Who is going to save Nigeria?
July 7th, 2007 | Published in Conflict, Corruption, Democracy, Niger-Delta, Nigeria | 8 Comments
One of the readers of this blog sent in an email asking why there hasn’t been postings on Nigeria as it used to be, specifically wanted to know what I think of Margaret Hill, the three year old girl who was seized from a car on her way to school in the Niger-Delta city of Port Harcourt. I responded thusly:
There is really nothing to blog about Nigeria lately that hasn’t been blogged about already. Well, maybe not quite. There is a new ‘low’ in town - snatch and kidnap a toddler and demand ransom! And anyone can do this - not just some rag-tag bandits operating in the back waters of the Nigerian oil cities - it could be striking teachers and university professors, transporters, and even medical practitioners - after all they all have beef with the feds. In fact we all do.
The events in the Niger-Delta have gone from worst to ‘worst squared’, mathematically speaking. That the scams of the kidnappers have persisted this long is a reflection of one thing: Failed intelligence, no, non-existent intelligence gathering more aptly describes the situation. The often dreaded State Security Service (SSS) and the other security and intelligence gathering apparatus of the Nigerian nation have remained impotent in dousing the fire of the Niger-Delta insurgents - criminals I mean. With the zeal and speed with which planned social protests are thwarted in Nigeria, one would have expected the same treatment for the water bandits. How wrong. Nigerian security operatives have not the balls nor teeth to muster a good fight.
One thing is clear: The ransom dollars that have been paid over the years have complicated matters in the Niger-Delta. Now, the next thing is to have the camouflaged boys roll out their tanks once again and level the towns and villages - as usual. This is how to save Nigeria, this is how it’s been done in the past and how it will be done again. This is the Nigerian standard procedure.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:03 am (#)
It is getting slightly more difficult to write about Nigeria because while there is good news in part, the bad news could be too overwhelming. The result of that is that if you chose to focus strictly on the good, you run the risk of appearing stupid. If you chose to focus strictly on the bad, you run the risk of appearing to hate your self (and tour people).
Finding a balance takes the skill of the Wallendas.
July 10th, 2007 at 8:55 am (#)
I agree with you guys. My blogging frequency has waned lately. It becomes banal and routine blogging about all the chaos and upheavals. The Margaret Hill case should galvanize the Yar’Adua government into action if it cares to ensure security for the innocent common folk of the Niger Delta by coming down hard on these criminals on the prowl.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:17 am (#)
i agree with both comments - i spent the weekend searching through the internet for nigerian news and could find nothing of any real substance - except as you say to repeat yourself. maybe there just isnt as much news as we imagine!
July 10th, 2007 at 12:02 pm (#)
Well the good news is that the 3 year old little un has been safely returned to her parents, not harmed in anyway except the mosquito bites.I’m so relieved about this and thank God we did not add to Nigeria’s bad name. Hopefully this would not be repeated by any copy cat kidnapper or wanna bee.
Now Yaradua should really face this delta problem and the grievance of the people to avoid a repeat action in the future. Nigeria does not need any more negative press after the shambolic election excercise in April & May 07. Sad but true for Naija, now no news is good news
July 10th, 2007 at 12:08 pm (#)
just musing… wrong to kidnap the 3 year old but do the aggrieved Niger Delta guerilla/gorillas have a case?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:28 pm (#)
The kidnapping was disgraceful and there are no words to be found to justify this act - From everything I have heard the kidnappers were criminals not members of MEND - But of course we dont know the truth and may never know.
As for whether the people (and I prefer to say people as it is not just a group of militants that are advocating for change) do have genuine demands of Nigeria that must be met. The militancy in the Niger Delta did not just jump out of nowhere. It has grown from 15 even more if you go back to Adaka Boro (1960s) of persistent demands for greater autonomy and resource control. It is unfortunate that most pundits discuss the militants without placing them in the historical context of Niger Delta nationalism. It is because successive governments have ignored the non-violent campaigns by Delta activists over the years including Ken Saro Wiwa that has led to the creation of the militants in the first place.
July 11th, 2007 at 12:06 pm (#)
Sokari - very true words to the last. Am even more enlightened because i thought those advocating for a change in the Niger Delta are all militants. I beleive it is a shame to have oil pumped from your land for decades, sold all over the world, billions, trillions made and many individuals getting so rich they die leaving untouched billions of pounds in foreign banks while the sons and daughters of the land suffer so much, they have no food, clothes or shelter, talk less of having amenities to boast for all the oil. It is indeed a crying shame.
I pray nobody ever kidnaps a child anymore in Naija. The Niger Delta beef needs to be visited. Those people should be looked after and given their dues.
Oh talking of Ken Saro Wiwa, my sadness returns just like when I hear the name Steven Biko. May they rest in peace for fighting for justice and freedom.
July 18th, 2007 at 5:19 pm (#)
Human rights defender at risk…
Nigerian, Human Rights Defender and founder of The International Centre for reproductive health and Sexual rights (INCRESE) in Niger State, Dorothy Aken’Ova has been ostracised and intimidated by family and community because of the work she does….