MR. PRESIDENT, MEND, MASSOB, BOKO HARAM

Editor,

MR. PRESIDENT, MEND, MASSOB, BOKO HARAM

One thing that cuts across one’s mind is the consistency with which northern columnists (be it Muslim or Christian) handle their write-ups; devoid of religious divides. This is the reason I say that when the chips are down in future, once Jonathan succeeds in truncating the zoning system which has provided succour for the minorities of this country; when the North takes up the leadership, it would be tossed, in turns, between the Muslim and Christian North and that would prove to the doubting Thomases that there still exists monolithic North. Then the divided South would be worse for it. This is not a speculation but what is stirring at us.

When I read Sam Nda-Isaiah’s back page column in his Leadership newspaper of October 4, 2010, I could see someone who continually faced the facts no matter whose ox is gored. Sam wrote under a headline “MEND said it did it, so MEND did it”. The article went on to ask why Mr. President is defending criminals that have confessed committing crime against the nation and instead started beating about the bush in arresting some innocent persons; some vindictively. 

Then one may ask the President ‘which side you dey’ to have made that hasty conclusion that it was not MEND and on the other hand prosecuting the MEND boss; in South Africa? Mr. President also exonerated MEND’s members in the on-going oil thieving. Criticisms have continued to fly against the outpouring of Mr. President and wife’s so-called 50 women and 50 personality’s awards that marked Nigeria’s golden age anniversary; and on October 1, 2010 criminals from Jonathan’s Niger Delta region bombed the FCT Abuja. 

One may finally add in asking Mr. President: Just like many have started asking, are you a member of MEND? For him defending MEND, it means that MEND is still legally recognized by head of government (President Jonathan); even after disarmament? He should recognize MASSOB and Boko Haram as well, nevertheless it should be after granting them amnesty like (for) MEND.

Obong Okon Emerson, 195 Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.