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Tag: Avengers

  • Review of Captain America: Civil war

    Review of Captain America: Civil war

    With scenes closely resembling Lagos, Nigeria; the busy market places and the yellow public buses littering the streets, most people would have thought there was really a place called ‘Wakanda’ in Lagos, Nigeria. All the same, the movie, The Avengers does have a solid gold structure that does not buckle under the weight of its gargantuan expectations and overflowing cast.

    To start with, does anywhere called ‘Wakanda’ exist in the world not to mention in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos. Perhaps in the mind of Joss Whedon. It is worthy of note here that Wakanda is a fictional nation appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is the most prominent of several fictional African nations in the Marvel Universe, and it is home to the superhero Black Panther. Wakanda first appeared in Fantastic Four and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

    As for Nigerians, who might find the pronunciation of ‘Lagos’ (L’agos) offensive, the word originated from Portugal since the Portuguese, being great explorers of the sea, were the first Europeans to make contact with the entity now known as Nigeria through the coasts. Lagos is of Portuguese origin and means Lake. The Portuguese word for Lake or Lakes is Lagos. Interestingly, there is a town with these co-ordinates 37° 6′ 0″ N, 8° 40′ 0″ W called Lagos in the Algarve region in southern Portugal. This used to be the greatest slave market in Europe around the 15th century, but today is a very popular city among tourists for its beaches among other things especially in the summer.

    Moving on, the length of the movie is something is capable to easily put a non movie person away. Yet, after about two-and-a-half hours of world-threatening chaos and world-saving derring-do, you leave the theater or put off the television set satisfied, but without so much as a single memorable image (or idea) lingering in your mind.

    Thus, whether it is the sin of Tony stark (Robert Downey jnr) or the visions that continue to haunt him from the last series of The Avengers; stabbing Ultron in the back or Marvel just wants something to get more viewers back; Captain America: Civil war was a metaphor for Downey jnr’s broken heart, losing his parents in an infamous crash.

    Packed with more action and adventure, less drama and romance, the only kiss the Captain Rogers (Chris Evans) had was with Margret Peggy Carter’s sister: Sharon Carter (Emily Vancamp) in a truly romantic fashion where she is forced “compromise where she hardly couldn’t” to provide confiscated kits to both Anthony Mackie (The Falcon) and Rogers who were more than grateful for her compromise. Roger had to part with a kiss, and that was pretty acceptable as the only romantic scene.

    However, Marvel might have soiled the movie a bit too soon with a scene in Lagos, one that has some racist tendencies slightly swept under the carpet. Probably Marvel thought they could bamboozle its Nigerian viewers or maybe the Lagosians who took their time to view the movie at Ozone cinemas.

    Furthermore, the movie was big budget and the script kept viewers eternally glued. So much must have been spent from a combo jumbo in Lagos to Berlin, an underwater prison cell, the queens? That’s some extra dough there. How does Spiderman come to hammer a sport in avengers? The guy spoke too much, though he shared the same name Peter as Peter Parker, he wasn’t the real deal. They should have just hired Peter Parker for something more real. Well, he didn’t do badly anyways.

    For religious critics, one of the most fascinating moments in the movie occurs when Captain America, referring to Thor, notes: “There’s only one God, ma’am. And I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” Ah, monotheism versus paganism. Can they exist side by side? That will be for Marvel and his team to answer.

    The fighting combos seemed too practiced and the difference between Captain Rogers and the Tony stark Avenging led army can clearly be differentiated. When Rogers was in Lagos for the heist, he had everyone well prepared, ready and planned for a showdown displaying a true leadership veto power over the Avengers. However, the breakdown of the group from six to six against six still worked wonders. Right from the time, Stark missed the Lagos heist allowing Sam take his place in the battle that led to Don Cheadle (War Machine) in losing his legs; Sam had matured under Rogers, so it wasn’t wrong when a black widow let both Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier) and Rogers get away on that plane.

