NewStats: 3,262,858 , 8,178,385 topics. Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025 at 08:25 PM 4g3q72

the nigerian military is a failure. i wonder if they would be able to cope under the external aggression.

that said, this MEND people are taking this too far. the oil belongs to every nigerian.

bgees:

the nigerian military is a failure. i wonder if they would be able to cope under the external aggression.

that said, this MEND people are taking this too far. the oil belongs to every nigerian.

not true. when the rest of naija sold their land and other stuff what did these guys benefit from it? naija army are useless pepper soup drinkers.

someone said

[size=18pt]First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the communists
and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me -
and by then there was no one left to speak out for me.[/size]

Pastor Martin Niemöller

and i still dont understand why rogues like IBORI , IGBINEDION , ALAMS and other corrupt niger delta governors have been spared by the so called freedom fighters.

Nigerians are happy that their country is getting destroyed by MEND.

AjaraEwuro:

Nigerians are happy that their country is getting destroyed by MEND.

NO, not at all.

Put it this way, "some people who are intimidated, harrassed and forced to be Nigerians are happy that MEND is challenging the status quo".

MEND challenging what status quo? Since when? by kidnapping and asking for money in return, or by what? What have they succeded in doing since they started, what has changed? APart from earning themselves a bad name? what status quo has changed all these while? I want to know, or else, they are not winning any war apart from lining their pockets with money.

Because you are the son of thief yara dura .I bet , You wont succeed I bet you. The Game is just beginning

AjaraEwuro:

MEND challenging what status quo? Since when? by kidnapping and asking for money in return, or by what? What have they succeded in doing since they started, what has changed? APart from earning themselves a bad name? what status quo has changed all these while? I want to know, or else, they are not winning any war apart from lining their pockets with money.

It can't be patriotic for the whole nation to depend on oil. If this war continues for 6 more weeks the nation will not be able to pay its way.

When you can't fish or farm because your waters and land have been polluted or your women and children are being killed by bombs paid for with oil money from the Niger Delta, bad name is the least of your worries.

Why can't we develop other resources in other parts of the country?

If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting

biina:

If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting

Change is certain and inevitable. Resource Control and Regionalisation are fast approaching.

SapeleGuy:

Change is certain and inevitable. Resource Control and Regionalisation are fast approaching.

You sound quite confident that resource control and regionalization will lead to a better standard of living for the ND people (and the average Nigeria).

biina:

You sound quite confident that resource control and regionalization will lead to a better standard of living for the ND people (and the average Nigeria).

It will give the structure nigeria needs.

asha 80:

It will give the structure nigeria needs.

So after regionalization and resource control have been implemented, you think those in power at the regional level will not embezzle money to the detriment of the people?

i give mend a challenge. hijack one of arik airline plane to the creek and demand at least some part of your money from ibori for the plane return. let see you more in that direction.

biina:

So after regionalization and resource control have been implemented, you think those in power at the regional level will not embezzle money to the detriment of the people?

Are they not embezzling it now?

Why would a governor stress himself over revenue when he knows that there would alwways be allocation from abuja?

asha 80:

Are they not embezzling it now?

Why would a governor stress himself over revenue when he knows that there would alwways be allocation from abuja?

Yes, they are embezzling now, and that is why I say that the problem to be addressed is curbing the corrupt practices and holding the people in power able.
Most seem to disagree with me, and feel regionalization and resource control is the way forward. I am simply trying to see how those changes would improve the life of the common man.

biina:

Yes, they are embezzling now, and that is why I say that the problem to be addressed is curbing the corrupt practices and holding the people in power able.
Most seem to disagree with me, and feel regionalization and resource control is the way forward. I am simply trying to see how those changes would improve the life of the common man.

And how do you this under the present circumstances?

asha 80:


And how do you this under the present circumstances?

