JTF reopens Delta waterways, Ijaw in UK petition Reps
From Madu Onuorah, John-Abba Ogbodo (Abuja), Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) and Willie Etim (Yenagoa)
A CONFIDENCE building step towards creating a conducive atmosphere for socio-economic activities to thrive in Warri and its environs was yesterday taken by the Joint Task Force (JTF) which lifted its blockade of the Niger Delta waterways in the wake of the ongoing offensive against militants. It said the waterways were re-opened for commercial and private legal businesses.
The JTF has also denied any plan to invade Odi Community in Kolukoma/Okokuma Local Council of Bayelsa State.
And as the mutual recriminations in the JTF-militants battle continue, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) in the United Kingdom, has petitioned the House of Representatives, condemning the lawmakers' resolution in support of the offensive against militants which has claimed many lives and property. But House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday backed President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's endorsement of the military action in the region.
The JTF said its naval component had been carrying out convoy escorts of ships to the high seas and patrol of the waterways. It also confirmed the blowing up of a pipeline belonging to American oil company, Chevron, at Abiteye, blaming it on "Kingsley Opuye and his group of militants."
"This is an act of sabotage which should not be condoned", the JTF said, vowing that it was "just a matter of time" before the militants who blew up the pipeline would be "hunted and tracked down."
In a statement, the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Col. Rabe Abubakar, said: "Our waterways have since been opened for both commercial and private legal businesses. This could be portrayed by the fact that the naval components of JTF have been carrying out convoy escorts of ships to high seas and it has been patrolling the waterways, all in an effort to create conducive atmosphere for socio-economic activities to thrive in Warri and Niger Delta in general.
"Therefore, individual and groups wishing to embark on any legal activities should do so without fear of any harassment. However, personal security should always be taken into consideration by reporting any suspicious and strange movements in the waterways to JTF or any security agency for prompt action."
Denying any plan by the security outfit to attack any community which has led to mass exodus from some, Col. Abubakar said "the JTF wishes to inform the general public, especially the Odi community in Bayelsa State and any other community in Niger Delta, that some unscrupulous elements are carrying dangerous rumours that it has concluded plans to carryout attack on Odi and its environs which made people in that area to flee their houses. This information is not true as the Force is not out to bully innocent citizens.
"We are appealing to members of Odi community to go about their normal businesses as JTF has no plans to attack anybody or group anywhere in the Niger Delta. What we are doing currently is an operation aimed at rescuing our missing colleagues in Chanomi Creeks of Delta State."
Apparently scared that the current military onslaughts on Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State might spill into their community, the Odi people were said to have scampered into nearby creeks and bushes.
The Movement For the Emancipation of Niger Delta ( MEND) in statement yesterday, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Abiteye pipeline.
Its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said that at about 0200 hrs Monday, May 25, 2009, MEND fighters destroyed major trunk lines to effectively put some flow stations that feed the Chevron tank farm located in Delta State of Nigeria out of operation. The affected flow stations, he said, included Chavron at Alero creek, Otunama, Abiteye, Makaraba and Dibi. According to him, this approach will henceforth become MEND's standard mode of operation.
Sources had said that operatives of the JTF stormed the community after intelligence reports indicated that one of the arrowheads of militancy in Gbaramatu Kingdom, who was escaping from the current heat, had sneaked into his friend's house in Odi on Friday.
The operatives who traced the house, in which the escapee militant was hiding, were said to have discovered sophisticated arms but sources could not confirm whether or not he and his host were captured.
It was gathered that the sudden arrival of the soldiers had caused panic among the people of the community who feared that the 1999 Odi massacre was about to be replicated by the JTF and had to dash into nearby bushes and creeks.
However, the Special Adviser to Governor Timipre Sylva on Security, Perekeme Kpoudo, said the confrontation between militants and the JTF in Gbaramatu Kingdom had not extended to Bayelsa State .
