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RE: My Stand.. by
Dear Uwem: Your questions are germane. Nigerians have not been blessed with patriotic and selfless leaders. The gross theft of public funds and the mismanagement of public policy have contributed significantly to the underdevelopment and poverty in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta. The two individuals you named epitomize the types of leaders we have in the Niger Delta. Our task, therefore is two-fold. First, we must unite in our just struggle to retain control of our natural resources and our environment. To achieve this, we must continue to insist on the restructuring of Nigeria along a balanced federal system, that recognizes the independence of the federating units. Second, we must design a system that compels our elected representatives to account for their stewardship. Currently, they seem to represent the interests of their respective parties which are dictated by what I refer to as the tripodal conspiracies of the Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. We cannot win our struggle against such formidable forces if we fail to unite. The current suit of the federal government against the littoral states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers, as you have noted, is designed to perpetuate the subjugation of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. Odi exemplifies the federal design. The stationing of armed forces (national and foreign) in the Niger Delta is a constant reminder of our plight in a supposedly federal polity. I understand your frustrations. But, please, do not let your frustrations to compel you to withdraw from the struggle. The struggle is just beginning. There are scores of Horsfalls and Attahs in every village in the Niger Delta. They have their allies in every sector of the society, including in academia where they seem to get justifications and advice for their inept policies. But, we must not concede victory to them by allowing them to define the tactics and strategies of our struggle. We need to seize the initiative and re-define the strategic thrust of the struggle.
Cheers. O. Igho Natufe, Ph.D Senior Policy Research Advisor Policy Development & Planning SPCB Natural Resources Canada Tel: (613) 996-3101 Fax: (613) 996-0478
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