Niger Delta: Why MEND Revokes Ceasefire

Why MEND Revokes Ceasefire, By Activist

EXECUTIVE Director of Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy (GIPD), a civil society group, Mr. Akinaka Richard, says armed youths of the Niger Delta are bracing to return to the path of hostilities because the protracted health condition of President Umaru Yar'Adua has stalled the planned development of the oil region.

Richard, an Ijaw, claimed in an on-line chat with our correspondent on Monday that Mr. Yar'Adua's absence has exposed the weakness of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution.

''There is no tangible thing on ground to show that the peace deal is working. Everything is almost at the point Yar'Adua left. The fact is that the restive circles of the Niger Delta are seeing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),some governors and ministers, who see themselves as a cabal, as undermining the post-amnesty programmes with disdain'', the activist said.

The GIPD spokesperson said while they commend the ''laudable efforts of Nigerians who have taken responsible actions in this issue, we must point out that the resolution of the Executive Council of the Federation was most unpatriotic''

''Such unholy resolution'', he went on, ''could worsen the security situation in the Niger Delta''

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a major insurgent network, on Saturday, announced that they have called off their unilateral ceasefire ordered on Sunday, October 25, 2009.

Spokesperson for MEND, Jomo Gbomo said, ''this ceasefire was ordered in the hope that the government of Nigeria would consider true dialogue founded on a sincere desire to bring justice to the people of the Niger Delta, and true peace to Nigeria.

''''Acting like a victor over a conquered people, the government rolled out a list of its plans for the Delta which it assumed would end decades of agitation, promising at the same time to deal with all who remained dissatisfied with its lame effort to re-dress the injustice in the Niger Delta.

It is sufficiently clear at this point in time that the government of Nigeria has no intentions of considering the demands made by this group for the control of the resources and land of the Niger Delta to be reverted to the rightful owners, the people of the Niger Delta''.

According to them, ''the government and oil companies believe the spirit of agitation in the Niger Delta has been blown away with the bribing of a few thugs it has labeled stakeholders. They assume giving alms to the youth of the Delta will secure installations''.
"Concessions" suggested by the government in its bid to "address" the injustice in the Niger Delta include ceding10% of its stake in the joint venture partnerships to oil producing communities and 9% to other interested Nigerians. This suggestion is preposterous!

The rest of the MEND statement went thus: ''T''he same government that is unable to maintain or repair the death traps called roads or the archaic rail facilities in Nigeria, is promising to build super highways and modern rail lines through the Niger Delta using funds it hopes to realise from divesting 19% of its shares in the joint ventures partnerships.

Which is an oil producing community to the government of Nigeria? The Nigerian government in all its wisdom defines an oil producing community as one where oil installations are sited; where oil is drilled or where flow stations and other facilities relevant to the continued bleeding of the Niger Delta and exportation of its mineral resources are found. Does this government not realise that all surrounding communities are sitting atop the same oil deposits and would be producers if their communities were drilled as well?

''''By this crude definition, the government will consider Kaduna state and other Northern states where pipelines pass through to the refinery in Kaduna, oil producing states. What gives this government the right to share the resources of the Niger Delta between its cronies in ceding this suggested 19 percent? The Nigerian government claims ownership of the Niger Delta where it dares not do so in the North. The land in the North belongs to Northerners while the Niger Delta belongs to the North as well. Communities in the Niger Delta without installations suffer the effects of gas flaring, spillages amongst others so why does the Nigerian government not consider these communities in all its planning?

The answer is simple. This government is hoping it can divide the people of the Delta in order to govern and plunder the Niger Delta. The government and oil companies are hopeful communities with oil installations, designated oil producing communities and rewarded for having these facilities on their soil, will safeguard such installations. Fortunately for the people of the Niger Delta, no one will be able to safeguard any installation from attack by our fighters. All who have misled the government and oil companies into such inanity will be put to shame.

''All companies related to the oil industry in the Niger Delta should prepare for an all-out onslaught against their installations and personnel. Nothing will be spared. In this phase, we will extend attacks to oil service companies which have experienced a boom as a result of the misfortunes of oil producing companies, repairing pipelines destroyed in attacks.

''MEND warns all oil companies to halt operations as any operational installation attacked will be burnt to the ground. Oil companies are responsble for the safety and welfare of their workers and will bear the guilt should any harm come upon their staff in the event of an attack. By now they should know the military Joint Task Force (JTF) cannot protect their installations or staff in the event of an attack.

''We thank all patriotic and justice loving citizens of the Niger Delta and Nigeria for their unwavering support, overtly and covertly. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta will not capitulate until the actualization of our dream; the emancipation of the Niger Delta from the clutches of the Nigerian government and collaborating oil companies''.

ENDS

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