Republic of Niger Delta: Nigerian Army say they are monitoring Avengers closely

• We’ Re Monitoring NDA Closely -Military Spokesman

• Secession Ill-Advised -Brig. Gen. Ikponmwen

• Agitations Response To Structural Defects – Ohaneze Ndigbo

The latest threat by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to secede from Nigeria and declare a separate Republic of Niger Delta on October 1, 2016, may be still born as some elder -statesmen, politicians, military tacticians and opinion leaders in the country have kicked against the adventure, warning that it could lead to an unnecessary war and waste of lives and property.

The NDA, the militant group that as claimed responsibility for the serial bombing of strategic oil and gas facilities across the Niger Delta, had a few days ago, warned that it would declare the Republic of Niger Delta if the Federal Government failed to consider the demand for restructuring of the country. The group had made a similar threat about a couple of months ago, but was reportedly prevailed upon to shelve the idea and pursue the dialogue option.

The new threat is also coming months after the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra renewed their demand for self determination through the re-declaration of the Republic of Biafra.

However, these threats to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been received with mixed feeling in different parts of the country. A former Provost Marshal of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Idada Ikponmwen, told Sunday Telegraph that the idea of declaration of independence by the Niger Delta Avengers was ill- advised and should be shelved. Ikponmwen acknowledged the challenges of under-development facing the people of the Niger Delta, but reminded the agitators that there were also challenges in every other region in the country.

According to him, there has been a divergence of views on the approach to the present crisis of militancy and subsequent military operations in the region, because whereas the federal authorities see the activities of the militants as strictly criminal which must not be condoned, the militants and their sympathisers believe that their actions were based on genuine protest against an unjust system.

He disclosed that in the face of the current threat to peace, various stake holders have been working on a larger platform to explore ways of evolving lasting peace in the oil rich region.

“I am aware that the militants will be enjoined to sheath their swords while the Federal Government is implored to immediately cease fire to enable a favourable environment for meaningful dialogue that will ensure peace in the area and therefore promote the continued corporate existence of this nation. All stakeholders are expected to key into this recent and ongoing effort for lasting peace embarked upon by the broad based representation of the coastal states of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria,” he said.

Sunday Telegraph reliably gathered that a broad- based stakeholders conference convened by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, was held last Friday at the Conference Centre, Petroleum Training Institute in Warri, Delta State.

However, a former Governor of Kaduna State and one time presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has warned the Niger Delta Avengers not to seceede from Nigeria on October 1, 2016, because if they do so, what happened to the Biafran secessionist in 1967 will happen to them. Speaking to our correspondent on phone yesterday, Alhaji Musa pointed out that the Biafran secessionists miscalculated in 1967 but the Niger Delta Avengers would do even worse if they try to break away from the country.

According to him, the experience of the Biafran misadventure should have guided the Niger Delta Avengers, “but it seems that they are not learning the right lessons from history’’. He added, ‘’We have been together for over 100 years and our future has been linked economically, politically and socially. What every segment of the country is experiencing is not what it expects from a united country. We are all expecting more.

But it is not easy for a section of the country to ignore all the sacrifices that others have made, simply because of their current advantages; advantages which are not even as a result of their own efforts, but the collective efforts of all of us, including themselves.’’

The elder- statesman noted that if the Niger Delta agitators ignored the fact that others would protect their own interests and go ahead to secede as Biafrans did 49 years ago, ‘’they will suffer more consequences.’’

He maintained that every section of the country has grievances which should be blamed on ‘’the socioeconomic and political system that is presently controlling all development in the country and the leadership produced by the system.’’ In what could be described as a counter- motion, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described the rampant agitations by different ethnic groups through diverse platforms, as a product of existing inadequacies in the political structure of the country.

Secretary General of the group, Dr. Joe Nworgu, noted that though it had no business with the secession call by the Niger Delta Avengers or any other group in sympathy with the group, he was not surprised that some Igbo groups were rooting for secession and were in sympathy with the Niger Delta group.

