Media reports before the Nigeria Presidential election petition tribunal verdict which upheld the election of Mr. Umar Yar'Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as President and Vice President respectively, had it correctly that there was enormous pressure on the only female member of the tribunal, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji who initially had a dissenting opinion, making the score three to two in favour of the petitioners, to cross over to the other side. What the media could not report was that the pressure did not make the desired impact, instead, lobbyists from the petitioners penetrated the rank of the tribunal members and was almost snatching one member, who with the chairman was on the side of upholding the election from the onset, when the Niger Delta trump card was played.
We can now report that four days to the date of the ruling, seeing that that the pressure on one of the dissenting members was not yielding the desired result, Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Babagana Kingibe who was monitoring the close door meetings of the tribunal members through sophisticated security survillance equipments usually installed in the alternate locations of these meetings in advance by the state security service(sss), summoned his think tank for a way out.
The think tank, according to a highly placed Presidency source came up with the Niger Delta scare option and agreed that Vice President Jonathan was better placed to co-ordinate the scheme,being an Ijaw from Niger Delta.The scheme was sold to the President who gleefully accepted it, Dr. Jonathan was briefed same day and had no problems accepting it.
The Vice President, the source further narrated called a few prominent Ijaw leaders to intimate them of the scheme and to invite them to Abuja to deliever it.
On sunday 24th February 2008 at about 11.15pm, a senior operative in the office of the National security Adviser, summoned members of the tribunal to a secret meeting in a guest house at gwarimpa estate in Abuja, in attendance were five prominent Ijaw leaders and two members of Ijaw Youths Council(names withheld).Reasons for the absence of the Vice President at the meeting have not been ascertained so far. What we know was that at the prompting of the senior operative,the Ijaw leaders wasted no time in telling the tribunal members that the Ijaw nation will not accept the removal of the Vice President from power by whatever means and that if that happen, the whole country will be thrown into serious economic problems since according to them,there will be no crude oil export from Niger Delta.
The meeting we gathered ended with assurance from the tribunal members that the issue of national security will be a paramount factor in the verdict to be delievered.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
NIGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TRIBUNAL DISMISSES BUHARI'S PETITION
The Justice James Ogebe presidential election petition tribunal siting in Abuja capital city of Nigeria this afternoon(26/2/2008) dismissed the petition of the All Nigerian Peoples Party(ANPP) presidential candidate in the 2007 general elections, Rtd. General Muhammadu Buhari.
The tribunal held that Buhari proved that there was substantial non compliance with the electoral act but failed to prove that the non compliance substantially affected the outcome of the election.
The tribunal is yet to give verdict on the petition of the presidential candidate of the Action Congress(AC), Mr. Atiku Abubakar.
Buhari and Abubakar had brought separate petitions challenging the election of President Yar' Adua. The two petitions were however consolidated and ruling was scheduled today.
Meanwhile, there is strong indication of a possible dismissal of Mr. Atiku's petition, which will mean that the election of Mr. Umar Yar'Adua and his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in April, 2007, would have been validated.
The tribunal held that Buhari proved that there was substantial non compliance with the electoral act but failed to prove that the non compliance substantially affected the outcome of the election.
The tribunal is yet to give verdict on the petition of the presidential candidate of the Action Congress(AC), Mr. Atiku Abubakar.
Buhari and Abubakar had brought separate petitions challenging the election of President Yar' Adua. The two petitions were however consolidated and ruling was scheduled today.
Meanwhile, there is strong indication of a possible dismissal of Mr. Atiku's petition, which will mean that the election of Mr. Umar Yar'Adua and his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in April, 2007, would have been validated.
Monday, 25 February 2008
EDITORIAL: T.Y.DANJUMA, AGUIYI-IRONSI HOUSEHOLD AND NATIONAL UNITY
For some time now there is renewed anger in the household of Nigeria's first military head of state, late General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi. The current anger is as a result of an interview granted to a renowned Nigerian daily newspaper by one time Nigerian chief of army staff and defense minister, Rtd. Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, in which he was alleged to have used rude words to describe the person of the late head of state. Danjuma have not to our knowledge denied the report so far.
Late General Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed in a military coup in july, 1966. Rtd. General Danjuma, then a captain was believed to have masterminded the brutal murder of the late head of state while he was on a state visit to the capital of the then western region, Ibadan.
Ironsi came to power following an unsucessful coup in January, 1966, led by a young officer from the Igbo ethnic stock, late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. It is on record that the failure of the Nzeogwu coup was as a result of non co-operation of late General Ironsi who was then the head of the Nigerian army and other senior officers, mainly Igbos, with the plotters.
Unfortunately, late Major Nzeogwu's coup,having eliminated prominient politicians mainly in northern Nigeria, without a corresponding casuality figure in the Igbo dominated eastern Nigeria was seen in the north as an Igbo coup, that set the stage for the july coup in which General Ironsi and his host, late Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi and others lost their lifes.
The july 1966 coup set the stage for a thirty-month-civil war in which T.Y. Danjuma featured prominently. At the end of the civil war, the then head of state, Rtd. General Yakubu Gowon, declared that there was "no victor and no vanquished". This declaration set the stage for the three "Rs" of reconstruction, reconciliation and rehabilitation. The three "Rs" later proved to be mere propaganda gimmick.
In july 1975, the administration of General Gowon was toppled in a bloodless coup led by late General Murtala Mohammed, who in turn was killed in a bloody coup in february, 1976. This resulted in the elevation of late General Mohammed's deputy, Rtd. General Olusegun Obasanjo to the position of head of state, Obasanjo then appointed Danjuma as chief of army staff.
Danjuma's coming into national prominence as chief of army staff in 1976, positioned him for historical profiling. The Danjuma persona was better understood when the Obasanjo adminstration handed over power to Mr. Shehu Shagari, a civilian in a very controversial circumstance in 1979 and the nation realised that the former chief of army staff without a wealthy pedigree, manipulated the machinery of government to line his pockets, thus the name T.Y. Danjuma began to feature on boards of blue chip business concerns. Subsequent coups also had the Danjuma imprints.
Rtd. General Danjuma's role in the unfortunate second coming of Olusegun Obasanjo, who rewarded him with the position of defense minister,to the presidency in 1999 and Danjuma's cornering of more than fity percent of crude oil allocations in that era, have not been and will not be forgotten. He started working against that adminisration as soon as he was removed as defense minister and a substantial percentage of his oil allocations revoked.
We have gone to this length to try and profile the Danjuma personality to show that the Rtd. General if not checked by the current occupant of the seat of power can be a risk to national unity.
Recently, the federal Government in a very commendable action paid accrued arrears of pensions to the leader of the civil war on the other side, Rtd. Lt. Colonel Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu and others. This action was seen as a geniune attempt at national reconciliation. We view Danjuma's recent comments on Ironsi as a calculated attempt to truncate this reconciliation. The reason for this is not far fetched, Danjuma and his cohorts had hitherto, benefitted immensely from the exclusionist policies of former administrations.
We urge Rtd. Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma to shed his "WE AND THEM" mentality and begin to see national issues from the angle of an elder statesman.
We will not also fail to use this medium to urge the household of late General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi to let all that happened in the july, 1966 coup and other subsequent unfortunate events pass in the interest of national unity.
Late General Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed in a military coup in july, 1966. Rtd. General Danjuma, then a captain was believed to have masterminded the brutal murder of the late head of state while he was on a state visit to the capital of the then western region, Ibadan.