    Captain America had that respectable trait among all his equals. You can’t touch that. In the end, we understand why this movie was termed a civil war and why Rogers failed to compromise his rights to a treaty with the Law.

    We later get to find out that the Civil War, An amorphous term for genocide is a metaphor devised by Marvel to break the Avengers up; after Captain America and Iron man had that brawl in the tunnels. Zemo’s final confession to Chadwick Boseman was entirely right. Better men had tried to destroy the Avengers, but the best bet was to turn them against each other. We all know the kind of man Stark is. He will always let his ego get in the way.

    Even though Zemo will remain locked up the rest of his life; the vengeance battle between stark and Rogers will grow till Marvel finally decides to let it die. The $225million Joss Whedon reportedly emptied into the movie to assault the eyes, ears and intelligence with one of the stupidest comic book tales ever put to film, is worth it.

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  • Avengers and their demands

    Avengers and their demands

    •The biggest challenge is to develop the region

    Former Military Head of State General Abdulsalam Abubakar has lent his weight to the need for the Federal Government to negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other aggrieved groups in the country, in order to enhance lasting peace in the country. The former head of state made this known while receiving members of the Niger State House of Assembly who visited him to congratulate him on his 74th birthday in Minna, Niger State. He similarly urged all the aggrieved groups to come together and sit down in a round table “to discuss their grievances and find a lasting solution to whatever could be bordering them so that peace will reign in Nigeria”.

    For quite a while, the new militant group (NDA) has been destroying oil installations and pipelines and this has adversely affected the level of oil output in that region and also caused untold problems for its environment. The former head of state pointed out that there was need for the NDA to understand that “they were destroying their land by blowing up oil pipes, leading to oil spillage” apart from the fact that their action “had brought crude oil production to the lowest level in decades”.

    It is important to note that Gen Abubakar’s call came the day after the Federal Government said it was ready to dialogue with the Avengers. Minister of Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, at the South-south Town Hall Meeting held at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said that “there is nowhere in the world where conflicts have been resolved through a battle”. He said his mandate as Minister of State for Petroleum is to protect oil production as well as generate more revenue for the government. As Kachikwu observed, negotiating with the militant group is not an evidence of weakness on the part of the Federal Government but that massive bombing of oil installations and pipelines in the territory “would not articulate a solution to the already existing problems” in the region.

    Whether the militant group is ready for genuine dialogue is however the issue. This is evident in the conditions it gave, which are totally at variance with the spirit of peaceful negotiation. For instance, it warned that “it might resort to shedding of blood and more damaging attacks if the Federal Government, oil multinationals and international oil merchants fail to heed its warning against repairing the facilities it destroyed and crude sales”. As a follow-up, the group resolved not only to attack the interest of any of the multinational oil companies that attempts to repair its attacked facilities, but also that any company that continues to buy Nigeria’s oil would lose its investment, as “it would sink two vessels of any defying company”.

    The NDA said it had no new demands to negotiate with the Federal Government but only wants an atmosphere that would make it to be willing to take part in any talks “in which independent mediators will participate”.

    There can be no doubt that the conditions given by the NDA and its previous pronouncements such as asking the government to “leave Tompolo alone” and “don’t repair damaged pipelines”, “no ship should come to lift Nigerian oil “ and that “it would sink vessels of companies not heeding their advice”, are absurd and impracticable. It is even laughable, sometimes bordering on the subversive, to be asking that Sambo Dasuki “who is in for serious financial crimes” should be freed as a condition for dialogue. Where in the world is such done? Are these not indications that the Avengers are not ready for dialogue with the Federal Government?

    Unfortunately, it is the leaders in the region that are not helping matters by not using the resources allocated for the development of the area in a transparent manner. Nonetheless, the Federal Government should not mind to dialogue with the militants, but certainly not on the terms they have given. Rather, the only commitment of the government should be finding ways of how development could be fast-tracked in the Niger Delta region for, when all is said, it is this development that should remain the bottom line.