By directing all efforts towards installing checks and balances in the system, and working towards a more transparent system.
The specifics of how to accomplish this would depend on the individual. For example
- one can participate in peaceful demonstrations while others might choose a more violent demonstration of their grievance
- the press can better educate the people by providing them with information needed information. The internet has greatly reduced the cost of dispersing information.
- the people should shun sycophancy of the corrupt leaders, and be willing to criticize objectively irrespective of the ethnicity. Too often we shout at the crimes of a man from another ethnicity but keep quiet when the same atrocities are carried out by our kinsmen.
- the same transparency  and ability should be demanded from bottom up, and not just reserved for those at the top. Let the primary school heistress be able, as is the lLG councilors, as is the governor and the  president
There are obviously other ways to achieve the same goals, (and one can argue to the merit or practicability of my suggestions) but I feel the primary objective is correct and that objective is what should guide all efforts.

biina:

By directing all efforts towards installing checks and balances in the system, and working towards a more transparent system.
The specifics of how to accomplish this would depend on the individual. For example
- one can participate in peaceful demonstrations while others might choose a more violent demonstration of their grievance
- the press can better educate the people by providing them with information needed information. The internet has greatly reduced the cost of dispersing information.
- the people should shun sycophancy of the corrupt leaders, and be willing to criticize objectively irrespective of the ethnicity. Too often we shout at the crimes of a man from another ethnicity but keep quiet when the same atrocities are carried out by our kinsmen.
- the same transparency and ability should be demanded from bottom up, and not just reserved for those at the top. Let the primary school heistress be able, as is the lLG councilors, as is the governor and the president
There are obviously other ways to achieve the same goals, (and one can argue to the merit or practicability of my suggestions) but I feel the primary objective is correct and that objective is what should guide all efforts.

All these na theory.Create a situation where corruption becomes less attractive.When you are leader and you know you have to generate the resources to serve your people it is common sense that there is a likelyhood that corruption becomes less that it is now.

You seem to forget that the kind of system we are practising now actually encourages corruption.

There was corruption in the 60's however due to the competition of the different regions remarkeble developments took place.

asha 80:

All these na theory.Create a situation where corruption becomes less attractive.When you are leader and you know you have to generate the resources to serve your people it is common sense that there is a likelyhood that corruption becomes less that it is now.

You seem to forget that the kind of system we are practising now actually encourages corruption.

There was corruption in the 60's however due to the competition of the different regions remarkeble developments took place.

To be honest I have never understood the resistance from supposedly well meaning Nigerians to resource control myself, especially when it doesn't appear to be done in sincerity. If the issue was, where is the money to fund other states going to come from and hence a fear of the unknown issue then fine, it is absolutely understandable. But to turn the issue into something it isn't about in order to justify the current arrangement right now just seems deceptive.

Fighting corruption and restructuring for a better system are not mutually exclusive, it doesn't have to be one or the other. The current system encourages the corruption we all castigate and to be honest encourages lazyness, it is part of what forms the weak foundation.

Good! Fùck the oil, make the monkies in charge put their pea brains to work and build a real, sustainable economy, not one solely dependent on one commodity!

bgees:

and i still dont understand why rogues like IBORI , IGBINEDION , ALAMS and other corrupt niger delta governors have been spared by the so called freedom fighters.

The same reason the FG have not prosecuted the thieves you listed.

AjaraEwuro:

Nigerians are happy that their country is getting destroyed by MEND.

Nigerians are also happy that the FG are bombarding women and children in N/Delta.

Can someone just imagine how Nigeria is going to look like without OIL again?

it will look good and green.

Maybe More migration from Naija

less interest in politics

sudden death of politicians

tons of resignation letters tendered to the president

Niger Delta militants reject renewed amnesty offer

Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua renewed on Friday his offer for amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta, two weeks after the military launched its biggest offensive in years, but the rebels said ‘no’.

Yar’Adua initially said in April he was ready to grant amnesty to gunmen in the Niger Delta if they agreed to lay down their weapons, but the main militant group dismissed the offer as mere words.

“Our offer of amnesty to militants in the region who lay down their arms remains on the table,” the president said in a speech commemorating Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

“I urge them to avail themselves of this offer and hands with us and their peaceful and law-abiding compatriots to develop the Niger Delta for the benefit of its people.”

But the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) rejected it and said it would only consider a “well-defined” amnesty programme negotiated by both sides.