Ironsi came to power following an unsucessful coup in January, 1966, led by a young officer from the Igbo ethnic stock, late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. It is on record that the failure of the Nzeogwu coup was as a result of non co-operation of late General Ironsi who was then the head of the Nigerian army and other senior officers, mainly Igbos, with the plotters.
Unfortunately, late Major Nzeogwu's coup,having eliminated prominient politicians mainly in northern Nigeria, without a corresponding casuality figure in the Igbo dominated eastern Nigeria was seen in the north as an Igbo coup, that set the stage for the july coup in which General Ironsi and his host, late Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi and others lost their lifes.
The july 1966 coup set the stage for a thirty-month-civil war in which T.Y. Danjuma featured prominently. At the end of the civil war, the then head of state, Rtd. General Yakubu Gowon, declared that there was "no victor and no vanquished". This declaration set the stage for the three "Rs" of reconstruction, reconciliation and rehabilitation. The three "Rs" later proved to be mere propaganda gimmick.
In july 1975, the administration of General Gowon was toppled in a bloodless coup led by late General Murtala Mohammed, who in turn was killed in a bloody coup in february, 1976. This resulted in the elevation of late General Mohammed's deputy, Rtd. General Olusegun Obasanjo to the position of head of state, Obasanjo then appointed Danjuma as chief of army staff.
Danjuma's coming into national prominence as chief of army staff in 1976, positioned him for historical profiling. The Danjuma persona was better understood when the Obasanjo adminstration handed over power to Mr. Shehu Shagari, a civilian in a very controversial circumstance in 1979 and the nation realised that the former chief of army staff without a wealthy pedigree, manipulated the machinery of government to line his pockets, thus the name T.Y. Danjuma began to feature on boards of blue chip business concerns. Subsequent coups also had the Danjuma imprints.
Rtd. General Danjuma's role in the unfortunate second coming of Olusegun Obasanjo, who rewarded him with the position of defense minister,to the presidency in 1999 and Danjuma's cornering of more than fity percent of crude oil allocations in that era, have not been and will not be forgotten. He started working against that adminisration as soon as he was removed as defense minister and a substantial percentage of his oil allocations revoked.
We have gone to this length to try and profile the Danjuma personality to show that the Rtd. General if not checked by the current occupant of the seat of power can be a risk to national unity.
Recently, the federal Government in a very commendable action paid accrued arrears of pensions to the leader of the civil war on the other side, Rtd. Lt. Colonel Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu and others. This action was seen as a geniune attempt at national reconciliation. We view Danjuma's recent comments on Ironsi as a calculated attempt to truncate this reconciliation. The reason for this is not far fetched, Danjuma and his cohorts had hitherto, benefitted immensely from the exclusionist policies of former administrations.
We urge Rtd. Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma to shed his "WE AND THEM" mentality and begin to see national issues from the angle of an elder statesman.
We will not also fail to use this medium to urge the household of late General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi to let all that happened in the july, 1966 coup and other subsequent unfortunate events pass in the interest of national unity.
Saturday, 23 February 2008
ABUJA SLUSH FUNDS UPDATE
Apparently as a result of our story entitled: HARVEST OF SLUSH FUNDS IN NIGERIA'S CAPITAL CITY, there have been last minute cautious moves by the facilitators of Nigeria's most recent racket.
We are aware that all those involved in the movement of cash to the locations of disbursement have been dropped for a new set. Our source was one of those dropped, we are presently trying to infiltrate the new set.
We are also aware that the time and venues have been changed to forestall leakage.
Unconfirmed information has it that the venues has been shifted to three locations in Suleja(names withheld), a town in Niger State, close to Abuja. We are also aware that time have not been made known to those concerned so far, meanwhile all concerned have been advised not to show up in person but to send only trusted aides to the new venues.
We can now report that so far, the list is made up of seven first class traditional rulers, fifteen Senators, twenty-three house of representatives members, three civil society activists, five news editors and ten columnists(names withheld). The name of an online news publisher may feature in the list, but at the moment, there is fear that since he worked with the campaign organization of one the presidential candidates now challenging the election of Yar'Adua in 2007 as a political consultant, he may squeal if contacted.
We are aware that all those involved in the movement of cash to the locations of disbursement have been dropped for a new set. Our source was one of those dropped, we are presently trying to infiltrate the new set.
We are also aware that the time and venues have been changed to forestall leakage.
Unconfirmed information has it that the venues has been shifted to three locations in Suleja(names withheld), a town in Niger State, close to Abuja. We are also aware that time have not been made known to those concerned so far, meanwhile all concerned have been advised not to show up in person but to send only trusted aides to the new venues.
We can now report that so far, the list is made up of seven first class traditional rulers, fifteen Senators, twenty-three house of representatives members, three civil society activists, five news editors and ten columnists(names withheld). The name of an online news publisher may feature in the list, but at the moment, there is fear that since he worked with the campaign organization of one the presidential candidates now challenging the election of Yar'Adua in 2007 as a political consultant, he may squeal if contacted.
BEHOLD THE MAN; Henry Okah.
This is the first publicly available photo of Mr. Henry Okah, a Nigerian businessman based in South- Africa. Mr. Okah, who is from the Niger delta region of Nigeria, formed the MOVEMENT FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF NIGER DELTA(MEND), with others. He was subsequently, made the spokesman of the group and was the first to adopt the pseudonym "Jomo Gbomo".
He was operating in that capacity till September 3rd, 2007 when he was arrested in Angola on allegation of gun running.
Mr. Okah is currently in custody in Nigeria preparatory for possible arraignment in court.
He was operating in that capacity till September 3rd, 2007 when he was arrested in Angola on allegation of gun running.
Mr. Okah is currently in custody in Nigeria preparatory for possible arraignment in court.
Friday, 22 February 2008
HARVEST OF SLUSH FUNDS IN NIGERIA'S CAPITAL CITY
Ever since the Presidential election petition tribunal indicated in a letter to the Nigerian President, Mr. Umar Yar'Adua, whose election is being challenged at the tribunal and the Presidential candidates of All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP), Rtd. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, and his Action Congress counterpart, Mr. Atiku Abubakar, whose consolidated petitions seek to nullify the 2007 Presidetial election that brought the President to power, of its intention to deliever judgement on the matter on tuesday, 26th february, 2008, there have been harvest of slush funds in Nigeria's capital city Abuja.
A Presidency source involved in the movement of cash from one of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation's(NNPC)guest houses and from the home of billionaire businessman, Mr. Aliko Dangote, informed us that there is need to "settle" some influential members of the Local Press, first class traditional rulers, some influential civil society activists and some "radical" National assembly members.
The aim, according to our source is two-fold, in the event of the case going against the President, necesitating an appeal,there will be frenzy of opinions in favour of the Supreme court upturning the verdict,and in the event of the case being in favour of the President, there will be calls for all and sundry to accept the verdict, while more pressures will be piled on Buhari and Atiku not to appeal the verdict.
A senior judiciary source when asked which way the case could go replied that "nothing is foreclosed",because according to her, even though the verdict on the onset was three against two in favour of the petitioners, but since the commencement of the writing of the verdict,there have been serious pressures on people very close to one of the members of the tribunal on the side of the petitioners to cross over.