    Yet, this is possible only when money earned by the Niger Delta states from the 13% derivation and the huge money specially allocated to them through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs by the Federal Government do not end up in private pockets at the expense of the average man on the streets and the Avengers who are unwittingly fighting a wrong and perhaps unnecessary battle.

     

  • Avengers: Lawmaker cautions Kachikwu on dialogue with governors

    A Bayelsa State lawmaker, Israel Sunny-Goli, has urged the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, to be cautious in his consultations with Niger Delta governors in a bid to end attacks on oil and gas facilities by members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Sunny-Goli, who is the only All Progressives Congress (APC) member in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, noted that to have an enduring peace in the region, political stakeholders must be included in the dialogue.

    The lawmaker said it would be unproductive to engage only the region’s governors, who are mainly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the dialogue, while excluding APC leaders in the discussions.

    Acknowledging that security matters should not politicised, Sunny-Goli, who represents Brass Constituency I, said the new militant group had been partisan in its demands.

    The lawmaker said the destruction of the pipelines and other oil installations in the region was a ploy by a particular party to win pipeline surveillance contracts for its members to enable them have enough funds to prosecute future elections.

    He warned that Kachukwu would aggravate the problems, if he excluded APC leaders in the current negotiation.

    Sunny-Goli said: “Kachikwu could find himself aggravating the problem, unless he proceeds with the utmost caution. He must make a conscious effort to carry all critical stakeholders and leaders of the people along in the attempt to secure the pipelines through surveillance, using the communities and locals.

    “The surveillance strategy is commendable and it is in line with what we have always advised for the security of the oil pipelines. But we have discovered that the approach being pursued by the minister and the Niger Delta governors may be programmed to exclude the APC family in the region.

    “While security should not be politicised, it is important to make the process inclusive and create a sense of joint ownership among critical stakeholders.

    “In the particular case of the current pipeline surveillance effort in the Niger Delta, it is important to actively involve leaders of the people, like Chief Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa State APC leader; Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, who is the Minister of Transport, Chief Umana Umana of Akwa Ibom State, among others.

    “Such deliberate inclusiveness is particularly necessary, considering the bizarrely partisan colours of the present-day militants’ demands.”

  • MASSOB divided over Niger Delta Avengers

    MASSOB divided over Niger Delta Avengers

    The division among the leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) deepened yesterday, as two factions of the group disagreed over the support of the group for the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    A faction of MASSOB led by Uchenna Madu, yesterday condemned the leader of the group, Ralph Uwazuruike, who denied any link with the Niger Delta militant group, while at the same time reaffirming its unalloyed support for the NDA.

    In a statement issued in Enugu and signed by MASSOB’s Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, the group said, “the latest development have further shown and proved to the Biafran people that the man called Ralph Uwazuruike and his associates like Sunny Okoroafor are not existing or clamoring for Biafra.

    “How can a sane Biafran person in his or her right senses deny or condemn the Niger Delta Avengers and other genuine Niger Delta groups agitating for Biafra?

     “If reformed and only one MASSOB, under the leadership of our leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, is wrong in supporting the Niger Delta Avengers on their activities for Biafra actualization and restoration, why is it that other pro Biafra groups have not condemned MASSOB?”

    The group further chided  Uwazuruike  Sunny Okoroafor for  having  directly and consciously proved that they were  enemies of Ndigbo.

    “This reaction of Ralph Uwazuruike further proved his romance with the Federal Government through the DSS to scuttle and sabotage efforts made for the independence of Biafra from Nigeria.

    “MASSOB wishes to remind Biafran people that it is on record and can never be erased that Ralph Uwazuruike was expelled from MASSOB on 30th Nov, 2015 at MASSOB headquarters, Okwe, for numerous criminal activities.

