EditorialTHEWILL Editorial: Renewed Niger Delta Militancy: Jonathan And His Deafening Silence

THEWILL Editorial: Renewed Niger Delta Militancy: Jonathan And His Deafening Silence

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BEVERLY HILLS, May 26, (THEWILL) – Since the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta, there has been a barrage of condemnations from across the nation, particularly as it concerns the blowing up of pipelines and gas plants. This is expected, given the importance of the region as the revenue hub of the nation.

The Niger Delta, as the hotbed of crude oil and gas, is so crucial that whatever happens there is of great concern to the entire nation not only in terms of foreign exchange earnings, but also electricity generation since the gas used in powering most power plants in the country is piped from the region.

While there has been a plunge in oil earnings due to this menace, the threats of further attacks have heightened the fears that unless peace is urgently restored, the last may not have been heard of the hostilities.

It is therefore not surprising that well-meaning Nigerians have been condemning the attacks and proffering suggestions on the way out.

Worthy of note is the number of Niger Delta leaders who have expressed their concerns. These include; Ijaw national leader Edwin Clark, governors of Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states, Seriake Dickson, Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa respectively. Even some ex-Niger Delta militants under the auspices of the defunct MEND have come out in condemnation of the emergent militants.

However, it is curious that in the face of the growing hostilities including the issuance of an ultimatum for oil companies to leave the region or face “bloody attacks”, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is a son of the Niger Delta, has opted to remain quiet.

As someone during whose time, as Vice President to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, the militants were made to down their arms, it is worrisome that no word has yet come from Jonathan in condemnation of the renewed militancy. Beside the fact that he midwifed the peace attained in the region at that time, he also contributed immensely to the sustenance of the amnesty programme which seems to be collapsing in recent times.

It is against this backdrop that his present silence is worrisome to THEWILL. People, who hold him in high esteem, see his silence as capable of sending the wrong signal(s) not only to the masterminds of the attacks, but also to discerning Nigerians.

Considering that the former president is the most outstanding leader in the region, his view regarding problems in the region is sacrosanct and would be a veritable guide to those presently steering the ship of state on how best to tackle them.

If leaders including members of the international community could show so much anxiety over the attacks of facilities in the region since the activities of the militants once affected global oil price, it is unimaginable that Jonathan would be comfortable in not speaking out against the militancy and general insecurity in the area.

Irrespective of his dismay at the present government over its anti-corruption campaign, with several embarrassing indictments against key elements in his administration, including his kinsmen, Dr. Jonathan must rise above these sentiments and act like a true leader.

His silence is already being subjected to varied imputations, the wrong conclusions of which may not be in his interest at the end. This is more so as the President of the National Coalition of Niger Delta ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A, Israel Akpodoro recently alleged that Jonathan formed the Niger Delta Avengers as a booby trap to the Muhammadu Buhari’s government, having lost the presidential election to him.

The ex-militant claimed that several meetings were held during the electioneering period attended by key leaders in the region including former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, ex-militant leader Asari Dokubo among others.

Akpodoro further disclosed that it was at that meeting that the decision of “one more river to cross,” was taken, which translates to resumption of militancy if Jonathan loses the election.

Though Jonathan’s spokesman and leader of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), Eric Omare, denied the ex-president’s complicity, it has become critical, more than ever before, that Jonathan speaks up, if for no other reason but to protect his reputation as a man of peace who phoned the person who defeated him in an election to offer congratulations right before the final result was announced.

While Omare admitted that the IYC leadership, including its president, Udengs Eradiri also attended the said meeting, he added that the agenda was to deliberate on the attack on Jonathan in some northern states during the 2015 Presidential elections campaign.

Given this background, THEWILL urges that the ex-president breaks his silence and at least openly call the militants to order. We are disturbed that his continued silence could lead to further destruction of our common wealth. He should be bothered about this as one who had led the country.

No leader worth his salt can afford to look the other way when national resources are being destroyed in brazen disregard to constituted authorities. Every lover of peace must intervene so that the multiplier effects of these actions do not continue to compound the peoples’ sufferings and national woe.

However, if on the other hand Jonathan has sympathy for the ex-militants’ operations, he should declare his position so that posterity can judge him, But, clearly, no one can pretend to underrate the grave implications of the militancy, even as it affects local communities and Niger Delta inhabitants whose land and waters are by the attacks on pipelines being destroyed for farming and fishing activities.

If the former President does not love Nigeria enough to speak up in condemnation of the attacks, his love for his kinsmen, tribe and the people of the Niger Delta as a whole should make him to, because they are the ones bearing more of the brunt of the renewed hostilities than other Nigerians.

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