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Militants Move To Stop Oil Production …Over Buhari’s Special Focus On North
A coalition of agitators in the Niger Delta has warned that it has mobilised forces to bring to a halt further oil exploration and production from the region any moment from now.
The groups – Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC); and 21st Century Youth of Niger Delta (21CYND) – said that their decision followed the disturbing disclosures by Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu of monumental corruption in the Maikanti Baru-led Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as the scandalous revelation by the World Bank that President Muhammadu Buhari directed the global financial institution to concentrate development efforts in northern Nigeria.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Izon Ebi, the coalition also expressed displeasure with the Federal Government over its purported delay strategies in the implementation of special development initiatives as part of measures to pacify the region, coupled with the calculated attempt to use Operation Crocodile Smile II to put a damper on the implementation of the agreement reached with the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
The statement read, “The current revelation of the World Bank and the present NNPC scandal have given us no choice but to activate our digital strike team to swing into action to stop further production and exportation of oil from the Niger Delta.”
“We are galvanised by the fact that Buhari has made it clear that this present administration is for the North only, without putting into cognizance that 90 per cent of the resources that sustain this nation is from the Niger Delta.
“We want to warn that this deliberate provocation and intimidation by the northern oppressors to provoke the Niger Delta people would be counterproductive because we are going to resist them with the last drop of our blood and a devastating response,” the coalition cautioned.
Ebi emphasized the coalition’s determination “To start attacks on all oil infrastructures,” saying, “We would not allow our resources to be used to fund only the North and intimidate us, rather than developing the Niger Delta deprived of its God-given resources since 1958.
“The antics of their divide and rule tactics would never work again in the Niger Delta in this 21st century because the world and all honest Nigerians have seen the insensitivity and insincerity of the Federal Government after the adoption of the 16-point agenda of PANDEF on the 3rd of August, 2017.
“It is still very fresh in our minds the betrayal of Major Isaac Adaka Boro to keep Nigeria one; the killing of environmental rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 9 and the dehumanization of their bodies with acid; and the genocide in Odi and Gbaramatu kingdoms,” the coalition asserted.
The coalition warned that, “We, the NDRC and the 21st Century Youth and all affiliate organizations are determined to prove to the world that we are not cowards. The military operation called ‘Operation Crocodile Smile II’ that is currently going on in the Niger Delta would not deter us neither would we be intimidated because the current agitators have succeeded in taking the struggle from analogue to digital.”
The agitators added: “We have successfully proven to our oppressors before the ceasefire that we have the capacity to stop the flow of our God-given resources as our clamour and fight is for equity and justice.”
The statement stressed, “We have also succeeded in educating our brothers that we do not have any problem with the military because the military are victims of the northern political elite’s conspiracy because of our God-given resources.”
The coalition, which had declared a ceasefire after the Federal Government and PANDEF met August 3, in Abuja, asserted, “We, therefore, want to warn the Federal Government that the deliberate provocation of the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile II’ in the Niger Delta is a waste of time.
“We know our targets, and no Niger Delta youth of this 21st century would be seen in the old fashion. We want to use this medium to advise our elders and leaders of the Niger Delta that the 21st century generation would not make the mistake our fathers made that have portrayed them as cowards, as if the Fulani and Islamic jihadists have conquered the Niger Delta.
“We want to warn that the planned Islamisation strategy by this present government would be resisted with the last drop of our blood in this 21st century. We advise our brothers to be calm and steadfast, and avoid any confrontation with the Army because we, the 21st Century Youth and other agitators have the ability to stop the flow of our oil in our backyards.
“Our grievances and agitations are genuine and nobody can or would be able to intimidate us with whatever military operations because we already know their aims and objectives.
“We want to warn that we are closely watching their actions and inactions, and would respond at the appropriate time as we still believe in the eminent members of the PANDEF that persuaded us to ceasefire for sincere dialogue, for lasting peace for the rich, but impoverished people of the Niger Delta,” the merger group added.
Ebi warned: “If our understanding and sincerity is taken for granted, it means we would have no choice but to prove that we are not cowards, and we would start implementing our next line of action for ‘Operation Zero Barrel of Oil in the Niger Delta’ because enough is enough.”
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.