    “A week after his expulsion, he quickly formed a new group, called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM). Uwazuruike and his BIM members are no longer part of MASSOB. They should stop deceiving themselves by claiming MASSOB membership. Biafran people know where they belong.”

  • Police, Avengers disagree over attack in Akwa Ibom

    Police, Avengers disagree over attack in Akwa Ibom

    Despite claims by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), through its tweeter handle that it blew up the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) Pipeline in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, the police yesterday refuted the attack.

    It described what happened as an accident caused by leakage of gas pipelines in the area.

    Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner Murtala Mani said there was no militant attack.

    But a highly-placed source at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the attack on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline.

    The source said: “Yes there was an attack on the pipeline. The pipeline is between Akwa Ibom and Rivers states boundary along Ikot Abasi – Port Harcourt road.

    “Right now engineers from NNPC, Port Harcourt are there working on the pipelines. Our officers and other security agencies are also there too.”

    But the Police boss said what happened was a technical problem and that some engineers from Port Harcourt, Rivers state were currently working to rectify the leakage of gas from the pipeline.

    CP Mani said that the Akwa Ibom state was safe from the activities of the militant group.

    The gas pipelines were owned by the Seven Energy company, the operator of Ibom Gas Power Plant in Uquo in Esit-Eket local government area of the state.

    The community, Ikot Osutek, where the incident occurred is along Ikot Abasi-Ogoni-Port Harcourt axis of the East West Road in Akwa Ibom.

    The exact place where the attack took place could not be ascertained by our reporter as at the time of filling this report.

    There is fear among residents of Akwa Ibom over the sudden emergence of the Niger Delta Avengers in the state

    The tweet from the NDV reads: “At 4.00am @NDAvengers blow up NNPC Pipeline in Oruk Anam Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.”

  • More enemies for Niger Delta Avengers

    More enemies for Niger Delta Avengers

    They claim to be fighting for the interest of the Niger Delta. But daily, more voices are rising against the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which has become synonymous with economic sabotage, writes MIKE ODIEGWU, YENEGOA

    Militancy, violence, environmental pollution, kidnapping, economic sabotage and other vices are ruining the image of the Niger Delta.

    From the past destructive and bloodletting footprints of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) to the present scavenging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the development and progress of the region has been at the receiving end of various agitations.

    But significant number of persons in the region are not happy with persons who visit their anger on pipelines and other oil installations as a way of drawing the attention of the Federal Government either to the plight of the region or their selfish pursuits.

    While the avengers were wreaking havoc on the environment and economy, people of like minds gathered some days back at the NUJ Secretariat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to proffer solutions to the lingering problems in the Niger Delta. The event was tagged “the Boroh for Peace Seminar” and was organised by a lawyer, Mr. Igbeta Itari.

    Prof. Solomon Ebobrah of the Niger Delta University (NDU) and a human rights activist and state Chairman, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), representatives of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and some other security agencies were all represented.

    A former Vice-President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Okorodas, who delivered the keynote address, decried the poor state of oil pipelines. He said such pipelines accounted for many instances of environmental pollution.

    Delivering the lecture, Ebobrah urged youths to shun militancy and destruction of pipelines. He insisted the region would pay dearly for the ongoing destruction and degradation of the environment under the guise of agitation.

    After the lecture came the discussion which bothered on many knotty issues affecting the Niger Delta. Situating the current violent agitation against the backdrop of the ideals of the late Ijaw icon, Isaac Adaka Boro, the participants agreed that the current agitators were anti-Boro. They said Boro stood for peace and serially condemned sponsorship of violence.

    The discussants reinstated their belief in the Nigerian project but said the country should be governed to accommodate the peculiarities in the Niger Delta. They maintained that the region holds better promises in the future in a well-structured Nigeria.

    But the participants heaped much of the blames on the political leaders from the region. Over the years, huge sums of money have come into the region in allocations and other special Federal Government’s intervention funds.

