The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Kogi and its wise elders

    Kogi and its wise elders

    Recently, Kogi State elders came out to express their mind on happenings in the state. To their minds, the state is not making appreciable impact like other states in the country.

    Since the election of the present government of Captain Wada, we cannot point to any physical development the state has witnessed; hence the elders came out to say their minds at the right time to arrest the drift. Any lover of Kogi State would not be happy with the present situation of the state.

    When the governor came on board, there were great expectations that he would right all the wrongs associated with the past government under former Governor Ibrahim Idris. But what we are witnessing today stem from man-made disaster and natural causes which have greatly affected the strides of development.

    The administration of Captain Wada should look critically into all the issues raised by the elders and come to terms with the reality needed to move the state forward. He should not consider these elders as enemies.

    Many people are at present not happy with the look of things in the state; he should consider this opportunity from the elders as true reflection of things that need to be addressed in all ramifications.

    Kogi State is now the focus of the entire country due to what happened during the recent flood, resulting from the failure of the past government to address the issue of ecology.

    The government has an over-bloated executive, with some recycled and expired political members drafted to serve as special assistants. This has made the government a laughing stock in the eyes of the public. He should understand that the state is in dire need of purposeful leadership, he should be focused and visionary enough to ensure the state is reckoned with amongst fast developing states in the country.

    The state as of now cannot boast of good transportation system like other states. The roads are deplorable, especially in Lokoja, the state capital. We cannot boast of a state- owned television station after 21 years!

    The state owned newspaper remains a weekly without a printing press; the paper has to be taken to Ibadan for production.

    Lokoja is not any better in term of infrastructural development, it remains the only state capital without functional street light. The plight of the state is too numerous to mention. These are what the elders deemed fit to draw the attention of the world to. Recently, the state House of Assembly made history by producing two Speakers all under the tenure Governor Wada.

    The peaceful nature of the people of the state has contributed a lot to the seeming tranquillity and understanding being enjoyed without recourse to people carrying placard demanding that things be done accordingly. It is time to act before they revolt.

    By Bala Nyashi,

    Lokoja.

  • I will not be in church this Sunday

    I will not be in church this Sunday

    I write to lament the despicable commercialisation of the gospel in Nigeria. Just as it worries my conscience, like an incurable headache, to note that we live in an era where men play God in the affairs of men. Oh what a pity!

    Some of our ‘so-called’ men of God lead their victims into spiritual ‘Zombification’ and ‘Christianic’ slavery in view of Pentecostalism. It is now a tradition for some blind students of the Bible masquerading as ‘pastors’ to interpret the scripture in a way and manner that suits their intellection. While others in sheer display of incurable monomania for conspicuous opulence armed themselves with the verbal weapon of ‘My God is not a poor God’, to dispossess their congregation of their hard- earned money in the name of offering and tithing.

    As at today, the establishment of churches is no longer anchored on the need to show the way to salvation, but on the need to escape from the dreaded disease called starvation and poverty. That is why sermons on giving remain prevalent in our churches. They tell us to give to God richly but unfortunately, what we give to God suddenly end up in their personal bank accounts. So, why will they not own private jets, lucrative business empires and waste away in opulence? They justify their unquenchable quest for private jets in the name of evangelism. Truth be told, they lie because this jet will never fly to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Somalia for evangelism. But they will never stop flying to America and Europe in search of hard currencies under the cover of evangelism.

    I do not know whether God will bless them for taking the gospels to places where the gospel is deeply rooted and leaving behind places where the gospel is yet to blossom.

    When the Catholic and Methodist Churches were in the service of providing education to our people, it was done on the basis of service to humanity with affordable fees, but when our Pentecostal pastors began to provide education, even church members who donated to the establishment of such schools, cannot afford to send their wards to the schools due to high cost of fees.

    If I were the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), I would have channelled the fund for the purchase of that private jet, which he calls a gift to procure modern security gadgets for the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to effectively fight the growing insecurity in our churches in some parts of the country. If I were the CAN President, I would donate such funds for the improvement of humanity, but he chose to fly on a private jet while some of us walk on foot for evangelism.

    Let’s not forget the word of Abd-ru-shin in the Grail message which states “He who makes no effort to grasp the word of the Lord aright burdens himself with guilt.” Therefore, do not let them deceive you.

