Niger Delta: Let The Dialogue Continue

We are heartened by indications that the dialogue initiated by the Federal Government with stakeholders in the Niger Delta with a view to ending the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta is yielding some frutiful results. This should encourage all sides to continue the search for peaceful solutions.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the umbrella of ex-Niger Delta militants which the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua engaged to secure the cessation of hostilities in 2008, in exchange for the famous amnesty programme, has reportedly tabled its terms for further fruitful dialogue towards an amicable solution, though the Presidency has not officially confirmed any “agreement” with it.

It is, however, beyond argument that the Federal Government has been favourably disposed to dialogue, going by President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent pronouncements. We consider this a positive development. We do not consider that any form of military engagement, either by the state or the armed agitators, can produce any positive outcome. It will only worsen the situation of things. Apart from complicating the pollution of the environment and crippling oil outputs, more importantly, it will plunge the ordinary citizens into greater misery. These must be avoided at all costs.

It takes two to tango. The militants, especially the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who have been attacking oil pipelines and oil wells for nearly one year now, should harken to the voices of reason and suspend the attacks. They should join the dialogue.

On the other hand, the Federal Government must explore all avenues for lasting peace. The net of dialogue should be widened to every credible group within the zone, not just the war mongers. The non-violent groups also matter, may be even more.

The government must adjust its mindset to the fact that though the state has the right to exploit the oil for the good of all Nigerians, the people of the Niger Delta are major stakeholders and should be given their due. Unless this is done, the impulse to resort to armed disruption of the oil industry will always crop up from time to time.

The Federal Government must see itself as a father to all Nigerians. It should be willing to give a listening ear to complaints and address them with wisdom before people can contemplate resort ing to armed rebellion.

We must debunk the impression that the Nigerian state only responds to the language of force. The military should only be deployed when peaceful solutions have broken down irretrievably.

With economic recession staring us in the face, we cannot afford war in the Niger Delta. We must pull back from the brink of armed conflict because it will never help any one.

SOURCE

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Edo Guber Must Be A Showpiece

The forthcoming governorship election in Edo State promises to task the capacity and wits of all involved. A total of 19 political parties have been cleared to contest the 10th September, 2016 election that will produce a successor to the outgoing governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who has exhausted his maximum two terms of office.

At least 1.7 million voters had until recently been enlisted on the voters register before the recent registration exercise for new voters. The number of voters who have been added to the voters roll has, however, not been disclosed.

The campaigns by the political parties have undoubtedly been heated. It is, however, remarkable that only two political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of the 19 parties listed for the contest have been conspicuous in the public space. This development, which had been the trend since the 2015 general elections, suggests that the nation is gradually settling into a two party system with two dominant political parties.

As with all the previous elections in Nigeria, the campaigns in Edo State have not been exactly ideology-based. Rather, they have been energised by personalities within the two dominant parties, with personal attacks rather than issues dominating soap box outings. Emphasis is being placed on personalities rather than their individual abilities to govern effectively based on track records.

It is gratifying that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has so far kept to its timelines for the election. The election management body is called upon also to ensure that the scheduled training of ad-hoc staff and other logistical preparations are achieved within the set timelines.

We also call on the INEC to especially be careful in the recruitment of the ad-hoc staff towards ensuring that it keeps agents of competing political interests from umpiring the process. The security agencies are also urged to maintain a neutral stance in the campaigns and the election proper. State security agents are there strictly to protect the election and those involved in it, and nothing more.

We commend the political parties that despite the high stakes involved there have been no reports of violence. We urge them to continue to maintain the peace as they canvass for votes.

We also call on all the residents of Edo State to maintain vigilance and ensure that the forthcoming election is a showpiece for the entire country.

The INEC must perfect all its logistical acts and ensure that this election is concluded on September 10, 2016 without any need for a rerun.

Vanguard Editorial

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ROCHAS OKOROCHA: NURSE BATTLES TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A PENSIONER PROTESTER IN IMO STATE OVER 36MONTHS UNPAID ARREARS

 
A  Nurses battles to save the life of a Protester who slumped in Owerri while protesting 36months pension Arrears  owed to them by Rochas Okorocha's APC led GOVERNMENT in Imo state .

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