    They were worried that despite the huge revenue allocations, the region still lagged behind in infrastructure. The participants reasoned that if funds received over time had been properly utilised to positively impact the people, the unrest would not have occurred.

    On the environment, the discussants lampooned the multinational oil corporations. They observed that oil firms’ activities had damaged the environment, accusing the firms of operating below environmental safety standards.

    Illegal oil dealers were not also spared by the activists who, however, commended the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to clean the environment with his inauguration of Ogoni land clean-up.

    While admitting that the citizens have the rights in the constitution to speak out, the participants said such exercise of rights must be done within the ambit of the law. It becomes, however, a clear act of criminality where it involves the use of arms. They urged all militant groups to lay down their arms and save communities from the collateral damage that could arise from such armed conflicts.

    On the Presidential Amnesty Programme, discussants lauded Buhari on his decision to continue with the programme. They further eulogised the President for appointing Gen.Paul Boroh (retd) as his Special Adviser and Coordinator for the programme.

    They commended Boroh for optimising local content to advance the programme, including the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern skill acquisition centre with the state-of-the-art facilities in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    They recalled that prior to Boroh’s emergence, the programme was hijacked by politicians. The participants advocated an enhanced training programme for the youths and appealed to the amnesty office to make Niger Delta Young Lawyers (NDYL) an integral part of its programmes.

    One of the speakers, Mr. Taramabebe Mologe, who represented Boro at the occasion, asked the people to hold their various political representatives responsible for the underdevelopment of the region. He said challenges, such as the coastal roads, railways and ocean surge, were supposed to be championed by the region’s representatives in the National Assembly.

    He said: “There are many legal ways of representation, for government to grant you attention, peacemaking and some corporative petition. When it is time for dialogue, your strong point must be brought to the forefront.”

    Also, the NSCDC’s representative, Mr. Frederick Ogbole, admonished the Ijaw youths to embrace peace, insisting no meaningful development would be attracted to the region in atmosphere of violence.

    “Development can only come through peace and you should take the advantage of the proposed dialogue by the Federal Government to maintain peace in the region. When there is peace, foreign and local investors will come and job which we have been clamoring for will be created.”

  • Police, Avengers disagree on NNPC pipeline attack

    Despite claims by the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) that it blew up the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) Pipeline in Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom State, the police on Thursday dismissed the claim, saying what happened was an accident occasioned by leakage of gas pipelines sited in the area.

    The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani, said the rumored bomb attack was not a militant attack.

    NDA had said on its twitter handle that it blew up the pipeline.

    But a highly placed source at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the attack on the NNPC pipeline.

    He said: “Yes there was an attack on the pipeline. The pipeline is between Akwa Ibom and Rivers States boundary along Ikot Abasi – Port Harcourt Road.

    “Right now engineers from NNPC, Port Harcourt are there working on the pipelines. Our officers and other security agencies are also there too.”

    But the police commissioner said what happened was a technical problem and some engineers from Port Harcourt are currently working to rectify the leakage of gas from the pipeline.

  • I have no link with MEND, Avengers – Ajumogobia

    A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia ( SAN), on Wednesday  said he has no link with the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta ( MEND) or any violent group in the region.

    The ex-minister said he did not offer to be part of negotiations with the Federal Government to stop attacks on oil installations on behalf of the perpetrators who belong to Niger Delta Avengers.

    He said he does not know the alleged perpetrators not to talk of negotiating on their behalf.

    Ajumogobia, who made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja, said he is not affiliated to any insurgent group.

    The statement said: “My attention has been drawn to widespread reports in the media claiming that I have agreed to participate in negotiations with the Federal Government over the issue of attacks against oil installations in the Niger Delta on behalf of some of the alleged perpetrators of these actions or connected persons. This is not so.

    “I wish to make it absolutely clear that I do not know the alleged perpetrators nor have I offered to serve as their representative in any prospective discussions with the federal government in any capacity whatsoever.

