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OBASANJO AND THE IJAWS, A DELIBRATE POLICY OF
SUBJUGATION.
Two weeks ago when some personalities within and outside government
opined that the Obasanjo led Government was on a mission to silence
every known and perceived voice in the Ijaw nation, many refuse to
accept or agree with this line of argument. However, today the story
seems to be taking its reality and acceptance. Not only has it
gained acceptance but it’s been used as a basis for further
measurement of events.
Interestingly, the Government seems to be keeping sealed lips and
even having the audausity to even make attempts to defend and deny
the truth.Interestingly the turn of events in the last seven days
seem to have opened the lid in an otherwise sealed state secret. In
the light of the above one can now ask the federal government to
please be bold to own up in everything as the whole thing is now an
open secret.
The arrest of Alhaji Asari Muhajid Dokubo, the leader of the Niger
Delta volunteer Force on charges that are completely frivolous,
flimsy and at best contradictory is an attempt to silence the Ijaws
from the path of agitation for Economic justice and fiscal
federalism. Asari has been a leading voice in the struggle and has
maintained a very consistence position in the Niger Delta issues.
What some of us are bordered about is the style of arrest and the
eventual charges that the Attorney general has told Nigerians that
they are holding him for. Not long ago Obasanjo had a meeting with
him and they discussed a lot of issues and came to compromise. Ever
since Asari has remained a very peaceful, law abiding businessman
whose conflict resolution firm has caused several peaceful
settlement of knotty issues between oil producing communities and
multinational oil corporations in Rivers state and beyond which the
government could not resolve. His activities at best could be seen
as symbolizing the existence of peace. It’s therefore unbelievable
that the federal Government is arresting and charging him for
unlawful assembly and treason. The charge is based on utterances
accredited to Asari in which he asserted his right to freedom of
speech and told Nigerians that the nations within Nigeria had never
at any time sat down to consent to a union called Nigeria rather it
was a creation of the British to further their selfish interest,
thus it falls short of the necessary atmosphere for the emergence of
a STATE.
This position had been echoed and re-echoed severally by leading
exponents of governments including highly placed Yoruba scholars in
very recent times. Now the question is why is Asari’s utterances
singled out for prosecution at this time. The government must know
that her duty is to keep both public and individual peace and not
the reverse. That a man does not talk does not make him a fool or a
fearful person. This attempt to cause reactions in the area to
enable them play out the script is uncalled for. They should allow
the sleeping dogs lie peacefully.
Yesterday was Alams, then Alhaji Asari and now its Banigo’s All
states trust bank. All this we know is to cripple us the ijaws from
agitating for what rightly belong to us. The federal government
should know that popular liberation struggle will never be stopped
and will not until it has achieved its aim. The ijaws are watching
this
Agenda.
The ijaws will not give up the fight and we will continue to remind
the government that one day we will certainly achieve our ultimate
objective of total freedom.
Leave our children alone MR PRESIDENT and think of how you will
move the Nation forward through better Economic, political and other
policies that will deliver the dividends of DEMOCRACY.
Whatever action the three Yoruba officers (OBASANJO, OJO AND EHIDERO)
do we the other ijaws are watching carefully and will not fold her
hands, for injury to one is injury to all. Release our children NOW.
Eradiri Udengs
An Izon man
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