This harvest of slush funds, according to our source will perk on saturday, 23rd february, 2008, when the disbusement is expected to take place. Our source further hinted that for now, most of the personalities involved or their emmisaries are already in private guest houses in Abuja waiting for the bazzar.
While working on this report, an anonymous call was made to our Publisher/Editor-in-chief threatening him with serious consequences if this story is published.
We are however, keenly monitoring this situation and will surely post updates if and when necesary.
A Presidency source involved in the movement of cash from one of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation's(NNPC)guest houses and from the home of billionaire businessman, Mr. Aliko Dangote, informed us that there is need to "settle" some influential members of the Local Press, first class traditional rulers, some influential civil society activists and some "radical" National assembly members.
The aim, according to our source is two-fold, in the event of the case going against the President, necesitating an appeal,there will be frenzy of opinions in favour of the Supreme court upturning the verdict,and in the event of the case being in favour of the President, there will be calls for all and sundry to accept the verdict, while more pressures will be piled on Buhari and Atiku not to appeal the verdict.
A senior judiciary source when asked which way the case could go replied that "nothing is foreclosed",because according to her, even though the verdict on the onset was three against two in favour of the petitioners, but since the commencement of the writing of the verdict,there have been serious pressures on people very close to one of the members of the tribunal on the side of the petitioners to cross over.
This harvest of slush funds, according to our source will perk on saturday, 23rd february, 2008, when the disbusement is expected to take place. Our source further hinted that for now, most of the personalities involved or their emmisaries are already in private guest houses in Abuja waiting for the bazzar.
While working on this report, an anonymous call was made to our Publisher/Editor-in-chief threatening him with serious consequences if this story is published.
We are however, keenly monitoring this situation and will surely post updates if and when necesary.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
HENRY OKAH: THE REAL STORY
Contrary to the widely reported claim by MEND spokesman that Mr. Henry Okah,a leading member of that body was forcefully repatriated to Nigeria from Angola and the subsequent claim that he died in custody as a result of gunshot wound from interrogators,we can now authoritatively report that Mr. Okah is hale and hearty,he had only minor pains as a result of the journey from Angola to Nigeria in a military aircraft which was not very comfortable compared to the mode of travel the MEND chieftain was used to.
We also gathered and can now report that Mr. Okah's journey to Nigeria was as a result of intense negotiations between the Governments of Nigeria, Angola, south Africa, where Okah resides and his wife, with the United States of America as the moderator. We could not get details of the agreement reached by the parties,our security sources in Abuja insisted that the contents of the agreement is classified.
It was further revealed to us that another reason why Mr. Okah willingly accepted to be flown to Nigeria for trial, was because of Nigerian president's pledge of strict adherence to the rule of law,he was also said to have embraced this option because of the apparent Nigerian Government's casual attitude to the cases of separatist leaders who are currently standing trials for treason and other serious political offences.
Further reasons for the MEND leader's journey to Nigeria was because the Angolan Government did not have substantial evidence to arraign him in court and does not want to continue detaining him, fearing that militants in Angola may establish contact with the Nigerian militant leader.
We are aware but have not been able to confirm that the South African Government will be unwilling to renew Mr. Okah's residency so as to avoid a situation where separatist elements in that country will align with the Niger Delta activist.
When Mr.Henry Okah arrived Abuja, our sources further hinted, he was feeling a bit tired with slight pains as a result of the hectic journey.The following morning, he had a close door meeting with two operatives from the office of the National Security Adviser, before being driven to Zamfara State, where he is being held in alternate locations, arrangements are however, on to relocate him to another Northern State, we have not so far confirmed the location. The MEND leader who is said to be co-operating with interrogators is to secretly meet with the Nigerian vice-president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, also an Ijaw soon.
Mr. Okah's co-operation with interrogators, according to sources inside MEND, is causing panic in the body of Militants and their sponsors.We gathered authoritaively that most of the sponsors of MEND are now out of the country from where they monitor developments.
We also gathered and can now report that Mr. Okah's journey to Nigeria was as a result of intense negotiations between the Governments of Nigeria, Angola, south Africa, where Okah resides and his wife, with the United States of America as the moderator. We could not get details of the agreement reached by the parties,our security sources in Abuja insisted that the contents of the agreement is classified.
It was further revealed to us that another reason why Mr. Okah willingly accepted to be flown to Nigeria for trial, was because of Nigerian president's pledge of strict adherence to the rule of law,he was also said to have embraced this option because of the apparent Nigerian Government's casual attitude to the cases of separatist leaders who are currently standing trials for treason and other serious political offences.
Further reasons for the MEND leader's journey to Nigeria was because the Angolan Government did not have substantial evidence to arraign him in court and does not want to continue detaining him, fearing that militants in Angola may establish contact with the Nigerian militant leader.
We are aware but have not been able to confirm that the South African Government will be unwilling to renew Mr. Okah's residency so as to avoid a situation where separatist elements in that country will align with the Niger Delta activist.
When Mr.Henry Okah arrived Abuja, our sources further hinted, he was feeling a bit tired with slight pains as a result of the hectic journey.The following morning, he had a close door meeting with two operatives from the office of the National Security Adviser, before being driven to Zamfara State, where he is being held in alternate locations, arrangements are however, on to relocate him to another Northern State, we have not so far confirmed the location. The MEND leader who is said to be co-operating with interrogators is to secretly meet with the Nigerian vice-president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, also an Ijaw soon.
Mr. Okah's co-operation with interrogators, according to sources inside MEND, is causing panic in the body of Militants and their sponsors.We gathered authoritaively that most of the sponsors of MEND are now out of the country from where they monitor developments.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
"HENRY OKAH KILLED IN CUSTODY": MEND
Spokesman for the Movement For The Emancipation of Niger Delta(MEND), Mr. "Jomo Gbomo" in an online press release alleged that one of its leaders, Mr. Henry Okah has been killed in Government custody in Nigeria. The release from MEND reads:
"Disturbing reports just reaching us suggests that Henry Okah succumbed to injuries from gun shot wounds at about 0400 hrs today, February 19, 2007 at a military hospital in Kaduna state of Nigeria after he was shot in what those interrogating him claim was an “accidental discharge” from the automatic weapon from one of the guards.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is giving the Federal Government of Nigeria within the next 24Hours to confirm or deny this murder rumour. Failure to do this will bring bloodbath in that region and beyond. We will not take prisoners from the military or oil workers".
The Federal Government of Ngeria has however, denied the allegation through a presidency spokesman.
"Disturbing reports just reaching us suggests that Henry Okah succumbed to injuries from gun shot wounds at about 0400 hrs today, February 19, 2007 at a military hospital in Kaduna state of Nigeria after he was shot in what those interrogating him claim was an “accidental discharge” from the automatic weapon from one of the guards.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is giving the Federal Government of Nigeria within the next 24Hours to confirm or deny this murder rumour. Failure to do this will bring bloodbath in that region and beyond. We will not take prisoners from the military or oil workers".
The Federal Government of Ngeria has however, denied the allegation through a presidency spokesman.
Monday, 18 February 2008
SAVE OUR SOULS; LETTER FROM MEND TO BUSH
His Excellency,
The President of the United States of America,
Air force one.
Mr President:
Greetings from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) of Nigeria. We are confident this letter will reach you and your entourage touring some African countries well.