    “I was recently contacted by someone who claimed to represent the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). In that conversation the caller asked if I would be willing to participate in an initiative to find ways to end the attacks on oil installations through dialogue towards restoring peace and stability in the region.

    “My brief response was that if the federal government was genuinely interested in entering into discussions with credible parties who could help to facilitate such a dialogue to halt the actions that were undermining the social and economic stability of the region and the nation I would readily participate.

    “In such an event I would seek to articulate the proper interests of all law abiding Nigerians generally and the ordinary people of the Niger Delta States, in particular.

    “I am not affiliated to or the official or legal representative of any particular group and I am certainly not an advocate for the unstated demands or actions of any insurgent organizations.”

  • Like BokoHaram, like Avengers

    Like BokoHaram, like Avengers

    The Niger Delta region has been embroiled in fresh crisis in the past few weeks. It appears that what initially looked like the usual “shakara” (the late Afrobeat king, FelaAnikulapo-Kuti’s word for intimidation) embarked upon by some faceless but deadly militants in the region, is gradually snowballing into a major conflagration.

    It all began in the month of April, when some desperate indigenes of the region under the aegis of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, started blowing up oil installations in both Delta and Bayelsa states, South-south, Nigeria. Recall that militantactivities in the region have been on for several years. During these years, the economy of the country, particularly the socio-economic activities of the Niger Delta region, almost came to a standstill.

    This was the situation until 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule after several years of military interregnum. Olusegun Obasanjo, who was sworn-in as president on May 29, 1999, attempted a solution to the endemic crisis by setting up an interventionist agency- the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC- to fast-track development in the nine states making up the Niger Delta region. The commission quickly swung into action and tension was reduced.

    The late president, Umaru Yar’adua who succeeded Obasanjo as president mounted the saddle on May 29, 2007. One of the first things he did was that he proclaimed the amnesty programme for Niger Delta youths who, by that time, had been rampaging everywhere. As oil is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, Yar’adua, knew quite well that his government needed peace and tranquility in the country to enable him perform well as president rather than confront the “boys”, so he merely tamed them a while and later came up with his amnesty gambit. The amnesty programme was intended to disarm, demobilise and give the warring boys a sense of belonging by taking them off the streets or trenches and giving them adequate training to prepare them for a responsible life in the society.

    Theprogramme became an instant success. The militants were taken off the streets and trenches, rehabilitated and catered for through training both locally and outside the country. Many of the hitherto ‘bad boys’ willingly embraced the programme. Stipends were also paid to the beneficiaries of the programme scattered all over the place. Those who were selected for training especially in several countries across the globe came back full of gratitude for the country with a promise to live decent lives and refrain from bad behaviour henceforth.

    Regretably, Yar’adua, the architect of the magic wand- the amnesty programme that cleared the boys off the creeks – suddenly succumbed to death. His deputy, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, himself a son-of-the–soil (he hails from BayelsaState in the Niger Delta region) took over. Jonathan continued with his boss’ programme and pursued it with vigour because since he was from there, he surely knew where the shoe pinches. He knew the evil oil has caused his people (apology to Professor Steve Azaiki who titled one of his numerous books on the plight of the Niger Delta indigenes – THE EVIL OF OIL).

    But Jonathan soon introduced a novel but reckless innovation into the Niger Delta issue when his appointees started huge cash disbursement to the ex-Niger Delta militant leaders and their cronies. This was done under the guise of pipeline surveillance contracts. This was how Government Ekpemupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, one of the miscreants that had caused the government and security agents sleepless nights before the amnesty programme was initiated, became prominent. Not only did he become stupendously rich, he became a tin-god and godfather to several old and upcoming politicians in the region.

