As Jonathan Visits Delta ‘Morrow…

A working visit by the President of Nigeria to any component unit of the Federation often provides such a host an ample opportunity, not only to showcase achievements but also draw attention to a catalogue of the people’s needs, and problems, in order to secure relief.

It is especially moreso because any promise made by the President and Commander-In-Chief, at once becomes a policy statement which is often pursued with the kind of speed befitting an executive order.

Viewed from this perspective, the planned visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Oghara in Delta State should be viewed by the hosts as a rare opportunity to access urgent Federal Government attention to pressing problems, beyond the state’s operational schedule and scope.

This is why it is indeed shocking to learn that rather than prepare to play good hosts, some ill-advised youths of Oghara, homestead of the embattled former governor of the state, James Ibori, have threatened mayhem and violent protests in obviously misdirected reprisal attack on President Jonathan.

While The Tide do not wish to question the right of any aggrieved individual or individuals to protest any form of perceived injustices, we do believe that such should be done in a civilized manner not through the kind of violent confrontation the Oghara youths are contemplating, and for the wrong reasons also.

How, for instance is President Jonathan to be blame for the conviction, in far away United Kingdom, of former Governor Ibori’s sister, Christine-Ibie and one of his aides, Udoamaka Onvigbo Okoronkwo over a case of money laundering amounting to 70 million dollars not to mention the ex-governor who himself has been indicted severally both locally and internationally, by many anti-graft agencies.

Infact, Ibori is known to be wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer allegations bordering on money laundering and mortgage funds misappropriation, all mostly monies belonging to Delta State, but misused between 2001 and 2006 and of which Oghara youths should be co-beneficiaries.

The Tide is indeed disappointed that at a time, when, all progressive Nigerians, especially patriotic youths across the country are partnering with anti-graft agencies to help hold to account, all rogue public servants, youths of Oghara could venture the retrogressive path of shielding their own from facing the law.

Sadly, in pursuit of that same shameful agenda, the youths recently resisted attempts by security agencies to effect arrest of the fugitive governor at Oghara, only to aid his escape to the United Arab Emirates, where, he is said to be seeking political asylum.

While The Tide commends the Federal security operatives for displaying exceptional tact and considerable understanding by avoiding confrontation with the raging ill-advised, youths, in order to prevent loss of human lives, we do think that the time to check such parochial interests against national goals, is now.

We say so because we understand that President Jonathan will, on the visit commission the Delta State Teaching Hospital and the Nigerian Naval Logistics Command Headquarters, two important national milestones which take-off need not be compromised because of the foolhardy, retrogressive and mischievous disposition of some misguided youths bent on testing the will of the Nigerian state and her security forces.  This is why we condemn in its entirety the planned violent protest and call on the security forces to do everything within the ambits of the law, to rise up to the challenge, which the threat of the miscreants now poses to the working visit of President.

It is however reassuring that the security operatives have risen to the occasion and have already deployed tanks and armoured personnel carriers to Ogbara, to keep the peace.  Surely, the outcome of this security challenge will determine to a large extent, the state of readiness of our internal security machinery, particularly with the general elections fast approaching.

If properly handled, we are left without any iota of doubt, that it would discourage many others who may choose same perilous path of using militant youths as defence against prosecution and thus undermine the rule of law.  Silence, we dare warn, is an invitation to anarchy which is a luxury the Nigerian state can ill-afford.