The proposed yet unwise negotiations by the Federal Government with the Niger-Delta Avengers should be discouraged as the words spew out of the mouth by all well-meaning Nigerians and particularly those of us from the Niger-Delta region.
Truth be told, the incessant destruction of oil and gas installations has absolutely nothing to do with the struggle for a better Niger Delta. It amounts to cutting one’s nose in order to spite the face. Nothing can be unreasonable, unconscionable and unfashionable! While we agree that there are complex issues regarding the reluctant handling of the region’s myriad of challenges, we cannot agree that the best way to cure headache is to cut off the head! But this, and very unfortunately, is the novel approach being adopted by these hot-blooded, politically sponsored boys avenging God knows what.
When one also appraises the seemingly weak security structure in place (if ever any)by the governments of Delta and Bayelsa States that have remained the hotbed of these trigger-happy characters , another puzzle thrusts its head. How come that up till now, not one of these vandals has been apprehended by the very expensive money-guzzling waterways security committee in either State?
This is why it becomes obvious even to the blind that the nomenclature, Niger Delta Avengers, is nothing but the last card creation of a near touch-me-not kingpin and other co-conspirators who are wanted by the financial crimes ombudsman in the land for corruption and sundry sleazy deals during the last administration, all in a bid to avoid prosecution. And the cleverest strategy as hatched by their overlords and sponsors is to use proxies in the South-South Governors, save of course the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, to ask the federal government for immunity from prosecution on corruption charges hanging on their heads like the sword of Damocles!
For the records, I strongly advise the Federal Government not to drop these weighty criminal charges on those who have dipped their filthy hands into our collective patrimony. Toeing a contrary path because of some sponsored intimidation will doubtless set a very bad and unfortunate precedence. I can say without fear or equivocation that every tribe (and they are in the dozens in the Niger Delta, never mind the illusion by some that they ‘own’ and are ‘lord’ over the region) is as combustible if not much more than what the country is presently witnessing in the region. And they know what to do, right or wrong, let no one make any mistake about that. If this were still fashionable and popular, then there is no tribe that can beat us to it. But we concede to the agreed principles of people-oriented democracy to entrust all powers and rights to the government of the day.
There are issues the Federal Government can come to the round table on but certainly not on the issues they are asking for. The mention of Biafra and Dasuki, infra-dig in its appeal, forms part of the ploy by the Niger Delta Avenger's sponsors to seek wider appeal and sympathy for their unrealistic negotiations. What is the concern of the Avengers with Dasuki, of the far flung north who squandered about $2.1billion of arms deal meant to fight the dreaded Boko Haram? What is the concern of NDA with Nnamdi Kanu and his Biafra agitation? Why are the Avengers hiding in those aforementioned populist garbs and indecent canopies to achieve their morbid desires?
It is pertinent, nay curious to observe that not much has been heard from the international community as well as the ever busybody NGOs such as Amnesty International that creates the impression that once the military constitutionally intervenes to quell every form of treason and insurgency, it must scream to high heavens but when there are casualties in the same military while in the line of duty as in the killing of officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces sent to the region to restore peace, the situation should not merit any form of frenzied outrage from the almighty Amnesty international - talking with the two sides of the mouth at the same time!
On a final note, any form of negotiation between the federal government that purports to exclude all the distinct ethnic nationalities is an invitation of more problems than that intended to solve. There is no ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta region that does not enjoy the status of oil producing.
The Niger Delta Development Commission and the Delta State-owned oil development Commission, DESOPADEC, are ready examples of how we have been operating. The federal government must not cow to the mindless tempering of psychotic elements with very strange and un-Niger Delta struggles. This is a personal struggle by a self-styled lord for his own personal aggrandizement, and we are no fools.
The federal government should ignore the militants call for the replacement of Brigadier General Paul Boroh (Rtd.) Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The unholy call is as a result of Boroh’s refusal to use the amnesty fund to satisfy the militants’ selfish requests.
Comrade Esimaje Awani
President Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC
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