Kaduna — President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday said the situation in the Niger Delta region has remained a nightmare starring his 16 month old administration in the face. He said the crisis in the oil producing areas is scaring away potential investors to the country.
Speaking at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the officer cadets of the 56th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, the president, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said "the Niger Delta situation continues to be a major concern facing this government."
"While acknowledging the challenges facing the people of the Niger Delta, we must not allow the activities of a few criminal minds to create a permanent state of insecurity in the region, destroy the economy and scare away investors," he said.
The President also praised efforts of the military in international peace operation and assured that his administration would continue to meet the legitimate needs of the Armed Forces within the limits of available resources.
According to him, his administration would continue to spare no effort in ensuring a virile and truly professional Armed Forces in the country.
The president appealed to the military to remain faithful to their oath of allegiance and avoid acts that may endanger democracy in particular, and the nation generally.
"The Military is a beacon of hope that with right leadership we will achieve the overall objective. Government will continue to meet the legitimate needs of the Armed Forces within the limits of available resources. We will spare no effort towards ensuring a virile and truly professional Armed Forces.
"This involves the provision of necessary logistics while simultaneously pursuing, with greater vigour, the outgoing training and retraining efforts.
"But I must commend the Armed Forces for its roles in international peace support operations worldwide, and aid to civil authority during internal security operations.
"I urge you all to remain faithful to your oath of allegiance and avoid acts that may endanger our democracy and indeed, our Nation," he said.
Also, the President commended the support, patience and perseverance of Nigerians since the 2007 elections and said maturity with which the issue of the last election was handled is worthy of commendation.
"This is true testimony of our resilience when compared with similar events in some of our sister African countries. I believe that the report of the Electoral Reform Panel will assist us to remedy the imperfections in our electoral process and strengthen our democracy," he said.
The President also urged Nigerians to participate and contribute fully to the on-going debate to enhance the report of the panel, the result of which he pledged, would be made public.
To the graduating cadets, Yar'Adua urged them to "strive to maintain the high standard you have achieved and the goodwill of all Nigerians."
The President further reminded the graduands that "as you join your respective units on posting, I enjoin you to be disciplined and focused. You have chosen a highly demanding but respected and noble profession."
About 198 cadets made up of the Army, Air Force and the Navy passed out yesterday. The Academy has produced 14,689 officers, including 447 foreigners from other African countries since 1964 when it was established.
Among dignitaries at the occasion were former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, former army and defence chief, Lt-Gen. T.Y Danjuma (rtd), Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Namadi Sambo and a host of others
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Sir, investors all over the world have no choice but to look to Africa to invest. One would think that South Africa and Nigeria would have seen this coming and now our people are no where near ready for the Big Time African boom. This is the moment Every African have been waiting for and still we spend our time fighting amongst each other (major in the minor things in life). Embrace your people, not suppress them. Niger Delta is not a nightmare but a result of our people being suppressed and largely ignored by our leaders. It's called human nature, a natural reaction to being suppressed and the same reaction you yourself would have if it were you. This conflict can be resolved by getting with our people at their level and dialogue. Change is indeed inevitable, no one can prevent it. Think like a white man 10 steps ahead of oneself. The results will speak for itself.
Look, the financial crisis offered Africa a place and respect in the world if investors felt safe investing their money in Africa. This window of oppertunity will dissappear as fast as it came. Russia is already moving forward to resolve their Georgian conlfict to take advatage of this oppertunity ("whiteboy thinking") and that's where investor money will go if we continue to show this lack of interest in resolving our issues and moving forward.
King Tarry-a-doer even had time to sleep - no wonder the nightmare. We don't have nightmares down here because we have no luxury of sleep. If there are any "criminal minds" in Nigeria they are in King Tarry-a-doer's administration. Little wonder The Honorable Speaker of the House has called your ministers a bunch of "pickpockets" and "armed robbers" plus the 419 kingpins hiding as Senators & Representatives in the National Assembly. If your administration is serious about fighting corruption, it might behoove you to have the EFCC to ferret those "criminal minds" out for prosecution first b4 any investors will take your administration seriously. As for resolving the Niger Delta's crisis, we have told you many times over and over that the solution is simple:
1) Remove your JTF from the region. 2) Instead of this tidbits of dribs and drabs, make public your masterplan for the region for all to see (no more magomago) for us to debate, vote for or against it so the local residents can determine how the plan can be implemented by the local stakeholders, equitably. 3) Have Congress legislate a strong federal system that allows each state to govern themselves with the exception of national security and foreign affairs which the federal govt can keep (4) Have Congress legislate 50% share of proceeds that are derived or extracted from each state.
Don't you think those are simple enough solution, so why the nightmare? In fact, King Tarry-a-doer himself has become part of our collective problem rather than part of the solution. Your poor health, Ruse of Law, disdain for the electorates, visionless & slow mental capability to grasp and resolve simple problems and cult-like administration are what is giving investors pause before they commit their hard earned monies in a sinking ship, called Nigeria. I won't even invest my dollars in Nigeria of today, so go figure.
THE NIGER DELTA PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT REMAIN A NIGHTMARE IF REALISTIC POLICY IS FOLLOWED.THE SOLUTION IS JUST SIMPLY AS FOLLOWS: (1)LIASE WITH THE NIGER STATE GOVERNOR (2)LET THE YOUTHS,AND PEOPLE OF THE NIGER DELTA BUY SHARES IN THE OIL INDUSTRY IN THEIR LAND,AND THEY WILL PROTEECT THEIR INVESTMENTS.(3)APPOINT THE REBEL LEADERS AS OPERATORS IN THEIR LGAs,AND IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP IN THEIR LGAs SO THAT THE EYES OF THEIR PEOPLE WILL BE ON THEM AS THEY EXECISE THEIR LEADERSHIP STYLES.(4)LET THEM OUTLINE THEIR MASTERPLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT,IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OIL COMPANIES OPERATING THERE WITH THE GOVT HELPING TO FUND THE PROGRAMS.THIS DONE YOU WILL GET RESULTS OTHERWISE,YOU CAN BE HOLDING HIGH PROFILE SEMINARS INDEFINITELY WITH NO RESULTS ACHIEVED. Mazianyaogu writes from USA.