Boko Haram, oil subsidy: All is not well with Nigeria —Akwa Ibom elders

Posted by admin Akwa Ibom, Boko Haram, Headlines, State News Monday, February 6th, 2012

By JOE EFFIONG, Uyo

The Adaha Akwa Ibom Organization (AAIO), a socio-cultural organization of
eminent elders and dignitaries of Akwa Ibom State, has taken a critical look of
activities of the Boko Haram sect and the issue of fuel subsidy removal. Its
honest submission: All is not well with Nigeria. Consequently, they say they are
compelled to speak out about the oil subsidy removal, Boko Haram, ethnic
jingoists and give advice on the way forward.

AAIO’s position was
enunciated by itspresident, Obong Michael Afangideh and secretary, Dr Maurice
Ebong. They commended President Goodluck Jonathan, for engineering the survival
of the nation from the oil subsidy crisis, even in the face of “unpresidential
insults and intense provocation,” and urged him to remain focused in the
implementation of the palliative measures.

Boko Haram
“Adaha is also
confident that the Federal Government will soon record similar success in
stopping Boko Haram’s insurrection. We call on northern elders and leaders,
including Alhaji Umaru Dikko who once chided southern elders for not controlling
their youths, to control their youths who are now activists inside Boko Haram
and call them to order. As Mr. President rightly observed, Boko Haram are not
spirits, they live in the midst of people in the North.

“Adaha wishes to
unequivocally debunk the unholy comparison of Boko Haram with the erstwhile
Niger Delta militancy. Such comparison lacks both basis and merit. Militancy in
the Niger Delta region was a consequence of years of resource exploitation,
including oil lifting, allocation of oil blocs, local content, employment
opportunity, non-compensation for oil spill and ecological damages, etc and
total neglect of the region’s infrastructure, welfare and provocative
marginalization from the benefits of the oil and gas industry. The militants
were fighting for the emancipation of the Niger Delta citizens, and their
leaders were not faceless. “What is Boko Haram fighting for? Who and where are
they?
“The Federal Government should ‘eat with a long spoon’ with Boko Haram.
They should not be allowed to hold Nigeria to ransom for no just cause. Adaha
believes and advises that any ethnic nationality that craves for
self-determination can and should do so without the shedding of innocent
blood.”
No compromise

The group advises the Federal Government not to
handle Boko Haram with kid gloves, especially as some failed politicians had
promised to make the country ungovernable if Jonathan won the presidential
election which (Jonathan) did win:
“It is therefore not difficult to see the
hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. That is why Adaha sympathizes with Mr.
President concerning the antics of some saboteurs in his government. The
so-called escape of Kabiru Sokoto, a Boko Haram suspect, from the police high
command is another eye-opener.”
Ethnic nationalities

Adaha is worried
that some ethnic nationalities are struggling to win the contest as to who can
best be able to heat up the polity: “Some have threatened not only war but
disintegration. Some have tried to tutor us in the South-South, specifically the
Ijaws, on how to relate with our son, in times of trouble.
“But we practice
the commandment of the holy Bible to love our neighbours as our selves. The
South-South people have been disillusioned by their so-called traditional allies
because those that the region helped to win elections are those at the forefront
of making Nigeria ungovernable for our son. They are the ones calling our oil
and gas ‘the collective natural resource that does not belong to the people of
the Niger Delta Region.’

Once upon a time it was thought that the
Nigerian Civil war was fought ‘to keep Nigeria one.’ But statements and
sentiments such as these are showing that the war was fought for the control of
oil resources. Nigeria’s federation has become an indefinite oil and gas land
dispute. May God save Nigeria!”

Akwa Ibom State
“Adana hereby places
on record the deep respect and admiration the organization has for Akwa Ibom
Governor Godswill Akpabio. He has won victories upon victories. He has won
election victories, infrastructure victories, free education victories, air
travel victories, security victories, and even crisis management victories.
Indeed, he is a victor. Adaha salutes Akpabio for the expert management of the
recent twin labour crisis, minimum wage/fuel subsidy, in the state. We commend
the NLC and TUC for their cooperation. We also congratulate the governor, the
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, and other security chiefs for the
massive turn around in the security situation of our state.”

-Sun

wp_posts