    By Ehimare G odfrey

    Benin City.

  • The Aregbesola train phenomenon

    SIR: We all enjoyed the recent Salah celebration and the usual merriment that accompanied it. This time around, it was also complemented by a long holiday (Thursday-Sunday), which made it a restful period for many. As an indigene of Osogbo, who is resident in Lagos, I have for the last 10 years made it a habit to celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr back home. The festival was always attended by the hustle and bustle of festivities; meeting of friends and families both from home and abroad. It afforded an annual opportunity to renew old ties, check on relatives and generally unwind after a year of work-filled sojourn in stress-filled Lagos.

    However, there was a new twist to this year’s Salah feast, which made an impression on me. From my place at Igbono area, I had gone to Owode-Ede on Thursday to see an old friend of mine – I had arrived by road early on that day. My good-natured friend gave me a Salah-before-Salah treat because he hadn’t seen me for a while. I decided to take my time to relax with him and his family. At sundown I finally took my leave and headed home.

    On getting to the Ola-Iya intersection, we ran into a heavy traffic that set tongs wagging regarding the cause of the traffic, which was unusually congested. The question that dominated discussion was whether ‘Aregbe Train’ had arrived. Those with sufficient knowledge of its movement confirmed that the train had indeed arrived at the Old Garage Railway Station. At a point when I could no longer bear the traffic situation, I got down from the Korope bus I had boarded from Owode-Ede and headed on foot towards Old Garage. I discovered that the cause of the traffic was not the Aregbe Train as we were glibly led to believe. Rather, the traffic situation was occasioned by acts of lawlessness on the part of the commercial bus drivers who parked their vehicles right in the middle of the road to load them with passengers.

    But the traffic congestion did have something to do with the Aregbe Train; the passengers in question, whose presence occasioned the lawless conduct of the commercial bus drivers, were the people conveyed from Lagos to town by Aregbe Train. And they were not few. In fact, it was the fact of their very large numbers that attracted commercial buses to the scene to convey them to their various destinations, for a fee of course!

    I quickly recalled that the Aregbe Train was a free train ride launched earlier in the year without much fanfare. It surprised me that it could have become such a phenomenon within such a short time. Ironically, most of the people that came by the train were actually not Osun indigenes, which Ogbeni had intended it for. They were people from Ajase, Offa and other neighbouring towns in Kwara State. This in fact explains why commercial buses were able to cash in on the quick-profit opportunity, which would not have been available had the passengers been people from Osogbo and its environs.

    The Aregbe Train had not only created Salah succour for passengers; it had also created money-making opportunity for bus drivers. Come next Salah, I might give a try myself. Coming by bus wasn’t cheap!

    • Lukman Adeyemi,

    Surulere, Lagos

  • Saraki: a true senate leader

    SIR: Martins Oloja, Editor of The Guardian, broke to me the news of the passage of Dr. Abubakar Olushola Saraki-the Waziri of Ilorin. Martins knew my close relationship with Dr. Saraki. He was in my office in 2003 when Saraki phoned me in the Presidency to confirm the removal of his son, Dr. Bukola Saraki by President Olusegun Obasanjo as his Special Assistant. “Don’t worry Eric” Dr. Saraki assured”I will make Bukky a Governor”,which he did. Dr. Saraki was a man of few words.

    The demise of Dr. Saraki has now reduced the number of 95 senators who were elected in 1979 and still alive,to less than 22. We still have Dr. Joseph Wayas, the then Senate President, Senators Ameh Ebute, Uba Ahmed, Onyeabo Obi, Cornelius Adebayo, Mohammed Girgiri Lawan, Donald Dick Etiebet, David Omueye Dafinone, Banji Akintoye, Ayo Fasanmi, David Oke, M. Onukun, John Wash Pam, Nosike Ikpo, George Daniel, Joseph Ansa, Tony Anyanwu, Ahmadu Alli, Jubrin Salihu, George Baba Hoomkwap and Kunle Oyero.

    The departed include Senators Mahmud Waziri, Jaja Wachukwu, Hassan Zuru, Obi Wali, F.J. Ellah, Ayoola Adeleke, Lere Adesina, Ademola Adegoke, Ibrahim Dimis, Jallo Waziri, E.O. Akpata, F.O.M. Atake, J.O. Umolu, J.S. Tarka, Umaru Bama, Idrissa Kadi, Victor Akan, Barkin Zuwo, and Emeka Echeruo.