Nworgu disclosed that Igbos were largely fed up with the current Nigerian system due to the inbuilt structural defects that channelled the bulk of the country’s commonwealth and benefits to a particular section while ignoring others.

“Since 1966, this has been the story. The story of injustice, marginalisation and brazen emasculation of a people. The young people of today have seen it all.

They have seen policies of government made just to favour a section of the country; they have seen lopsided appointments into government offices with absolutely no regard to Federal Character

The agitations you see today are the responses of the young people to the many unjust realities they are being forced to live with. We as the elderly will always urge caution but young people will always call for action.”

Nworgu explained that the Igbo nation had continued to reach out to every section of the country in genuine nationalistic passion to seek ways to make Nigeria right but had always met with antagonism. “We were at the Oputa Panel pushing for this same position.

Before 1994, we have been calling for the restructuring of this country, nothing came of it instead they have become more brazen, tightening the noose around our neck. They are unapologetic about their impunity and lopsided perception of governance and mutual coexistence. They are quick to remind you of the civil war, threatening to fight again. So the growing agitations across geopolitical zones should not be a thing of surprise as the young do not endure like the old. What you see across the regions is the response to the injustices that are being forced on them.

“The core beneficiaries of the present malfunctioning political structure in Nigeria claims to desire one united Nigeria and an end to all secessionist agitations.

That has also been the prayer of most of us but sadly, this same people, with every step and every policy, exclude and further push us out. For us, we see it as a deliberate plot to force us to make a rash decision so they can clampdown on us; more like giving a dog a bad name to shoot it. But these young ones care nothing about the plot, they are willing to face anything to redress the status quo and that is why these agitations thrive,” he said.

Nworgu, however, advised that the onus is on the Federal Government to show the rest of the country that it is committed to fair, equitable, just and peaceful coexistence among all component parts of the country. “Yakubu Gowon, after the civil war, announced the 3R policy that ended a mere slogan. There was no truth in it, and as such nothing came of it.

“Those displaced by the civil war are yet to be effectively reintegrated into the nation’s polity till date. Neither is there any deliberate remedial policy or palliative to sincerely give the injured and marginalised, a sense of belonging,” he said. Afenifere chieftain and elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, does not support the October 1 agitations. He said, “It is unfortunate. I don’t support secession. I believe the authority should look into their complaints, which is about the restructuring of the country. All the economic problems in the country cannot be solved until we settled political problems. There can be no progress without political stability.

There are a lot of agitations in the country and many people have told the president that only the implementation of the National Conference can solve the problem of everybody. “I don’t support the call for secession by the Avengers. We saw the problems of agitations earlier and that is why some of us campaigned for a National Conference, which we did in 2014 and we listened to complaints of everybody at the conference. We can’t have progress in the country until everybody is satisfied about being in a federation.

“The Niger Delta people felt they are being marginalised; they believe they are being cheated. So, I believe there should be restructuring of the country.

While some are talking about leaving the country, those of us who want peace are talking about restructuring. As at the time of filling this report, the Natonal Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) has not responded to the text message our correspondent sent to him, requesting for the forum’s comment.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has reiterated its resolve to ensure the indivisibility of the Nigerian State, which has come under threat from different groups, in recent times. In a swift response to the latest threat to declare a Republic of Niger Delta on October 1, the Nigerian Military yesterday, advised the agitating group to have a rethink, in its own interest.

Acting Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig.Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said the military was closely monitoring the activities of NDA and other associated groups. He gave assurance that the Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies, will not relent in its bid to contain security threats staring the nation in the face.

“Nigeria will come out from its security challenges stronger, united and more prosperous, and the military, in liaison with other security agencies, will ensure the indivisibility of this country, and do everything within its rules of engagement to maintain and sustain the oneness of the country.

“Any group threatening to thwart the oneness of this nation should have a rethink, and not to be deceived by the enemy within or outside the country, as we are monitoring their activities closely,” the Defence spokesman said.

 Source: New Telegraph