MEND needs little introduction to you since you must have been briefed after the actions we have taken to address the injustice in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria may have affected the oil dependent American economy.
Your trip to Africa comes at an opportune time and indicates the soft spot you have for the people of this great continent. Africa is facing several on going conflicts, almost all are avoidable. Nigeria is at the verge of entering its own mega-conflict even though everyone seems to be in denial. When Nigeria erupts, the lava of destruction will spread so fast, far and wide that the human and economic catastrophe will dwarf Darfur.
Contrary to the misleading impression that MEND is a group of callous terrorists, we are peace loving and God fearing men and women who have decided to take a firm position against those who use our resources to develop their regions to our detriment. Mr President, after 9/11 you took a stand. We are only emulating a leader we admire.
The so-called peace process to resolve the Niger Delta unrest has been fraught with fraud and insincerity. A major player, Mr Henry Okah, a principled and disciplined leader we respect was framed and detained while the government had hoped to divide and deal with some people without principles. From the inception of President Yar ‘Adua’s regime, what we are witnessing is a thread mill peace process that is leading to no where. The Nigerian government does not seem to realise that peace can not be bought with money.
Mr. President, considering your commitment on democracy, peace and stability and considering that MEND is devoted to the war against terrorism, we humbly ask for the mediation of you and of your great country to settle the dispute in the Niger Delta.
The way forward to achieving peace in the oil rich region is the unconditional release of Henry Okah to partake in a new and genuinely transparent reconciliatory peace process. We use this opportunity to lay out a clear and simple 11- point peace proposal that should bring an enduring peace and prosperity, mutually beneficial to both countries; ending five decades of bondage on the Niger Delta region and its people.
The proposal is something along the following lines:
1. Henry Okah is to be held in good condition with unfettered access to his legal representatives, family, pastor and independent international observers including the international Red Cross;
2. In return Henry will assist the new peace process in the Niger Delta;
3. MEND will declare a period of Grace in which it will halt all militia action in the Niger Delta;
4. In return military forces will halt all actions and no further troops will be deployed in the Niger Delta;
5. During the Grace period a demobilization plan will be agreed between militia, the Federal Government of Nigeria and international observers with an emphasis on education, rehabilitation, counselling, training, apprenticeship, employment and small/medium scale business opportunities that will constructively engage the militia;
6. The Federal Government of Nigeria will begin a staged military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
7. In return MEND will commit itself to a staged disarmament commensurate with the military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
8. In the interest of public safety, the Federal Government of Nigeria will match military withdrawal with an increase in police wages, training, orientation, equipment and improvements in police living conditions. This will assist in moving Nigeria from a military regime to a true democracy with a civilian government;
9. The Federal Government in conjunction with the State Governments of the Niger Delta region will announce details of a plan to deliver greater transparency in revenues from Federal Government, to State Governments and on to Local Governments, and application of those funds to relieve the suffering of villagers (through improvement in health services, provision of potable water, etc.) and give hope (through stimulating local economies, providing teachers wages, etc). A monitoring group composed of officials nominated by the Government and the civil society, and supervised by the World Bank, as the model experienced in Chad, will be vouched for transparency;
10. The Federal Government will announce increased funds to specific programmes in communities aimed at relieving the suffering of the poor and disadvantaged citizens;
11. Last but not the least; the Federal Government must propose a time table for the practice of true federalism in the control of resources by every state in the federation.
While wishing you a successful trip, we will uphold your efforts for peace and justice around the world in our continued prayers.
Kindest regards,
Jomo Gbomo
The President of the United States of America,
Air force one.
Mr President:
Greetings from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) of Nigeria. We are confident this letter will reach you and your entourage touring some African countries well.
MEND needs little introduction to you since you must have been briefed after the actions we have taken to address the injustice in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria may have affected the oil dependent American economy.
Your trip to Africa comes at an opportune time and indicates the soft spot you have for the people of this great continent. Africa is facing several on going conflicts, almost all are avoidable. Nigeria is at the verge of entering its own mega-conflict even though everyone seems to be in denial. When Nigeria erupts, the lava of destruction will spread so fast, far and wide that the human and economic catastrophe will dwarf Darfur.
Contrary to the misleading impression that MEND is a group of callous terrorists, we are peace loving and God fearing men and women who have decided to take a firm position against those who use our resources to develop their regions to our detriment. Mr President, after 9/11 you took a stand. We are only emulating a leader we admire.
The so-called peace process to resolve the Niger Delta unrest has been fraught with fraud and insincerity. A major player, Mr Henry Okah, a principled and disciplined leader we respect was framed and detained while the government had hoped to divide and deal with some people without principles. From the inception of President Yar ‘Adua’s regime, what we are witnessing is a thread mill peace process that is leading to no where. The Nigerian government does not seem to realise that peace can not be bought with money.
Mr. President, considering your commitment on democracy, peace and stability and considering that MEND is devoted to the war against terrorism, we humbly ask for the mediation of you and of your great country to settle the dispute in the Niger Delta.
The way forward to achieving peace in the oil rich region is the unconditional release of Henry Okah to partake in a new and genuinely transparent reconciliatory peace process. We use this opportunity to lay out a clear and simple 11- point peace proposal that should bring an enduring peace and prosperity, mutually beneficial to both countries; ending five decades of bondage on the Niger Delta region and its people.
The proposal is something along the following lines:
1. Henry Okah is to be held in good condition with unfettered access to his legal representatives, family, pastor and independent international observers including the international Red Cross;
2. In return Henry will assist the new peace process in the Niger Delta;
3. MEND will declare a period of Grace in which it will halt all militia action in the Niger Delta;
4. In return military forces will halt all actions and no further troops will be deployed in the Niger Delta;
5. During the Grace period a demobilization plan will be agreed between militia, the Federal Government of Nigeria and international observers with an emphasis on education, rehabilitation, counselling, training, apprenticeship, employment and small/medium scale business opportunities that will constructively engage the militia;
6. The Federal Government of Nigeria will begin a staged military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
7. In return MEND will commit itself to a staged disarmament commensurate with the military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
8. In the interest of public safety, the Federal Government of Nigeria will match military withdrawal with an increase in police wages, training, orientation, equipment and improvements in police living conditions. This will assist in moving Nigeria from a military regime to a true democracy with a civilian government;
9. The Federal Government in conjunction with the State Governments of the Niger Delta region will announce details of a plan to deliver greater transparency in revenues from Federal Government, to State Governments and on to Local Governments, and application of those funds to relieve the suffering of villagers (through improvement in health services, provision of potable water, etc.) and give hope (through stimulating local economies, providing teachers wages, etc). A monitoring group composed of officials nominated by the Government and the civil society, and supervised by the World Bank, as the model experienced in Chad, will be vouched for transparency;
10. The Federal Government will announce increased funds to specific programmes in communities aimed at relieving the suffering of the poor and disadvantaged citizens;
11. Last but not the least; the Federal Government must propose a time table for the practice of true federalism in the control of resources by every state in the federation.
While wishing you a successful trip, we will uphold your efforts for peace and justice around the world in our continued prayers.
Kindest regards,
Jomo Gbomo
Saturday, 16 February 2008
"HENRY OKAH ILLEGALLY EXTRADITED TO NIGERIA": AN E-MAIL FROM MEND
On Thursday, February 14, 2008, the governments of Angola and Nigeria carried out a secret illegal extradition of Mr. Henry Okah back to Nigeria.