    By this time Tompolo was a regular face at Aso Rock presidential villa even as he was consulted on many issues that had to do with the Niger Delta. His operational base in Okporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta State also became a Mecca of sorts where all manner of politicians flockedto, to be anointed by him or to be recommended for appointments. It was Tompolo that nominated Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former classroom teacher at the Niger Delta University,Amassoma, Bayelsa State, as Director-General of Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

    While all this was going on, all manner of people especially former office holders from the Niger Delta region that could get the ears of the villa or that of Diezani Allison-Madueke, the then petroleum minister and one of Jonathan’s highest cash dispensers, were swimming in money-hard currency. Each got a whopping sum of money every month as pipeline surveillance fees. They, in turn, had some other categories of boys working for them and they sustained them heavily from their monthly or quarterly financial windfalls. For instance, if the main man collects say $5 to $10 million, he pays like five to 10 percent out of this to the boys. The boys’ supervisors get a large chunk but peanuts that trickles to the boys beneath was still mouth-watering enough according to their levels.

    One thing to note is that the pipeline surveillance contracts turned out to be a sort of bribe or financial inducement that the Jonathan government used to keep the militants in the Niger Delta at bay. Now that the largesse is no longer forth-coming, the boys have realised that the honeymoon is over, thus, they have gone back to the trenches to foment trouble. They must have acquired their arms and ammunition through their ill-gotten wealth. Even when they said they were monitoring pipelines, they were actively involved in smuggling crude oil out of the country or aiding and abetting the smuggling of the product. So they were making money from all directions.

    Since they know all the creeks very well and by extension, the strategic oil installations in the region, therefore, sabotaging the flow of oil becomes an easy task for them. And the security agents posted there have always been sucked in by the oil barons who usually part with cartons or sacks of money, hard currency, to the security agents who, in turn, look the other way while these nefarious activities are going on.

    This is the reason security agents struggle to be posted to the Niger Delta. They, in turn, make returns to their bosses back at the headquarters while the barons also reward them heavily for providing the “enabling” environment for them to operate without hindrance. Occasionally, when you hear the news that badges carrying crude oil illegally are confiscated,it is a mere gimmick. What it simply means is that those involved did not give the security agents enough money to have a freeway.

    Taking a critical look at the Niger Delta conundrum, it is true that the area has been neglected for too long.The people there are suffering and living in excruciating poverty. But quite a negligible few they call their leaders, live in splendour and stupendous wealth. What is baffling is that this problem has been there for decades. Why are the Avengers just realising that they are being cheated? Before 1999, what was the standard of living of many of these ex-militant leaders now building universities and living in opulence all over the place? That is why people are saying that the Niger Delta Avengers is to Buhari’s presidency, what Boko Haram was to Jonathan’s presidency.

    For justice and fairness, the so-called leaders in the Niger Delta, some of who are behind the avengers, should share in the blame for the rot in the region. The reason is that they simply sold out. Let the avengers start from their leaders who have all these years sold the Niger Delta people into slavery, before they start blaming the present government or any other person for their misfortune.

     

  • Niger Delta Avengers gives govt conditions for talks

    Niger Delta Avengers gives govt conditions for talks

    Fed Govt ready for dialogue, says Kachikwu

    Militant groups in row

    The Federal Government yesterday said it has not closed the avenues for negotiations with the new Militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), saying it would explore every available opportunity for negotiation so that the NDA can stop the bombings of oil pipelines and platforms.

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu, stated this at the South-South Town Hall Meeting held at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    Kachikwu said there is no theatre in the world where conflicts have been resolved through a battle. He said his mandate as minister of state for petroleum is to protect oil production and to generate more revenue for the government.

    He explained that on the part of the Federal Government, negotiating with the militant group is not an evidence of weakness of the military but that massively bombing a territory would not articulate a solution to the already exiting problems.

    “It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong. I have too many objectives in this portfolio; one is to present production and generate the revenue because if we don’t, all the things we are talking about here will be just a joke.

    “I believe that massively bombing a territory is not going to articulate solution. It has never worked because at the end of the day you will leave with the effects of that destruction. That is probably what has caused most of the problems in the world today.

