MEND, Boko Haram scare FG

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Latest Politics, Niger Delta Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

Nigeria, yesterday, had a low-key 51st Independence anniversary following threats from the Boko Haram sect and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

Though the Federal Government had dismissed such claims, saying the decision was to save cost considering the mood of the nation, the consensus among prominent Nigerians is that the celebration was cut short by threats from the two dreaded militant groups in the country.
Last year, at least 15 people died with several others injured when MEND had carried out a similar threat to bomb the Eagle Square, Abuja venue of the Independence anniversary.

Sunday Sun learnt that the Federal Government actually wanted an elaborate anniversary at the Eagle Square this year but had to shift the venue to the Aso Rock Villa to stave off possible attacks from either Boko Haram, MEND or both.

Speaking to Sunday Sun, founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr Fredrick Fasehun said although all hope was not lost, the country has failed to meet the expectations of the people.

Fasehun said the nation’s independence has failed to confer freedom on the people.
He said the journey so far has been turbulent for the country but urged the people to hope and pray that the new administration headed by President Goodluck Jonathan would reposition the nation.“We do not yet have freedom which our independence could have conferred on us. The nation’s independence has failed to confer freedom on the people from poverty, corruption, violence and other vices. Freedom should be a fallout of independence”, he said.

Also in his reaction, former Lagos State Police Commissioner and social critic, Abubakar Tsav said the journey has been slow arguing that Nigeria has failed to live up to expectation because of lack of continuity and corruption of her leaders. He said that President Jonathan has failed the people arguing that anybody who wants to lead the nation must be firm. Tsav regretted that the Federal Government was forced to hold the independence anniversary in a low key because of the threat from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Boko Haram sect.

“Criminals should be afraid of government and not the government being afraid of criminals. Jonathan has failed because to lead Nigeria, you must be firm,” he said. For the Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Maxi Okwu, in celebrating the 51st anniversary, Nigerians needed to take a sober reflection on the journey so far.

He said that the people must sit down and renegotiate the continued unity of the country.“In the past, we used to celebrate independence at the Eagle Square but this year, the event was shifted to the courtyard of the Aso Rock villa.“Terrorists warned us against holding it at Eagle Square and we ran away. We have lost the war against the terrorists.

“Jonathan must not be a lamb but a lion. Let him rise to the occasion”, he said. But former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees who is now of the Action Congress, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande gave Nigeria kudos, saying the nation has not done badly despite the challenges she has gone through so far. He said that the country has done well in several sectors including education, health, political development among others.

-Sunwp_posts