Henry was beaten, shackled in ankle, cuff chained and blind-folded with a hood before being flown out of Angola under the cover of night to an undisclosed location. But it is believed that he was flown into Nigeria and he is being held somewhere in the northern part of the country.
Henry and another innocent individual had spent five gruelling months under the most inhospitable conditions in Angolan jails since September 3, 2007 when he was arrested on trumped up charge of gun running. Later, when the Angolan government at the behest of the Nigerian government could not sustain the charge in Angolan courts, they added a new frame up of sponsoring a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea.
All these charges Henry denied because he is innocent. But during the ordeal in that country where there are no laws of civilised conduct (as attested to by the Nigerian government in its only statement so far on Henry’s illegal detention), Henry was tortured and starved to no end in other to extract implicative statements from him. For a long time, he was denied his request of a Bible in the dungeon.
Having exhausted their tricks to do the innocent businessman in, the government of President Yar’Adua had gone back to its initial plan of extraditing Henry back from a country it has no treaty with. We do not know what the Nigerian government wants to do to him secretly.
Be it known that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is following keenly the moves of the government to pin on Henry, bogus and unfounded charges. Such actions are unacceptable to the Supreme Command of MEND. For now, we appeal for calm to the peace loving people of the Niger Delta as we all watch to see the governments’ next line of action.
Henry was beaten, shackled in ankle, cuff chained and blind-folded with a hood before being flown out of Angola under the cover of night to an undisclosed location. But it is believed that he was flown into Nigeria and he is being held somewhere in the northern part of the country.
Henry and another innocent individual had spent five gruelling months under the most inhospitable conditions in Angolan jails since September 3, 2007 when he was arrested on trumped up charge of gun running. Later, when the Angolan government at the behest of the Nigerian government could not sustain the charge in Angolan courts, they added a new frame up of sponsoring a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea.
All these charges Henry denied because he is innocent. But during the ordeal in that country where there are no laws of civilised conduct (as attested to by the Nigerian government in its only statement so far on Henry’s illegal detention), Henry was tortured and starved to no end in other to extract implicative statements from him. For a long time, he was denied his request of a Bible in the dungeon.
Having exhausted their tricks to do the innocent businessman in, the government of President Yar’Adua had gone back to its initial plan of extraditing Henry back from a country it has no treaty with. We do not know what the Nigerian government wants to do to him secretly.
Be it known that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is following keenly the moves of the government to pin on Henry, bogus and unfounded charges. Such actions are unacceptable to the Supreme Command of MEND. For now, we appeal for calm to the peace loving people of the Niger Delta as we all watch to see the governments’ next line of action.
NIGERIAN POLICE CHIEF SNUBS SUMMON FROM IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
The Inspector-general of the Nigerian Police(IG),Mr. Mike Okiro has refused to answer a summon from Nigeria's immediate past President, Rtd. General Olusegun Obasanjo when the latter invited him in connection with the Police equipment fund saga.
We have been reliably informed that when the IG decided to move against the facilitator of the fund, Mr.Kenny Martins, twin brother of one of Obasanjo's lovers, the plan leaked to Obasanjo and the immediate past President sensing that the IG's action was capable of opening a can of worms thereby further rubbishing his already bathered anti-corruption credentials, called Mr. Okiro requesting the IG to see him unfailingly the next day, to the former President's surprise, according to our source, the IG did not show up, prompting the retired General to dispatch one of his aides to Abuja to personally deliever the summon.
We were further informed that the summon was delievered to Mr. Okiro, but throughout the period in question, Mr. Okiro neither saw the ex-President nor call to indicate a possible date on which he could answer the summon.
The source further told us that even though the ex-President took the matter calmly, he nevertheless, felt very unhappy, mainly due to the fact that he influenced the appointment of the IG. The Police Inspector-general was appointed over his senior, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo on the prompting of Obasanjo. We have not been able to confirm so far, if the ex-President reported the matter to the President.
At the onset of the present administration, following the imminient retirement of the erstwhile Inspector-general of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero,the President Mr. Umar Yar'Adua had ordered Mr. Ehindero to hand over to the most senior officer, consequently, the erstwhile IG started making preparations for the handover to Mr. Onovo who at that time was the most senior Police officer, but the handover was not to be as Obasanjo was said to have used his influence to truncate it. He was said to have promptly recommended the present IG, who was subsequently, handed the reins of authority.It is widely believed that Obasanjo installed Yar'Adua in power.
The Nigerian Police equipment fund was a scheme initiated by a group of Nigerians to raise fund from the public for the enhancement of Police operations,ever since the scheme was launched, accusations of fraud have marred its proper take off.
The House of Representatives, Nigeria's lower federal parliament is currently probing the administration of the fund.
When we called the office of the IG, a female voice who answered the call told us that the IG was not available. She promised to deliever our message to the IG, whom she said will return the call, this has not been done so far.
We have been reliably informed that when the IG decided to move against the facilitator of the fund, Mr.Kenny Martins, twin brother of one of Obasanjo's lovers, the plan leaked to Obasanjo and the immediate past President sensing that the IG's action was capable of opening a can of worms thereby further rubbishing his already bathered anti-corruption credentials, called Mr. Okiro requesting the IG to see him unfailingly the next day, to the former President's surprise, according to our source, the IG did not show up, prompting the retired General to dispatch one of his aides to Abuja to personally deliever the summon.
We were further informed that the summon was delievered to Mr. Okiro, but throughout the period in question, Mr. Okiro neither saw the ex-President nor call to indicate a possible date on which he could answer the summon.
The source further told us that even though the ex-President took the matter calmly, he nevertheless, felt very unhappy, mainly due to the fact that he influenced the appointment of the IG. The Police Inspector-general was appointed over his senior, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo on the prompting of Obasanjo. We have not been able to confirm so far, if the ex-President reported the matter to the President.
At the onset of the present administration, following the imminient retirement of the erstwhile Inspector-general of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero,the President Mr. Umar Yar'Adua had ordered Mr. Ehindero to hand over to the most senior officer, consequently, the erstwhile IG started making preparations for the handover to Mr. Onovo who at that time was the most senior Police officer, but the handover was not to be as Obasanjo was said to have used his influence to truncate it. He was said to have promptly recommended the present IG, who was subsequently, handed the reins of authority.It is widely believed that Obasanjo installed Yar'Adua in power.
The Nigerian Police equipment fund was a scheme initiated by a group of Nigerians to raise fund from the public for the enhancement of Police operations,ever since the scheme was launched, accusations of fraud have marred its proper take off.
The House of Representatives, Nigeria's lower federal parliament is currently probing the administration of the fund.
When we called the office of the IG, a female voice who answered the call told us that the IG was not available. She promised to deliever our message to the IG, whom she said will return the call, this has not been done so far.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
SHELL BLACKMAILS NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT
We have been informed by a very senior expatriate employee of Shell(name withheld)that the current decission to reduce the workforce of the Anglo-Dutch petroleum giant in Nigeria is mainly aimed at pressurizing the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria into acceding to some demands made by Shell in recent times.
The expatriate employee told one of our female reporters at snake island in Lagos that for sometime now, Shell have been pressurising the Presidency to extend the deadline for the stoppage of gas flaring by atleast three years,which the Presidency appears not to be well disposed to. The Shell Petroleum Development company of Nigeria limited(SPDC) is a major oil exploration and drilling contractor to the Nigerian Government. The company also have substantial equity holding in the Nigerian liquified natural gas company(LNG). Gas flaring, according to experts reduces drilling costs.
