Hope for an end to renewed militancy manifested in destruction of oil installations and assets in the Niger Delta area brightened on Monday with the two major militant groups that have been active in the oil producing region indicating that they are ready for talks with the Nigerian government.
The Federal Government had last week at a meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo set up a committee made up of ministers from the Niger Delta as well as all the governors of the states of the oil producing region as part of efforts to end the renewed militancy which has cut Nigeria’s oil production by about 50 per cent. The committee was saddled with the responsibility of reaching out to the militant groups, notably, the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA that has claimed responsibility for the destruction of the oil assets.
This magazine gathered that the committee had made contacts with some of the leaders of the militant groups and had indeed scheduled meetings with them this week. The NDA had particularly ruled out talks with the government before now, asserting that the minimum demand to end its militant activities is granting of sovereignty to the Niger Delta region. But the group, in a statement released after MEND had earlier named members of a team its christened Aaron 2 which will negotiate with the Federal Government on its behalf said it is now open for dialogue.
In a statement signed by Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, its spokesperson, the group said there are “no new items” to be placed on the table for such talks. Rather, it said it only wants “a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that will make us commit to any proposed dialogue and last peace talk. We want the federal government to commit members states of the multi national Oil Corporations to commit independent mediators to this proposed dialogue; we believed that it is only such environment that will engender genuine dialogue that will be aimed at setting up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long term demands of the Niger delta to de-escalating this conflict and bring about a lasting peace.”
But it warned the oil companies as well as oil traders not to engage in any business until the beginning or after the dialogue. It warned of dire consequences if the instruction is disobeyed.
“The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government have refused to used and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958. If they refuse be heed to our advice will result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an examples to others They should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and/or after the dialogue.”
“We are using medium to warn and condemn the activities of all brands of social media agitators being peddled around by some politicians to promote their criminal ways in affairs of the Niger Delta. This genuine spirit behind our struggle for the Niger Delta cannot be derailed on the basis of connivance by politician, traditional rulers, settled ex- agitators and criminals moving around to fill their pockets.
” The issues of the Niger delta are as old and as new as the days of Pa. Dappa Biriye, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, to Ken Saro Wiwa and the government of President Musa Yar’ Adua. We are warning this government of President muhammadu Buhari, not to turn the essence of genuine peace talk and dialogue to political jamboree that is prevailing now where all manner of social media agitators and criminals have being sponsored by the job seeking corrupt political class to safe faces before the government of the day.
“Finally, if need be we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repairs works and suspend the buying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that will engender genuine dialogue “ We Want a peace with Honour not a Peace of our time,” said the group.
On its part, MEND’s ‘Aaron Team 2’ has former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henry Odein Ajumogobia (Rivers); Bismark Rewane (Delta); Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa (Cross River); Timipa Jenkins Okponipere (Bayelsa); Ibanga Isine (Akwa Ibom); Ledum Mitee (Rivers); Lawson Omokhodion (Edo State).
A statement signed by MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said other members of the team shall be made public after due consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The group explained that “following useful exploratory discussions held with high ranking officials of the current administration, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has constituted ‘Aaron Team 2′ to dialogue with the Federal Government on the immediate, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region.
“Made up of patriotic and selfless men and women of proven track record, integrity and character; and drawn from different parts of the Niger Delta region, members of the MEND Aaron Team 2 are by no means members of MEND.”
The statement recalled that “the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had on countless occasions, within the past 10 years of the group’s existence, resorted to taking up arms against the Nigerian state and the international oil companies with a view to bringing to national and international attention, the pitiable paradox of the Niger Delta region.
“152 years after Otto von Bismarck’s famous remark that, “the great questions of the time will be decided, not by speeches and resolutions, but by iron and blood,” the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) precisely at 00:00 hours on May 30, 2014; in response to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Democracy Day speech of the previous day, unilaterally declared a ceasefire of hostilities against Nigeria’s key economic and strategic interests”.
MEND pointed out that “evidently, the ceasefire was an indication of the group’s belief that, in this present age and time, “iron and blood” might only become fashionable tools in settling questions when dialogue and diplomacy fail.
The group had also in the statement appealed to the NDA to sheathe its sword and embrace negotiations and dialogue. MEND said its experience has shown that the destruction of oil facilities cannot be answer to solving the problems of the Niger Delta: “Our message to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is simple: The Niger Delta struggle is beyond attacks on oil installations. Indeed, prior to the MEND ceasefire; the group had, among numerous daring attacks, on Thursday June 19, 2008 successfully carried out the spectacular attack on Royal Dutch Shell’s offshore Bonga oilfield which is located at a whooping distance of 120 kilometres (75miles) south-west of the Niger Delta.
“However, with the benevolent benefit of hindsight, the group realized that, after the initial euphoria of each successful attack, the gargantuan problems which confront our region; including environmental pollution and political corruption, increased geometrically.
“If indeed your cause is to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region; then, we urge you to ceasefire and join us to the table of negotiation with the Federal Government; otherwise, the Niger Delta struggle shall be hijacked, once again, by selfish interests for their own personal aggrandizement. One such example is the recent purported NDA demand made through the region’s governors that the Federal Government should drop charges of corruption against certain individuals and politicians from the region. This absurd and ridiculous demand, to say the least, is far removed from the Niger Delta struggle,” MEND stated.
Ayorinde Oluokun, Abuja
oluayo@gmail.com