    Others who are no more include Senator A. Muazu, Ibrahim Kolo, Femi Ayantuga, Abayomi Durosinmi, Adeyiga Ajayi, Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Mubashiru Abiru, Jonathan Odebiyi, Kayode Ogunleye, S. Sogbein, D. A. Ladega, Abraham Adesanya, C.L. Adeoye, and Cyrus Nunieh.

    After the Senate election in 1979, the ruling party, the NPN, zoned the post of NPN senate leader to Senator Joseph Tarka to satisfy the yearnings of the people of the middle belt.

    But Senator Tarka, an old parliamentarian, schooled in the first republic opted out of the job because he could not know the difference between the Senate President and NPN Senate leader, which is a new innovation in the country at that time. He thought the post would create a clash. The post was not called Senate Leader; it was NPN Senate Leader, meaning the leader of all the NPN Senators. Dr. Saraki became the natural choice after Senator Tarka bounced out.

    In an election conducted by the then clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Gidado Idris (GCON),on October 9,1979, Dr. Saraki as the NPN Senate leader moved the motion for the election of Dr. Joseph Wayas as the Senate President and John WASH Pam as the deputy Senate President. Dr. Wayas defeated Senator F.O.M. Atake, then of the UPN by 53 to 42 votes while Senator Pam of the NPP defeated Senator Sabo Barkin Zuwo of the PRP by 51 to 43 votes.

    In moving the motion, Dr. Saraki said, “Today, in this Senate we are making history. We are all elected here for a purpose. The foremost is that we are here to ameliorate the poor conditions of our people. We are all Nigerians and 95 of us were elected to come to this Senate to make laws that will govern eighty million Nigerians. We are blessed with vast land, we are surrounded by rivers, streams and lakes and yet millions of our people have no water to drink, and again we also import some foodstuffs. Today, we are here in this Senate to make the conditions of our people better. In the process of doing this, we have to follow the Constitution which says we should have a President of the Senate from among us”.

    It was Senator Tarka, in the spirit of nationalism, who persuaded his colleagues that the Senate represent the country and not just any political party, that the toga NPN Senate leader be dropped from Dr. Saraki’s title to that of Senate leader.

    And from that day till the Army sacked the Senate on December 31, 1983, Dr. Saraki was referred to as Senate leader-the last national post he held till he died.

    Dr. Saraki was colourful. Tall, handsome and magisterial. He conducted himself as Senate leader with dignity and decorum. He was particularly fond of Senators Mammud Waziri, Dr. Wayas,Senator Wachukwu and Senators Abraham Adesanya and Odebiyi. He had a large heart for all the Senators.

    I knew him through Alhaji Lai Mabinuori of Daily Times in 1976. Dr. Saraki was a realistic leader of men, a master of the games,who understood the importance of ideas. He assumed his responsibilities fully. After losing the Presidential nomination of the NPN to Alhaji Shehu Shagari at Casino Cinema,Yab,Lagos in 1978, Dr. Saraki told me and Tony Idigo of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he lost because” I don’t understand national politics. I will go back to Kwara”

    He never left Kwara State and from there he called all the shots. Were Kwara state to be a country, Dr. Saraki would been like Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore or Muhammed Alli Jinnah of Pakistan.

    Surely,he will be missed.

    • Eric Teniola, a former Director in the PRESIDENCY now lives in Lagos.

  • Delta scholarship with human face

    SIR: When the religious community, the Enugu Diocese of the church of Nigerian, Anglican Communion, zeroed on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for an award for his efforts at developing Delta State and empowering its people and by extension humanity, some people were sceptical.

    But as he continues to selflessly enrich and build up the lives of all its citizens by relentlessly pursuing his administration’s Three-Point Agenda, it shows the award is one, well deserved.

    The release of N269million as scholarship grant to 47 first class graduates in the state shows one of Uduaghan’s commitment in building human capital in the state and instilling academic discipline in higher institutions.

    In the words of Dr. Uduaghan, “we have embarked on this scheme to help develop human capital, to encourage our youths to work hard in their studies, we believe funds should not be a hindrance to the education of our youths. This is why we are committed to fund this scheme as long as I remain the governor”.

