and uncompromising guardian of regional autonomy and separatism to a fierce protector of an inherited post-colonial state structure. And I am not convinced that the shift came about solely as a result of the North’s capture of political power at the center.

FabioPeter:
Your comment and thought pattern is in tandem with the reasoning of people, particularly Nigerians about that age.

So watching movies is in tandem with childishness or is it joking that is?

See the problem with you sort of people is that you are too serious and your 'ages' turn you to complete narcissists! You think you are better than everyone cos "you don't take stipends from your parents" hence you are "Matured". Your like don't respect your parents cos to you, since you don't take stuff from them, you're grown and can brush shoulders with them.

What if I take stipends from my parents? Is that the new measure of one's maturity? According to your reasoning now, everyone in Nigeria Under the age of 25 behaves 'Immaturedly' or still takes money from his patents? There are NO successful Nigerians whatsoever under 25? Lol!!! Chai!

Donald Trump's children still take stipends from their dad.... but they are successful people with flourishing careers. They confessed so. Does that makes them "Immature" or "childish"....DJ Cuppy is a successful DJ, living off her dad's money; Take your grumpy self to YouTube and hear her speak. Oh and she's just 22... Mr "Under 25". these are just two in a flurry of examples I can give you.

Guy take your warped views out of my mentions. You still have a lot to learn about the human mind, the way of the world. your horizon too needs a lil nudge out the door even with your "Big Age".

What Correlation does Maturity have with taking stipends from your folk for heaven's sake? How much do you pay your parents for the advice they give you? Isn't that the biggest STIPEND you can ever take from them? Why should money be different? If you ca be self sufficient money-wise, you should be self sufficient Wisom-wise. Abi Cos you get "Big age" you bigger than the wisdom your folks can impart on you?

You are very funny!

lordizak:
They have an obligation to protect the region against all odds.

obligation u mean? obligation to fight against an indigenous people whose only desire is to be left alone, a desire (freedom) that the whole world agreed is a fundamental right. my dear, if there is any obligation they have to keep this country as one, first they should value the lives they are wasting unnecessarily? secondly, let it be included in their obligations the duty to tell the govt that force is not always the solution, that the govt should be more concerned about the causes of such agitation.

PhockPhockMan:
http://saharareporters.com/2016/06/10/niger-delta-avengers-give-nigerian-government-condition-ceasefire-pipeline-bombing

So for good 6yrs GEJ cannot give them portable water? shame on them for still worshiping that clueless man.

freeborn76:
Awesome point! Thank you

Nothing is really awesome about his post... if you understand the bible verse Luke 16:10... (well this madness is in 2016)if with all the little via the 13% derivation, NDDC, Niger Delta Ministry, Amnesty, Royalties, etc. the Niger delta region is yet to justify these amount of money by any evidence of meaningful development, let me tell you by the time Niger Delta is given 100% resource control it might just turn into another South Sudan, and by the time time inter wars and local/community war lords fighting for oil control, numerous illegal oil bunkering activities going on, before they wake up from their self inflicted slumber they would have realised that the world has moved on from oil dependence to alternative and eco friendly sources of energy. Nations like Japan, Israel did not achieve their economic and developmental breakthrough because of ownership of oil blocks.... what a nation need simply are hard working citizens, leaders with vision and environment where ideas are encouraged and voila we will create our Japan or Israel in Africa. Oil has largely been a curse...

Elliot2:
obligation u mean? obligation to fight against an indigenous people whose only desire is to be left alone, a desire (freedom) that the whole world agreed is a fundamental right. my dear, if there is any obligation they have to keep this country as one, first they should value the lives they are wasting unnecessarily? secondly, let it be included in their obligations the duty to tell the govt that force is not always the solution, that the govt should be more concerned about the causes of such agitation.

Freedom is not free.

PRYCE:
So watching movies is in tandem with childishness or is it joking that is?

See the problem with you sort of people is that you are too serious and your 'ages' turn you to complete narcissists! You think you are better than everyone cos "you don't take stipends from your parents" hence you are "Matured". Your like don't respect your parents cos to you, since you don't take stuff from them, you're grown and can brush shoulders with them.

What if I take stipends from my parents? Is that the new measure of one's maturity? According to your reasoning now, everyone in Nigeria Under the age of 25 behaves 'Immaturedly' or still takes money from his patents? There are NO successful Nigerians whatsoever under 25? Lol!!! Chai!

Donald Trump's children still take stipends from their dad.... but they are successful people with flourishing careers. They confessed so. Does that makes them "Immature" or "childish"....DJ Cuppy is a successful DJ, living off her dad's money; Take your grumpy self to YouTube and hear her speak. Oh and she's just 22... Mr "Under 25". these are just two in a flurry of examples I can give you.

Guy take your warped views out of my mentions. You still have a lot to learn about the human mind, the way of the world. your horizon too needs a lil nudge out the door even with your "Big Age".

What Correlation does Maturity have with taking stipends from your folk for heaven's sake? How much do you pay your parents for the advice they give you? Isn't that the biggest STIPEND you can ever take from them? Why should money be different? If you ca be self sufficient money-wise, you should be self sufficient Wisom-wise. Abi Cos you get "Big age" you bigger than the wisdom your folks can impart on you?

You are very funny!

I am sorry if I offended you with my comment. That wasn't my intention. Apparently you missed the point I tried to pass across.
Please pardon my poor communication skill.

Elliot2:
That is non of our business! it only shows that the govt and the companies are not ready to do the right things. there is no excuse that u gave people funds and the abscond with it. The fact still remains that the ND are badly treated. U don't expect less when the govt chose few set of corrupt individuals without consulting widely, and those people abscond with those funds, what is the business of the ordinary man in the village whose backyard produces the oil, with such lame excuses? the truth is that, the govt and companies operating on our soils are not sincere? in fact they corrupt our people in order to continue in their divisive rule. As a matter of fact, I come from an oil producing community, these companies would rather corrupt a certain portion of the people with few changes as bribe, rather than doing those things that have been agreed on especially MOU. As long as these companies and the govt are not sincere, we would always have the issue of militancy on the ND.

I am not exonerating the govt and the companies from the problems of the Region but answer these few questions. Who was the last president of the country? For how long did he rule? Whr is he from? Wat did he do for d Niger-Delta? Was he alien to the plight of the region? On wat platform did the 'aggrieved' youths of d region demand for their rights or justice for their people? Were Niger-Deltans not empowered one way or the other? Those who were wat did they do with the empowerment? .....i can go on and on.m.but the earlier u understand the problem of the region is within the better...a divided house cannot.....complete it.