“The recently renewed amnesty offer by the Nigerian government has been hereby rejected by MEND because it is ambiguous, dictatorial and has not been tested in a test tube,” the militant group said in an e-mailed statement.

Yar’Adua’s offer comes during a five-day lull in fighting between the military and militants.

The military began its latest campaign on May 15, bombarding militant camps around Warri in Delta state from the air and sea and sending three battalions of soldiers to hunt down rebels believed to have fled into surrounding communities.

It said it could no longer “fold its hands” after attacks on soldiers, pipeline bombings and the hijacking of oil vessels, all of which have prevented Nigeria from reaching its full oil production potential in recent years.

In response, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared an “all-out war” against the military and bombed a Chevron pipeline on Sunday, forcing the shutdown of 100,000 barrels per day.

The militants say they are fighting for a fairer share of the natural resources in the Niger Delta, but criminal gangs involved in the industrial-scale theft of crude oil and kidnapping for ransom are profiting from the insecurity.

Source: Reuters

In a civilized society, citizens would be monitoring the Niger Delta area (instead of the Niger Delta militants) to see if there's been any improvements in the region as per the ecological and infrastructural develpment. And keeping people updated about relevant changes.


What we seem to have now is the "freedom fighters" keeping their sponsors and ers updated on the war's progress and proceeds from oil profiteering.

So who exactly is monitoring if the original concerns are being addressed or not? The oil companies?


Someone told me there are certain fungi and bacteria that feed on crude oil, and which have been used in handling oil spills elsewhere. They're important in restoring the ecological balance when there's an oil disaster.  It takes time, but has anything been done at all in this region, besides taking up arms and blowing up pipelines.

And if efforts have been made to clean up the area, why blow up more pipelines in an attempt to frustrate development and bring yet more suffering for the people on whose behalf you say you're fighting? How is this a "clean" war?

There are some things I just dont understand about Nigerians. Maybe this is an African problem sha.

On land, some of the most successful oil-cleaning techniques are low-tech. Frequently oil is shoveled, scraped, sprayed -- even wiped off individual rocks. The process is slow and laborious, and requires a massive human effort. More than 10,000 people worked to clean up the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound.

Chemicals can help dissolve the oil, but some have long-term damaging effects on the environment. Another option is the use of bacteria that thrive on the hydrocarbons in the oil, breaking them down into simpler compounds. However, the method is slow, and by no means a "cure" to a spill, science teacher Rebecca Sacra said.

But despite all human efforts to clean up the millions of gallons of sludge that result from oil spills, scientists are beginning to think that the best way to get rid of the oil is to let nature do the work. The continual lashing of waves and wind on the beach did more to clean Prince William Sound than all of the human work involved, scientists working on the clean-up discovered

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec02/oil.htm

These protests started of as ecological protests. Ken Saro - Wiwa et al paid with their lives. Ecological groups are active but they are constantly harrased and often ignored when they submit reports locally.

In a country where a representative can call for the killing of 20 million people so 140 million can chop, do you expect anything else. Another representative called it a 'peace keeping operation' and for it to be extended to Bayelsa & Rivers State.

As a nation we need to empathise with one another. The Gas flaring deadline has been extended yet again. Shell were fined over 1 billion Naira for environmental damage have they paid yet?

what's Shell's own explanation for what's going on?

There are two sides to every story.


and knowing Nigerians, dumping all the blame on the "foreign" party is often used to cover up our own inadequacies and double dealing.

I still fail to see how vandalizing pipelines/causing more ecological damage and kidnapping young children helps undo the previous damage.

Anyone who has worked with oyibos would know how they feel about blacks and impulsiveness. "Do or die" affairs.


and from what I heard- wasnt there more about the Ken Saro Wiwa story? Like werent there some families who brought a case against him? Though granted the execution wasnt necessary unless there's more we dont know.

Using the Hero-worship logic around here. . . . How come no one have offered Obama as the solution?

The Vandalisation strategy is based on 'if there is nothing for me then there can be nothing for you'.
As for kidnapping kids that is just criminality by criminals diversifying from armed robbery. It is even happening in the east and north.

Now I know MEND don arrive. Na you BIKO. Carry go.
I don't blame MEND for their actions. Nigeria created this situation.