The amnesty offered ‘militants’ in the Niger Delta has shown how degenerate the Yar’adua administration is. Our present political fathers and grand fathers are indeed wicked and devilish. Why should a father use his child to rig elections, abandon that child and even turn back to call that child a criminal? The youths who rob and kidnap in the Niger delta are those used and abandoned by politicians. Many Nigerians were deceived into thinking that the N50 billion earmarked for the amnesty program will go a long way in taking care of the ‘kids’ our political ‘fathers’ used and abandoned.
However the recent protest by some youths in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, who had earlier accepted the fraudulent amnesty, proves beyond doubt that the program is indeed a massive scam. It is easy to deduce that the N50 Billion taxpayer’s money was actually earmarked to buy sophisticated weapons and to bribe a few criminal commanders who claim to be militants.
Can anyone who fights a just cause be bought? The late Gani who fought for the masses could never be bought because he was committed to the emancipation of the common man. Is there a documented report of the daily expenditure made by the fraudulent amnesty committee? None! Is there any concrete proof that the weapons surrendered so far are that of ‘militants’? None! Is there any proof that those who have surrendered are being catered for? None! How much has so far been spent by the amnesty committee out of the N50 billion earmarked for the program? The Yar’adua administration has to give a detailed account of how the N50 billion earmarked for the amnesty program has so far been utilized. The failure of the government to produce accurate figures of their expenditure is a crime against Nigerians.
We all know how insincere this government is. We all know that the Seimens, Haliburton, Wilbros and Power scams have not been solved. We also know that this government has relied upon its military might rather than the support of the people.
The amnesty program has succeeded in separating the weed from the wheat. The real freedom fighters will never relent in their quest for a better Niger Delta and indeed a better Nigeria where justice and equity prevails.. The recent acquisition by Nigerian security forces is no different than that acquired before the military onslaught against Ijaw people. The God of Justice, Love, Wisdom and Power is not dead. Justice will very soon be served on all politicians who fan the flames of injustice and oppression. The time for Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands is now or never. Since creation, ‘man has dominated man to injury ‘so Nigerians should be prepared to fight for justice.
The fight for freedom and justice has many facets. The late Gani preferred a non-violent approach. Most of us have however misconstrued the term ‘non-violence’. Although non-violence is an approach used in solving disputes, it suppresses violent intent (but does not limit it to) in solving social or political problems. That is why every nation on earth equips and trains its military forces to wage war against invaders. If we were truly and genuinely non-violent, we would not have to equip and train military forces to defend our territories. Pacifism on the other hand denotes the rejection of the use of violence as a personal decision on moral or spiritual grounds. That is why in times of war, someone people will never accept to fight.
Non-violence is a strategy that requires tremendous courage, self-control, as well as a willingness to endure pain and sometimes even death. This approach can only be endured by pacifists. The strength of nonviolence lies in its ability to dramatically reduce the moral legitimacy of those who persist in using violent strategies against non-violent opposition. Non violence tends to turn against the oppressor by invoking international scrutiny of tyrants. However in the Nigerian scenario, the international community has decided to turn a blind eye to the repressive rule because of their vested economic interests. We have to then ask ourselves if a non-violent approach is the panacea to our problem. We need to ask ourselves if the formation of ethnic/regional militias is the road to our emancipation.
In the United States during the 1960s, Black Panther member George Jackson said of the nonviolent tactics of Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"The concept of nonviolence is a false ideal. It presupposes the existence of compassion and a sense of justice on the part of one's adversary. When this adversary has everything to lose and nothing to gain by exercising justice and compassion, his reaction can only be negative."
We all agree that the solution to Nigeria’s woes is a SNC where all ethnic groups will agree on how to co-exist together, but the continued brutality and preparation for more brutality by the Nigerian military is a worrisome development.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the Yar’adua administration has never been and will never be committed to curing the diseases Nigeria suffers from. Their symptomatic treatment denotes that they believe the country suffers from a terminal ailment. Since the government has refused to confront the root causes of the Niger Delta impasse, the door has been thrown open for a violent revolution. For those whose are pacifists, I urge you to continually offer spiritual intercession for the country. For those who are too young or too old to revolt, I urge you to continually use your tongue as a potent weapon. For those who are ready for violent revolution, I pray the God of Justice goes before you. Amen!
Dr. Lawson Jaja
[email protected]
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