    Thirty six graduates benefited from the scholarship scheme in 2010 academic year. That is not all just as 343 children of deceased civil servants and 99 physically challenged students were also awarded scholarships. Other scholarship scheme in the state, include payment of financial assistance to 883 Delta State students in the Nigerian law school and the student’s special Assistance scheme which over 18,000 students are benefiting from.

    My prayer for this man is that God should continue to uphold him even as I reiterate that he deserves the support of all Deltans to actualize his policies and programmes in the state.

    • Mike Odeh,

    Port Harcourt

  • Let’s diversify to revamp our economy

    SIR: As our over-dependence on oil has become bedrock of crisis in Nigeria (insecurity, unemployment, poverty, bombing, killings, massive corruption and bad leadership among others), we must diversify our economy because Nigeria has great potentials that could enable it play an enviable role in the global world.

    Nigeria must be ready to attract investment through the implementation of structural reforms that will ensure accountable and transparent investment environment to ensure access and equity for the small and medium enterprises (SMES) to compete in local and global economies.

    Nigeria must also critically adopt adequate policy strategies within the context of its domestic potentials and external relations, to embrace the promises of globalization for sustainable democracy. The experiences of India , South-Korea , Brazil , Malaysia and Singapore are prime examples.

    Our political leaders must fear and trust in God and be politically willing, and committed. Corruption must be checked, poverty reduction programmes must be made to work. Nigerians must learn to adhere strictly to the rules of democracy to enable the international community to appreciate our efforts and extend good gestures to improve the economic well-being of all Nigerians.

    It is worrisome that we lack of fear of God, and rather embrace greed, unrighteousness, callousness and covetousness.

    For all these, the ministers of God in our midst should not keep quiet on burning issues in the country. We should contribute and help build Nigeria among the political class and Nigerians. If those negative things are not arrested, the nation cannot make any headway.

    Nigerian businessmen must embrace manufacturing of goods for local consumption and export, while government should improve on power supply.

    Nigeria has no business talking about scarcity of food, the only reason we are complaining is that we are not doing the right thing. Before the discovery of oil, agriculture had always been the crux of economic growth and development because, farmers were encouraged by the government; the reverse is the case now.

    Also, the low employment level in the country and poverty could be solved through agricultural investments by all tiers of government and other stakeholders. As a matter of fact, the only thing any government can do to make people happy is to provide food for its people. So, agricultural sector should be the engine room of our economy. The public should not be an end in itself. It is held in trust for the common good and not to terrorise or kill innocent citizens. Violence is not what we should celebrate. Violence is the argument of the person who has run out of logic and ideas. Politics should be about dialogue, issues, persuasions and not violence.

    • Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel (Baba Sekunderin)

    Gen. Overseer, The Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM) Int’l

    CEO, Messiah Broadcasting Network, Nigeria.

  • Mr President has been unfair to Borno, Yobe States

    SIR: : Hundreds of hapless and helpless Nigerians resident in Borno and Yobe states have become refugees in their country home for no fault of theirs. Thomas Hobbes’ ‘life is short, nasty and brutish’ best describes what has become of Borno and Yobe states today. Both states have literarily become Africa’s latest killing fields where life has become so cheap that death ‘pays no dime’ to claim. Women, children and even men have fled their homes and businesses. The security community whose responsibility it is to protect lives and property of the citizenry have become prime targets and have lost an appreciable number of its men to the activities of a blood-thirsty and amorphous group called Boko Haram.

    The cliché, ‘no place like home’ definitely means a different thing to indigenes of Borno and Yobe states that have fled their homes for dear lives. They feel much more at home in foreign lands than contemplating a visit to their ancestral abode. Life there has become ‘everyone to himself and God for all’. Security agents seem to have given up the fight against the Boko Haram Islamist sect.

    Are Borno and Yobe states part of the Nigerian federation? There is no gainsaying that the chief executives of Borno and Yobe states have been practically overwhelmed by the rising spate of bloodbath in their domains. Both Ibrahim Gaidem of Yobe and Kashim Shettima of Borno feel more relaxed in Abuja than staying back in their respective states where peace seem to have gone on sabbatical leave. No serious investor who means business would contemplate investing a penny of his in an environment plagued by uncertainty.