We also gathered that another area the petroleum drilling giant have been finding things difficult with the Nigerian Authorities is in the resumption of work in Ogoniland. Shell according to our source, thinks that dialogue has failed and that full military actions should be applied, again the Presidency so far have not bought this line of reasoning. Shell left Ogoniland, an oil rich community in the Niger Delta region in the middle of the Ogoni agitations for autonomy and resource control.
We were further told that SPDC Nigeria at a meeting with its parent company in London in the middle of last year, agreed that since the stoppage of gas flaring with its attendant increase in drilling costs and non resumption of work in Ogoniland will put enormous pressure on the company's finances,the best way to pressurise the Government to have a second look at the issues previously raised is to announce a proposal for reduction of the workforce which will throw more Nigerians into the unemployment market, with its associated socio-economic problems. The rate of unemployment in Nigeria is presently high, successive Governments have been battling with this problem.
Shell, which started oil exploration and drilling in Nigeria in the 1950s, is also the operator of the SHELL-NNPC JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP and have ever since been the most prominent company in that sector. It has in recent times branched into liquified natural gas.
Since Shell announced the proposal to downsize its workforce, The Nigerian Presidency have been having meetings both secret and open with top management of the company on how to completely abandon the plan or find a way arround it. We can now reveal that Shell's position has been that the issues of resumption of work in Ogoniland and extention of deadline for stoppage of gas flaring should be revisited.
We are still awaiting reply of an enquiry sent to Shell for comments by e-mail.
The expatriate employee told one of our female reporters at snake island in Lagos that for sometime now, Shell have been pressurising the Presidency to extend the deadline for the stoppage of gas flaring by atleast three years,which the Presidency appears not to be well disposed to. The Shell Petroleum Development company of Nigeria limited(SPDC) is a major oil exploration and drilling contractor to the Nigerian Government. The company also have substantial equity holding in the Nigerian liquified natural gas company(LNG). Gas flaring, according to experts reduces drilling costs.
We also gathered that another area the petroleum drilling giant have been finding things difficult with the Nigerian Authorities is in the resumption of work in Ogoniland. Shell according to our source, thinks that dialogue has failed and that full military actions should be applied, again the Presidency so far have not bought this line of reasoning. Shell left Ogoniland, an oil rich community in the Niger Delta region in the middle of the Ogoni agitations for autonomy and resource control.
We were further told that SPDC Nigeria at a meeting with its parent company in London in the middle of last year, agreed that since the stoppage of gas flaring with its attendant increase in drilling costs and non resumption of work in Ogoniland will put enormous pressure on the company's finances,the best way to pressurise the Government to have a second look at the issues previously raised is to announce a proposal for reduction of the workforce which will throw more Nigerians into the unemployment market, with its associated socio-economic problems. The rate of unemployment in Nigeria is presently high, successive Governments have been battling with this problem.
Shell, which started oil exploration and drilling in Nigeria in the 1950s, is also the operator of the SHELL-NNPC JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP and have ever since been the most prominent company in that sector. It has in recent times branched into liquified natural gas.
Since Shell announced the proposal to downsize its workforce, The Nigerian Presidency have been having meetings both secret and open with top management of the company on how to completely abandon the plan or find a way arround it. We can now reveal that Shell's position has been that the issues of resumption of work in Ogoniland and extention of deadline for stoppage of gas flaring should be revisited.
We are still awaiting reply of an enquiry sent to Shell for comments by e-mail.
Monday, 11 February 2008
EDITORIAL: O.B. LULU-BRIGGS, KIDNAPS, SECURITY AND THE NIGER DELTA STRUGGLE
In the early hours of Wednesday, the 6th day of february, 2008, gunmen numbering over forty stormed the home of renowned Ijaw oil tycoon and philantropist, Mr. Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs. Mr. Lulu-Briggs is the executive Chairman of Moni Pulo Ltd, a blue chip oil firm and the founder of O.B Lulu-Briggs Foundation.
In a commando style operation that lasted for over one hour,the gunmen took away Mr. Lulu-Briggs' wife, Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs. The woman was however,released two days later, after an unsucessful attempt to extort a hefty ransom from her husband.
What the Lulu-Briggs household passed through on that fateful day according to reports, was what no normal person will wish his/her worst enemy.
We sympathise with the family on their ordeal and also congratulate them on the safe return of their matriach. We wish them God's continued guidance.
We will however, not close our eyes to some salient points which this ugly incident threw up.
One of these points is the fact that at the beginning of the operation, security agencies, particularly the police were alerted, but none of the numerous security outfits in Portharcourt could make it to the Lulu-Briggs compound while the operation lasted. This can either be seen as complicity or gross incompetence,which either way should necesitate a probe.
The second point is the porous nature of the Niger Delta struggle. It is on record that there is a peace parley between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ijaw leaders which has resulted into a ceasefire even if informally. It is also on record that the umbrella body to which militants in the region purportedly belonged to, the JOINT REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL(JRC) had condemned the incident and had blamed it on a renegade group member of the council. These to our opinion means that the struggle, hitherto unknown to the leadership has been infiltrated by criminals, who now hide inside the stuggle to carry out criminal acts. In this vein, we are of the opinion that all geniune Niger Delta region activists should go back to the drawing board with a view to sanitising and restoring credibility to the struggle.
The last but not the least point is the influence of Mr. O.B Lulu-briggs, which we think was not fully utilised to nip in the bud the descent of the struggle into kidnap for ransom when the ugly trend first reared its head. Mr. Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs is a respected personality in the Niger Delta region whose words carry a lot of weight, yet we cannot recall a single occasion in which he seriously and publicly condemn the various kidnaps for ransom in the region.
In a commando style operation that lasted for over one hour,the gunmen took away Mr. Lulu-Briggs' wife, Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs. The woman was however,released two days later, after an unsucessful attempt to extort a hefty ransom from her husband.
What the Lulu-Briggs household passed through on that fateful day according to reports, was what no normal person will wish his/her worst enemy.
We sympathise with the family on their ordeal and also congratulate them on the safe return of their matriach. We wish them God's continued guidance.
We will however, not close our eyes to some salient points which this ugly incident threw up.
One of these points is the fact that at the beginning of the operation, security agencies, particularly the police were alerted, but none of the numerous security outfits in Portharcourt could make it to the Lulu-Briggs compound while the operation lasted. This can either be seen as complicity or gross incompetence,which either way should necesitate a probe.
The second point is the porous nature of the Niger Delta struggle. It is on record that there is a peace parley between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ijaw leaders which has resulted into a ceasefire even if informally. It is also on record that the umbrella body to which militants in the region purportedly belonged to, the JOINT REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL(JRC) had condemned the incident and had blamed it on a renegade group member of the council. These to our opinion means that the struggle, hitherto unknown to the leadership has been infiltrated by criminals, who now hide inside the stuggle to carry out criminal acts. In this vein, we are of the opinion that all geniune Niger Delta region activists should go back to the drawing board with a view to sanitising and restoring credibility to the struggle.