Kpoudo said Odi community was not in any way attacked by men of the JTF on Sunday and described the claim as a product of the rumour mill.
However, INC President, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, said the Ijaw in the Diaspora were worried about the usurpation of the powers of the National Assembly by the Executive arm of government in the present military operations in some Niger Delta communities.
Tuodolo said the lawmakers' resolution which asked the JTF to extend the military offensive to other Ijaw communities in Bayelsa and Rivers States smacked of insensitivity given the reported cases of humanitarian crises as children, women and other innocent people are being killed or displaced from their homes.
The INC regretted that the House of Representatives known to be dynamic and hold its own in the face of adversaries, and a good check on the excesses of the Executive arm of government, could pass such a resolution.
The petition which was addressed to the Speaker regretted that the National Assembly had abdicated its responsibility to the Executive as Section 217 of the Constitution provides that the President needs the approval of the National Assembly to deplore the military to any part of Nigeria.
He said: "If I may ask, where is the Act of the National Assembly that provides for the presence of the JTF in the Niger Delta? Where is the act of the National Assembly authorising the President to invade the Ijaw communities in Delta State from May 13 2009?"
The INC said in as much as it abhorred and condemned kidnapping, hostage-taking and other anti-social vices, it wondered why high ranking officers of the Nigerian Army, such as a Lieutenant-Colonel and a Major, were escorting a Chevron ship as claimed by the JTF before they were ambushed.
But speaking during the 7th edition of a roundtable discussion organized by The Initiatives, a group of some members of the House of Representatives, the Speaker said it was the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure peace and tranquility in all parts of the country. Bankole said: "No reason can justify the violence in the Niger Delta, where innocent people and national infrastructure have become victims of mindless criminality.
We are all aware that the latest offensive arose from the premeditated criminality of militants who ambushed and abducted eleven soldiers on official escort duty. No responsible government will sit back and allow a few miscreants to hold the nation to ransom. Apart from these abductions and kidnappings of innocent citizens and expatriate alike, the un-abating criminality has led to a sharp drop in oil production level, putting the 2009 budget in serious jeopardy. The wanton vandalisation of pipelines and other infrastructure is another set-back that would require enormous resources to rectify. These untoward events have held-up the developmental projects, led to capital flight, exacerbated poverty and entrenched a siege of fear and insecurity in the Niger Delta."
The Speaker said that the military should be encouraged to carry out their action in a most professional manner.
He added: "It is widely acknowledged that more than any other government, President Yar'Adua has shown commitment towards resolving the issues in the area. It is therefore clear that this government does not deserve continuous unappreciative confrontation from the militants.
"The total budget of six states of the federation is about N3 trillion and the total budget of the six states of the Niger Delta is about N1.6 trillion, which is half of the national budget. The Niger Delta ministry has a budget of N100 billion and you also have the NDDC.
"Remember, we have 140 million Nigerians of which 15 million come from Niger Delta. And at the highest level of governance they are there. The CDS is from Niger Delta, the IG of Police is from Niger Delta; the Head of Service of the Federation is from there. So, the Nigerian security is in the hands of the region. This is time to work together."
On his part, Akpabio lauded the Federal Government for the measures put in place to stop kidnapping in the region. He suggested capital punishment for culprits.
"I want to support Mr. President in totality and I want to call on the militants in the creeks to rise up and cleanse themselves of criminals among them. Those who are for genuine agitation should rise up against criminals", he said.
In a paper titled "the Niger Delta crises and the challenges of leadership: the Godswill Akpabio model," the governor said the Niger Delta issue had shown that the best military regime is worse than the worst democratic government and urged Yar'Adua to use the opportunity to write his name in gold.
"Yar'Adua should look at the Niger Delta as an opportunity to imprint his name in the pantheon of great patriots, nationalists and African icons. He should remember that great battles make great warriors, and heroes are born in the midst of great conflicts," he added.