    Aside the deployment of troops, the President Goodluck Jonathan’s government has failed woefully to identify with Nigerians in the affected states! The situation in both states is so bad that President Jonathan with his armed security guards is scared of visiting there to restore hope in victims. Beyond the ritual of condemning such barbaric acts each time they occur, his resolve not to have visited any of the states to see the horror on ground sends a wrong signal.

    As Nigeria’s president, we expect that he metes out same measure of concern to all, irrespective of tribe, religion, class or political leaning. Mr President has no genuine reason to leave these Nigerians to suffer and continue to live in fear. No responsible and responsive leader turns his face the other way when his people cry to him for help. President Jonathan fled to faraway Brazil to attend a mere summit on a day dare-devil Boko Haram members visited terror on innocent Nigerians in the ancient city of Zaria, Kaduna state.

    In the wake of recent floods in some parts of the country, we all rose up in support of the victims. But we watch on local television and read in news dailies how victims of Boko Haram insurgency have continued to cry for help only for us, including those whose responsibility it is to offer help, to maintain sealed lips and deaf ears. Aside from visiting the flood victims, Mr President had in the first place dispatched a number of his ministers to visit the affected states for an on-the spot assessment tour. As a follow-up, the president also set up a fund-raising committee headed by billionaire business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to raise money for victims of floods. Though commendable, can’t same be done to victims of Boko Haram in other states where the faceless group had registered its presence?

    Mr President, you are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your number-one duty is to ensure that we are safe from internal and external aggression. Sir, they is absolutely nothing wrong if you temporarily shift your base from cosy office in Abuja and have a feel of what your fellow country men and women have been going through in Yobe and Borno states.

    Boko Haram is a national calamity. If we continue to use regional binoculars in viewing their nefarious activities, then we are indeed far from recording meaningful success in our effort to overcome the group.

    Sir, since you are afraid of visiting Borno and Yobe states for reasons you lack the courage to tell us, should we now assume that the states are no longer part of this geographical enclave called Nigeria?

    • Abdullahi Yunusa,

    Minna, Niger State.

  • NRC and passengers safety

    NRC and passengers safety

    SIR: It is no longer news that the Nigerian Railway Corporation has been making claims on the improvement of its services especially on its Iddo/Ijoko passengers’ movements on daily basis. In as much as it is true that the number of trips on this route have increased tremendously in the last few months, what the Corporation fails to tell the world is the unpleasant condition in which the passengers are made to bear on such journeys.

    It is regrettable that a corporation that is a parastatal of government and saddled with the duty of transporting people has continued to contribute to the discomfort of its passengers. These are in view of the fact that most of the coaches have no light, fans are not available in most cases, and where available at all, not functioning. The few (may be one in a coach) that works are mostly switched off at will.

    It is a regular occurrence to see people fainting and collapsing as a result of the extreme heat that passengers are daily exposed to. It is absurd to mention here that most of the Stations where passengers wait to buy tickets/board are dirty, unsecured and are without any comfort from weather elements such as rain and sun. You hardly find seats to sit on while waiting for the trains.

    As usual in our environment, some “yes sir” NRC officials might call this letter a sponsored one to tarnish the image of the corporation, but I made bold to say that any willing member of the society can come on board any day on such trips commencing from 6.20am, 7.00am from Ijoko, and then, 5.40pm trip from Apapa and 6.30pm and 7.15pm trips from Iddo especially to witness my points here. Nigerians are being loaded like animals in cages without adequate ventilation, and NRC is not bothered as they continue to sell their tickets to make money daily. They are delighted in using the Police to harass any dissenting voice wanting to challenge their cruelty and insensitivities.

    As a matter of top priority, NRC must ensure that all electrical fittings in the coaches are put in shape with functional bulbs/fluorescents and fans. It must ensure that the fans are put on whenever passengers are on board. To eliminate the incidents of people fainting due to suffocation arising from rowdiness, additional coaches should be added to each trip to reduce the numbers of standing passengers.

    As it were at the moment, the reality on Iddo-Ijoko Passengers Train rides is that of a hell. The Managing Director of NRC,Engr. Adeseye Sijuwade must see to it that sanity, security and comfort of passengers are ensured and sustained now without further delay and laxity.