    “This is not issue of weakness. We will explore every avenue for negotiation. The military strength of this country is not in doubt. I think if anybody doubted it, you will see what has happened to Boko Haram.

    “But we will first discuss. We will first negotiate but if doesn’t work we will not know what to do. But I have not seen evidence that the avenues for negotiations have closed. We are making a dramatic progress and I will like to push those frontiers.”

    Akwa ibom state Governor Udom Emmanuel also advised the Federal Government to dialogue with the avengers to allow for sustainable peace and development in the region.

    Emmanuel noted that the country’s economy had been brutalised by the recent violence being experienced in the Niger Delta region.

    “Government must do all it can to dialogue with Niger Delta militants as our economy is based on resources accruing from this region.

    “Government must look into the underlining issues of the region; we must dialogue with the stakeholders from the region to resolve these problems once and for all.”

    Emmanuel also urged the Federal Government to revive the amnesty programme with a view to accommodating more persons.

    He said that abandoning the programme will not the best option now for the people.

    On the discrepancy in the allocation of oil blocks raised by some indigenes of the Niger Delta, Kachikwu said President Muhammadu Buhari had not allocated any oil blocks since he came on board.

    He, however, assured the Niger Delta people that at the appropriate time, due process would be followed in the allocation of oil blocs so that it would be beneficial to the people of South Sooth region.

    Kachikwu said: “Since we came on board, this government has not allocated any block of petroleum. The President has not put any emphasis on that at all. He said he needs to correct the mess before we begin to think of giving advantages.

    “On the issue of oil blocks, when the time comes it will follow due process. I am one of those who believe that there is a need for us to see how the South South corridors will benefit from the oil blocks because that is part of giving back. It will bring the final solution to this area. Those who have skills and finances to develop will be allowed to develop it.”

    Niger Delta Avengers gives govt conditions for talks 

    More threats came yesterday from the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the group responsible for the devastating attacks on oil facilities in the region.

    It warned that it might resort to shedding blood and more damaging attacks if the Federal Government, oil multinationals and international oil merchants fail to heed its warning against repairing the facilities it destroyed and crude sales.

    But the group, in a statement by its spokesman, ‘Brig.-Gen’ Mudoch Agbinibo, gave a tacit indication of its readiness for dialogue, although it said nothing about sending representation or taking part in any dialogue.

    In the statement, the insurgent group restated its resolve to attack the interest of any of the multinational oil company which repairs its attacked facilities.

    It added that any company which continues to buy Nigerian oil would lose its investment as it would sink two vessels of any defying company.

    The NDA said it had no new demands to negotiate with the government; it only wants an atmosphere that would make it to be willing to take part in any talks in which independent mediators will participate. It did not name such negotiators.

    Here is the statement (unedited):

    “The high command of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is using this medium to restate that there are no new items to put on the table for dialogue, we only want a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that will make us commit to any proposed dialogue and last peace talk.

    “We want the Federal Government to commit members states of the multi national Oil Corporations to commit independent mediators to this proposed dialogue; we believed that it is only such environment that will engender genuine dialogue that will be aimed at setting up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long term demands of the Niger Delta to de-escalating this conflict and bring about a lasting peace.

    “The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger Delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government have refused to used and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958.

    “If they refuse to heed to our advice will result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an examples to others. They should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and/or after the dialogue.

    “The issues of the Niger delta are as old and as new as the days of Pa. Dappa Biriye, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, to Ken Saro Wiwa and the government of President Musa Yar’ Adua. We are warning this government of President Muhammadu Buhari not to turn the essence of genuine peace talk and dialogue to political jamboree that is prevailing now where all manner of social media agitators and criminals have being sponsored by the job seeking corrupt political class to safe faces before the government of the day.

    “Finally, if need be we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repairs works   and suspend the its ying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that will engender genuine dialogue “ We Want a peace with Honour not a Peace of our time,” the statement said.