This Day (Lagos)

Nigeria: Yar'Adua - Days of Militancy Are Over

Yenagoa — "The days of militancy in the Niger Delta region are over and gone for good," President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua said in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday during his one-day state visit.

He also told the people of the Niger Delta that "now is the time to join hands with the Federal Government to effectively develop the region".

The President said the government had been fervently committed to the prompt payment of all statutory allocations to the states in the region and the three intervention agencies created to ensure the development of the Niger Delta.

He, however, added that the cooperation of the people was crucial "in order to achieve justice and fair play which are the enablers for development".

On the amnesty offer to militants operating in the creeks of the region, the President maintained that the offer was real and was aimed at ensuring the peace and stability in the Niger Delta and not a ruse as being painted by some sections of the youths.

His words: "But all these will come to naught without peace, without trust, without cooperation of all stakeholders and without security of lives and property for the people and foreign investors. Let me therefore use this opportunity to state categorically that our amnesty offer to militants is not a ruse. It is for real.

"To those who genuinely took up arms to draw attention to the sad situation in this region, I say to you: we have heard you and we are ready to work with you to move the Niger Delta forward in the interest of its long-suffering people. But to those hiding under the cover of legitimate protest to feather private nests, those merchants of violence, I say to you: change your ways, the people of Niger Delta have seen through your antics and will soon expose you.

"To all the well-meaning people of the Niger Delta, I urge you to give us a chance to earn your trust and collaborate with you to give this region its just dues. My hope is that soon, this region will be transformed into a development hub not only for Nigeria but also for the West African sub-region, in a way that will surpass the recent post-conflict transformation of Angola. But this cannot happen without peace and partnership."

The President reiterated the determination of his administration to achieve 6000 megawatts of electricity by the end of this year, while striving to reach the 10,000 megawatts level by 2011.

He said the power sector was crucial to the development of the country, hence it is one of the seven-point agenda of his administration.

He admitted that achieving the lofty dream of 10,000 megawatts is an enormous challenge, but reiterated his believe that it is achievable.

Earlier, Governor Timipre Sylva had lamented to the President that he inherited "a state with virtually dilapidated or non-existent infrastructure, and a people agitated by lack of development, growing insecurity, poverty, and pain".

He said that even the Gloryland Castle that Yar'Adua inaugurated was started by former governor DSP Alamieyeseigha and later abandoned.

"In fact, the challenges were so daunting that even getting our people to believe in our collective ability to surmount these problems was difficult," he said.

He commended the efforts of Yar'Adua at rekindling the hopes of the people in the region most especially the inclusion of the Niger Delta development in his seven-point agenda.

He disclosed that his government was following the plan of the Federal Government at fast-tracking development in the state.

He said: "Bayelsa State development agenda is in furtherance of the Federal Government's smoothly articulated seven-point agenda, involving provision of critical infrastructure, resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, assurance of food security, development of human capital, review of the land tenure and home ownership systems, national security and intelligence and wealth creation."

Sylva boasted that if his administration had failed to complete the various projects that the President inaugurated yesterday, "no administration will have been able to complete them", adding that "it is a testament to our determination and commitment to our people that we decided early in the life of this government to complete the projects started by preceding administrations rather than start fresh ones to score cheap political points at the expense of our people, and development".


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Comments 1 to 3 of 3 Post a comment

  • ovas.com
    Jul 21 2009, 05:38

    Federal Govt. have denied ASUU agreement and the SSANU have embacked on indefinite strike yesteday, saying that Fed. Govt. Just comply with 40% of their request instead of 100%, even the chairman of SSANU Mr. Promise, said that parents and guardians should withdraw their children and wards from govt. universities cause there is no enough facilities in the campuses and that the Federal Govt. is allowing the private universities to run actively in nation, pls if i may ask the Federal Govt. or ASUU 'what will be the work of idle student now at home' as they said in bible 'an idle man is a devils workshop', i think our nation Nigeria is not building a better tomorro, cause the yunger once are learning to be the managers of all strike in Nigeria soon.

  • KaparaK
    Jul 21 2009, 06:57

    This is just the beginning of militancy by all Nigerians - for as long as there is no good governance that is caring & responsive to the demands of the populace (such as the provision adequate electricity, educational, and health facilities, etc); that respects human rights (not bomb, indiscriminately, innocent women and children into submission). End electoral riggings, and official corruption that keep looting the national treasuries... These are just the tip of the iceberg. Engage Nigerians, face to face, in a dialogue, they will tell you what will prevent the inevitable militancy, in fact, a revolution, that is looming in the near future – the current politicians dis-respect of the public cannot continue, indefinitely – a quick reading of “A Tale of Two Cities” should give you Nigeria’s current picture and its future outcome. Good luck.

  • upliftdarace_144
    Jul 21 2009, 12:49

    MATTHEW 10:26 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM, FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED THAT WON’T BE REVEALED AND THERE IS NOTHING HIDDEN THAT WON’T BE KNOWN.

    Remember the 120 ! in the Upperroom, Gideon’s 300, One(1) believer can chase 1,000 demons & Two (2) can make 10,000 run .

    How many will 1 million chase ?

    Here’s An abbreviated Spirit Bomb prayer that I’d like for us to say to God The Creator Of All :

    OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN , HOLY IS YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME , YOUR WILL BE DONE, IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN .

    - In Jesus Name We Pray – Amen

    Pray twice per day once around sunset & once around sunrise .

    Have prayer lists which include Family, Christians, Truthseekers ,& Worthy Causes , etc…

    SOME OF OUR LEADERS ARE UNDER DEMONIC INFLUENCE , SOME OF OUR

    WORLD IS UNDER THE SAME,. OUR UNITED , CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS

    PRAYERS WILL HELP US TO SEE THROUGH JESUS’ EYES. REMEMBER , HE’S

    THE HEAD, WE HAVE NO EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, ETC..WITHOUT THE

    HEAD. THAT IS WHY WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE

    OR ANY OTHER NATURAL DISTRACTION. WE ARE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS !!!

    Make a Habit Of Praying Twice a Day (Sunset / Sunrise). Have A Daily Prayer, Weekly

    Prayer , Monthly Prayer, even Yearly Prayer ; keeping persons, organizations and causes

    in mind that you’d like to pray for at these intervals of time ( Daily-Weekly-Monthly-

    Yearly).

    Some prayer list suggestions –

    (DAILY PRAYER LIST ) -

    Christian & Natural Family -

    TOP-PRIORITY Persons, Causes & Oragnizations

    (WEEKLY PRAYER LIST ) -

    MID-LEVEL Persons, Causes & Oragnizations

    (MONTHLY PRAYER LIST ) -

    - Persons, Causes & Oragnizations ( For Example – Heads Of Countries)

    (YEARLY PRAYER LIST ) -

    LOWER LEVEL - Persons, Causes & Oragnizations

    [God Bless You Readers To Want To Know And Seek To Know The Truth] - MAY GOD BE A HAVEN OF PEACE IN OUR TIME OF TROUBLE --

    [This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]

    Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.

    We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?

    Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.

    Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.

    There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.

    We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.

    We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.

    It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.

    And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.

    And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others

    - Marianne Williamson -

    [NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]

    (Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )

    God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .

    God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.

    From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.

    Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

    [Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]

    [http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]

    WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

    - Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]