    • Tunde Jacobs

    10, Oseni Street,

    Delman Bus-stop, Ijoko-Lemode

     

  • Gov. Amosun: Sango-Ojodu road is waiting

    Gov. Amosun: Sango-Ojodu road is waiting

    SIR: The plan of Ogun state government to reconstruct the road from Sango under Bridge through Ijoko to Ojodu is no longer news. On this plan, the people along this long stretch of road who are daily suffering the pitiable conditions of the road are more than anxious to see the project start in earnest.

    May I use this opportunity to call on Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Eyi o wu a wi, toluwa ti se) to ensure that nothing stops the full commencement of the road as soon as possible, because what we heard initially was that the project will start in November, now the month of November is already fading away without any sight or sound of action on the road.

    The people along the route have wasted and still wasting productive man-hours, financial resources on vehicles maintenance, high cost of transportation being charged by drivers that ply the road as they have to break even in their business among others. The daily suffering and inconveniences of the road cannot be quantified.

    Former Governor Segun Osoba will forever be remembered for opening up the road during his time, and thus brought development and people to the area, former Governor Gbenga Daniel will also be remembered for neglecting the road for the eight years he spent, and thus diminished the steady development of the area, so Governor Amosun should endeavour to have his name on record as the one that uplifted the road to a high standard for the benefit of all and mankind. Definitely, history has different chapters for all actors of life on which posterity will judge every individual and government.

    Sango-Ojodu road is waiting, so, Gov. Amosun, roll out the Tractors now.

    • Awelewa Babafemi

    Ogo-Oluwa Street,

    Oposuru/Railway axis, Ijoko.

     

  • Shell’s operations getting more injurious in Delta

    Shell’s operations getting more injurious in Delta

    SIR: Shell has been operating in Nigeria for more than 50 years now, and the Nigerian people have nothing to show for their operations. Crude Oil is being produced, refined and sold at the expense of the Nigerian people. Shell, being a very large Multinational Oil and Gas Company has infiltrated the very corrupt Nigerian Government officials and held them hostage. For instance, the Petroleum Industry Bill has not been passed because Shell and other oil companies are opposing the Tax Regime, whereas, they pay more taxes in other places like UK and Holland where they operate. Shell allegedly a means of engaging, bribing and infiltrating government officials and regulatorsso that favourable policies are passed. These they do through alleged award of contracts to influential community members. Most of Shell’s Surveillance Contracts are allegedly given to the kings or leaders of the host communities to silence them.

    In UK, Oman, Russia and such other countries, there are strict Corporate Governance Guidelines and Codes which Shell adhere strictly to. But in Nigeria, it is the direct opposite. In Nigeria, they do whatever they want and get away with it because they have willing accomplices in the corrupt government officials and regulators who are on their payroll. Shell is flaring millions of cubic feet of gas into the Nigerian atmosphere daily (SCF/d) irrespective of all the cries and noticeable effects about Global Warming and Ozone Layer Depletion.

    These things are currently being experienced in Nigeria that we didn’t used to experience: Acid rain, sea-level rise (as is being experienced where villages have been sacked), ecosystem imbalance, extreme weather like hurricanes, and extinction of plants and animals.

    However, Shell is not bothered and still smiling to the bank. Instead of having Gas Gathering Facilities to gather, compress and use the gas for useful purposes, Shell is more comfortable flaring it, thereby, wilfully sabotaging the Nigerian economy of the millions of dollars accruable from the sale of gas to Nigerian users, African users and to the rest of the world. Terrible things will happen in the future if Shell does not stop gas flaring immediately.

    Responsible companies consider the environment and social wellbeing, in addition to profit. But Shell considers only profit and doesn’t care about the environment (evidenced by the continuous gas flaring, crude oil spillages, improper remediation activities, etc) or People (malicious sack of employees in the name of Divestment, sack of uncooperating Union workers, etc).

    We are appealing to international bodies to call Shell to order before they destroy our country and leave for elsewhere. We have borne it enough. Crude oil is more of a curse to we the Niger Deltans than blessing. They have polluted our environment, destroyed our ecosystem, rendered our youths, farmers and fishermen jobless and sacked the few they managed to employ.

     

    • Delta Rights Group,

    Delta State.