The last but not the least point is the influence of Mr. O.B Lulu-briggs, which we think was not fully utilised to nip in the bud the descent of the struggle into kidnap for ransom when the ugly trend first reared its head. Mr. Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs is a respected personality in the Niger Delta region whose words carry a lot of weight, yet we cannot recall a single occasion in which he seriously and publicly condemn the various kidnaps for ransom in the region.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
SURPRISES FOR EMMANUEL IWUANYANWU; PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANT
Surprises have been following the steps of Mr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a national chairmanship aspirant of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), since he started his campaign to occupy the party's foremost seat come March 2008.
We know from inside the campaign organization of the Champion newspapers publisher that it has been a season of rejections in most of the states his campaign train visited, contrary to some media reports.
The Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu campaign organization because of the influence their principal wields in PDP and by extension in Nigeria, had hoped to have a smooth sail in most of the PDP controlled states, but surprisingly, the reverse is the case so far.
"It got so bad that our proposed visit to Rivers State had to be postponed to smoothen things first" the source volunteered. "Chairman" the source continued "is perceived by many as Obasanjo's right hand man,so they want to embarass Obasanjo by rejecting him".
Mr. Iwuanyanwu, from Atta in Ikeduru local government Area of Imo State, have been a constant name in politics in Nigeria, since 1989. In 1991, he contested to be the presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention(NRC) and was almost clinching the post when the Ibrahim Babangida military government cancelled the result and banned him and others from politics for that period.
In 1998 when the Abdulsalami Abubakar's military administration lifted the ban on politics, Iwuanyanwu joined the then All Peoples Party, now All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP),but had to defect to PDP to feather his business nest,he is also a civil engineering contractor.
In 2002, in the heat of the Igbo presidency agitations,Iwuanyanwu as the chairman of the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Igbo presidency commmittee,used this position to sucessfully campaign for a second term for the then President Olusegun Obasanjo,he subsequently,also campaigned unsucessfully for a third term for Obasanjo. Ohaneze Ndi Igbo is the apex socio-cultural organization of Igbos. Since then, some powerful elements in Ohaneze have been working to render him politically impotent.
The Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu campaign organization have not responded to our request for comments at the time of posting this report.
We know from inside the campaign organization of the Champion newspapers publisher that it has been a season of rejections in most of the states his campaign train visited, contrary to some media reports.
The Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu campaign organization because of the influence their principal wields in PDP and by extension in Nigeria, had hoped to have a smooth sail in most of the PDP controlled states, but surprisingly, the reverse is the case so far.
"It got so bad that our proposed visit to Rivers State had to be postponed to smoothen things first" the source volunteered. "Chairman" the source continued "is perceived by many as Obasanjo's right hand man,so they want to embarass Obasanjo by rejecting him".
Mr. Iwuanyanwu, from Atta in Ikeduru local government Area of Imo State, have been a constant name in politics in Nigeria, since 1989. In 1991, he contested to be the presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention(NRC) and was almost clinching the post when the Ibrahim Babangida military government cancelled the result and banned him and others from politics for that period.
In 1998 when the Abdulsalami Abubakar's military administration lifted the ban on politics, Iwuanyanwu joined the then All Peoples Party, now All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP),but had to defect to PDP to feather his business nest,he is also a civil engineering contractor.
In 2002, in the heat of the Igbo presidency agitations,Iwuanyanwu as the chairman of the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Igbo presidency commmittee,used this position to sucessfully campaign for a second term for the then President Olusegun Obasanjo,he subsequently,also campaigned unsucessfully for a third term for Obasanjo. Ohaneze Ndi Igbo is the apex socio-cultural organization of Igbos. Since then, some powerful elements in Ohaneze have been working to render him politically impotent.
The Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu campaign organization have not responded to our request for comments at the time of posting this report.
Friday, 8 February 2008
LULU-BRIGGS HOSTAGE LATEST
(From Cynthia Whyte, Spokesperson of Joint Revolutionary Council(JRC))
Dear People,
It is with great shame in our hearts and with deep apologies to key stakeholders in this sojourn that we have borne thus far, that we announce that in the early hours of yesterday, at about 1.30 am and thereafter, renegade gunmen and outlawed units of the Joint Revolutionary Council (comprising of the Reformed Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and the Martyrs Brigade) in a rare show of shame attacked the residence of a honored son of the Niger Delta, peacemaker, philanthropist and hardworker, Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, taking into captivity his wife Sienye.
While we mourn this misadventure by a band of misguided and mis-informed youths, we plead with the family of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs to please forgive this wickedness that had been done to them. It was an act of the devil working gladly in the hearts of men.
Let us also announce herewith that the Movement of Niger Delta People (MONDP) is no longer a member of the JRC alliance. The struggle for the liberation and emancipation of the people of the Ijaw and Niger Delta territory must never be tampered with criminality and banditry.
Only a few weeks ago, in a usual show of rare philanthropy and with the guidance of the President of the Ijaw National Congress and Pro-Chancellor of the Niger Delta University Professor Kimse Okoko, Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs had given the go-ahead for the construction of a 500 room hostel facility for the Niger Delta University. It is evil to repay good with evil.
Let us however assure all that Mrs. Lulu-Briggs will be safely returned to her family in the next few hours. She has already been released but is currently in transit to safe grounds.
Make no mistake, justice will be done.
Thank you very much.
Cynthia Whyte
Spokesperson, Joint Revolutionary Council
Dear People,
It is with great shame in our hearts and with deep apologies to key stakeholders in this sojourn that we have borne thus far, that we announce that in the early hours of yesterday, at about 1.30 am and thereafter, renegade gunmen and outlawed units of the Joint Revolutionary Council (comprising of the Reformed Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and the Martyrs Brigade) in a rare show of shame attacked the residence of a honored son of the Niger Delta, peacemaker, philanthropist and hardworker, Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, taking into captivity his wife Sienye.
While we mourn this misadventure by a band of misguided and mis-informed youths, we plead with the family of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs to please forgive this wickedness that had been done to them. It was an act of the devil working gladly in the hearts of men.
Let us also announce herewith that the Movement of Niger Delta People (MONDP) is no longer a member of the JRC alliance. The struggle for the liberation and emancipation of the people of the Ijaw and Niger Delta territory must never be tampered with criminality and banditry.
Only a few weeks ago, in a usual show of rare philanthropy and with the guidance of the President of the Ijaw National Congress and Pro-Chancellor of the Niger Delta University Professor Kimse Okoko, Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs had given the go-ahead for the construction of a 500 room hostel facility for the Niger Delta University. It is evil to repay good with evil.
Let us however assure all that Mrs. Lulu-Briggs will be safely returned to her family in the next few hours. She has already been released but is currently in transit to safe grounds.
Make no mistake, justice will be done.
Thank you very much.
Cynthia Whyte
Spokesperson, Joint Revolutionary Council
Thursday, 7 February 2008
MILITARY COUP IMMINENT IN NIGERIA
An unconsitutional take over of Government in Nigeria by the Military, appears to be imminent according to buzz in the intelligence community.
The low and middle level officer cadres, especially in the Army have been increasingly restive since the begining of the year, Intelligence sources whispered to us.
This restiveness is partly as a result of poor conditions of service in the Army, considered as the teeth of the military and mainly as a result of the conducts of the Political class.
We gathered that since May,2007 when the Government of President Umar Yar'Adua was sworn into office, the low and middle level officer cadres have been more than ever polarized along political lines.
