News Report: Niger Delta Groups Counsel Against Bombing

Scene Of A Bomb Blast In Abuja

 "MEND has no option than to appreciate the process of transformation initiated by this regime",

“Obviously it is no longer in the interest of peace or an issue of just agitation to make such threat of bombing the eagle square.”

The above were parts of a joint statement issued in Port Harcourt, capital city of Oil rich Rivers State of Nigeria today by the Watchdog of Niger Delta and the Niger Delta Peace Movement. The statement was signed by the President and Secretary-general of the two organizations.

The groups opined that it was not just for innocent citizens to suffer for the sins of past bad leadership."

They advised Nigerians to carefully consider every action to be taken, "otherwise the essence of our creation will be defeated".

They also advised MEND and other militant groups to help bring lasting peace to the country.

The Movement For The Emancipation Of Niger Delta(MEND) yesterday issued the following statement: “On October 1, 2011, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) intends to place bombs within and in the immediate vicinity of Eagle square, venue for the proposed 2011 independence anniversary celebrations.

After fifty one years of independence, Nigerians still have nothing to celebrate.

The general public is strongly advised to consider this as a first and final warning. No additional warnings will be issued subsequent to deployment or detonation of these devices which will be novel in nature.”

Communiqué: Disastrous Economic, Political And Social Situations In Nigeria

Baba Omojola

Concerned about the disastrous trend of economic, political and social situation in Nigeria, occasioned by undemocratic governance, poor political party management, corruption, amorphous form of Nigerian statehood, loss of focus by masses oriented organizations amongst others, the June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formations (J12CODEF) convened a general meeting to appraise Nigeria at 51 years of statehood and came out with the following resolutions:

Coalition noted that the Nigerian federal system as presently constituted is unitary, which an aberration from true federalism is aspired for in the struggle for self governance at independence by the people and leaders of the various ethnic nationalities coarsed into the British colony called Nigeria. 

Coalition also noted that social insecurity has further been escalated by the insensitivity of the political class whose mad rush for primitive wealth accumulation has aggravated the impoverization of the mass of the people. 

Coalition expressed deep concern about the future of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) owing to the risk its members are now exposed to countrywide. It was further noted that the scheme has lost focus, status and relevance and could no longer serve its original purpose. 

June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formation is suspicious of the motive behind the Code of Conduct Bureau trial of the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is because few years back, the Nigerian public was informed about sixty (60) public office holders including some sitting Governors who had personal foreign accounts, but now only Tinubu is singled out for persecution in the guise of trial. Could it be because he remains an outstanding opposition leader? If not, the rest of those on the list should be publicized and put on trial immediately. 

The Coalition condemns the National Assembly’s rejection of the idea of community policing which ought to be a strategic partner in securing people’s life and property, hence we are resolved to launch a strong campaign to push for a National referendum for the people to decide by themselves on the numerous issues bordering on security, economy, regional governance, etc. We have also noted the collapse of national security occasioned by the spate of bombings by the Boko Haram sect as an affirmation of the urgent need for political restructuring as the only genuine and acceptable way for resolving all germane issues that had been raised by other ethnic Nationalities. 

The Nigerian legislators as presently constituted are the highest paid law makers in the world. There is high level of corruption at all levels of government including most especially the legislature and thus hindering the passage of important bills into laws that could ameliorate the living condition of the ordinary people. The Coalition viewed most of the current political parties as mere business ventures established by money bags as they are lacking in defined political ideology. The political space is highly monetized and unrepresentative of the masses and this explains why the practice of candidates imposition has become a norm among the parties. 

The Coalition also rejects in absolute terms the diversionary tactics from myriad of problems besetting the Nigerian State by President Goodluck Jonathan in advocating single six (6) years tenure for public office holders. The President is hereby advised to immediately put in place measures for the convocation of a Peoples National Conference and propose his idea just like others for discussion.   

Thanks,
 
Yours sincerely,  

Baba Omojola,                                                                 Nelson Ekujumi      Chairman.                                                                        General Secretary