There are Officers who benefitted immensely from the Administration of the immediate past President, Rtd. General Olusegun Obasanjo, but suddenly discovered that the present Administration is not ready to allow the status quo ante to continue, but have been busy building its own band of loyalists in the Military. These officers according to sources, seeing that there is no possibility of a return of the Obasanjo years have become increasingly restive.
Another group are Officers loyal to politicians who lost out in the last general elections. These officers benefitted from these politicians in the area of lucrative postings.These Politicians normally use their influences to pressurize Defence Ministry authorities to post their godsons to areas considered to be lucrative.Since the last general elections in which most of these Politicians lost their positions and consequently, their influences, their godsons have not been having things easy.
The last group, sources continued, are patriotic officers,whose restiveness have to do with "the way the country is drifting aimlessly since the Yar'Adua presidency came on board".This group mainly point to the Niger Delta Region where security personnels, especially members of the Armed Forces are being killed almost on daily basis,"yet politicians sit in Abuja and negotiate with these criminals". This group had hoped "that the 2007 general elections would usher in purposeful political leadership in Nigeria" but have discovered that the current political leadership is "an old wine in a new wine jar".
One common problem these groups have is how to convince the International Community, Advocacy groups and the general public of the need to change the government through coup.We gathered that one the groups have been trying to recruit influencial news editors and publishers for this purpose.We have not been able so far to confirm this, we are however, on the trail of news editors and publishers suspected to have been contacted.
An enquiry on this sent to Defence Ministry spokesman have not been answered so far, but a senior Military Intelligence source told us that "Military Authorities are keeping close tabs on these groups of officers and will move in if they over step the bounds".
The low and middle level officer cadres, especially in the Army have been increasingly restive since the begining of the year, Intelligence sources whispered to us.
This restiveness is partly as a result of poor conditions of service in the Army, considered as the teeth of the military and mainly as a result of the conducts of the Political class.
We gathered that since May,2007 when the Government of President Umar Yar'Adua was sworn into office, the low and middle level officer cadres have been more than ever polarized along political lines.
There are Officers who benefitted immensely from the Administration of the immediate past President, Rtd. General Olusegun Obasanjo, but suddenly discovered that the present Administration is not ready to allow the status quo ante to continue, but have been busy building its own band of loyalists in the Military. These officers according to sources, seeing that there is no possibility of a return of the Obasanjo years have become increasingly restive.
Another group are Officers loyal to politicians who lost out in the last general elections. These officers benefitted from these politicians in the area of lucrative postings.These Politicians normally use their influences to pressurize Defence Ministry authorities to post their godsons to areas considered to be lucrative.Since the last general elections in which most of these Politicians lost their positions and consequently, their influences, their godsons have not been having things easy.
The last group, sources continued, are patriotic officers,whose restiveness have to do with "the way the country is drifting aimlessly since the Yar'Adua presidency came on board".This group mainly point to the Niger Delta Region where security personnels, especially members of the Armed Forces are being killed almost on daily basis,"yet politicians sit in Abuja and negotiate with these criminals". This group had hoped "that the 2007 general elections would usher in purposeful political leadership in Nigeria" but have discovered that the current political leadership is "an old wine in a new wine jar".
One common problem these groups have is how to convince the International Community, Advocacy groups and the general public of the need to change the government through coup.We gathered that one the groups have been trying to recruit influencial news editors and publishers for this purpose.We have not been able so far to confirm this, we are however, on the trail of news editors and publishers suspected to have been contacted.
An enquiry on this sent to Defence Ministry spokesman have not been answered so far, but a senior Military Intelligence source told us that "Military Authorities are keeping close tabs on these groups of officers and will move in if they over step the bounds".
Sunday, 3 February 2008
GOVERNOR CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI'S HUNDRED DAYS IN OFFICE; ALL PROPAGANDA AND LESS ACTIONS
The hundred days in office of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers of Nigeria have been described by a cross section of Rivers State indigenes and residents as all propaganda and less actions.
A cross section of people that cut across all segments whom our reporters spoke to in Portharcourt,its environs and in the rural communities delievered a verdict of an administration in love with propaganda and less actions in the last hundred days.
In the field of infrastructural developments, opinions were that hundred days is enough period to develope pragmatic blueprints and to lay foundations of some important projects that will positively impact on the lives of the people, but regretably, according to them, these were not done.
In the area of security, we were informed that the Amaechi Administration is only relying on the security blueprint of his predecessor,which needs updating,"without even giving credit to where it is due".
There was however,a consensus that there was an improvement in sanitation, majority of those spoken to were nonetheless of the opinion that there is a square peg in a round hole in that area, which will engender a collapse of the little progress made in that area soon.
In areas like health, agriculture, sports and education, majority opinions were that no clear direction had been mapped out in the last hundred days of the administration.
Most people spoken to however agreed that the adminstration is strong on propaganda which according to them has nothing to do with the welfare of the people.
Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was in october 2007 declared the Governor of Rivers state by the Supreme court of Nigeria, after a protracted legal battle. Mr. Amaechi was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State in that year's gubernatorial election. In what was widely viewed as an injustice, his party substituted his name which was already submitted to the electoral commission without good reasons, with that of his first cousin, Mr. Celestine Omehia. Amaechi went to court and was subsequently declared the candidate of PDP which won the election in the state.
Mr.Amaechi was consequently sworn in as Governor two days later.
Efforts by us to speak with the Governor's chief publicist, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, on the Governor's hundred days in office were abortive, but an officer in the office of the Governor who declined to give us his name, said that the delay is part of the Governor's deliberate efforts to get the contributions of major stakeholders. He further told us that the Governor will still fulfill all that he promised to the people of Rivers State in the long run.
A cross section of people that cut across all segments whom our reporters spoke to in Portharcourt,its environs and in the rural communities delievered a verdict of an administration in love with propaganda and less actions in the last hundred days.
In the field of infrastructural developments, opinions were that hundred days is enough period to develope pragmatic blueprints and to lay foundations of some important projects that will positively impact on the lives of the people, but regretably, according to them, these were not done.
In the area of security, we were informed that the Amaechi Administration is only relying on the security blueprint of his predecessor,which needs updating,"without even giving credit to where it is due".
There was however,a consensus that there was an improvement in sanitation, majority of those spoken to were nonetheless of the opinion that there is a square peg in a round hole in that area, which will engender a collapse of the little progress made in that area soon.
In areas like health, agriculture, sports and education, majority opinions were that no clear direction had been mapped out in the last hundred days of the administration.
Most people spoken to however agreed that the adminstration is strong on propaganda which according to them has nothing to do with the welfare of the people.
Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was in october 2007 declared the Governor of Rivers state by the Supreme court of Nigeria, after a protracted legal battle. Mr. Amaechi was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State in that year's gubernatorial election. In what was widely viewed as an injustice, his party substituted his name which was already submitted to the electoral commission without good reasons, with that of his first cousin, Mr. Celestine Omehia. Amaechi went to court and was subsequently declared the candidate of PDP which won the election in the state.
Mr.Amaechi was consequently sworn in as Governor two days later.
Efforts by us to speak with the Governor's chief publicist, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, on the Governor's hundred days in office were abortive, but an officer in the office of the Governor who declined to give us his name, said that the delay is part of the Governor's deliberate efforts to get the contributions of major stakeholders. He further told us that the Governor will still fulfill all that he promised to the people of Rivers State in the long run.
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