Copycat private military companies, polar opposites to Dokubo’s, have mushroomed in the creeks from where they launch their criminal activities. Recent attacks in Rivers alone serve as eye opener: On April 17, 2023, gunmen wearing military camouflage kidnapped Chief Okey Wali, SAN, after killing his aide in the Obio/Akpor LGA. On August 12, 2023, hoodlums from the Oshobele creeks snatched ten villagers from the Isua, JK2 Community in Engenni, Ahoada West LGA.

Then on August 8, 2023, hoodlums from the creeks killed two soldiers before carting away their riffles in the Abua/Odual LGA. On August 25, 2023, near Landmark Hotel in Port Harcourt LGA, gunmen shot dead a police inspector before escaping with his riffle and beret. On September 8, 2023, gunmen killed the charismatic SP Bako Angbashim in Odumude, Ahoada East LGA. And on August 26, 2023, gunmen killed two Ogoni youths at an oil spill site in Bodo, Gokana LGA.

We risk internecine wars capable of endangering lives and oil production. Oil spills occasioned by hostilities will further damage our terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Finally, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, cannot ask IOCs to relocate their head offices to the region when the British High Commission is warning its citizens to avoid Rivers. We need stringent measures, such as used in curbing militancy, to reverse our dire situation.

How militancy was curbed 
By 1999 when Odi was destroyed, the newly formed IYC had no mechanism against militancy. But by January 2009, under the leadership of Dr Ekiyor, 4th IYC president, the organisation created the Committee on Security and Economic Development in the Niger Delta.  Comprising of the canonical youth leaders who led in issuing the 1998 Kaiama Declaration, the committee set for itself the onerous duty of ending the raging oil war.

Dr Felix Tuodolo (pioneer IYC President) was chairman of the committee. Members included T.K. Ogoriba, Dokubo (2nd IYC President), Oyeinfie Jonjon (3rd IYC President), Dr. Ekiyor, Sgt Weri Digifa, Dan Ekpebide, Mike Wenebowei, Udengs Eradiri and Claudius Egba. The committee dialogued with the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Niger Delta governors/parliamentarians and foreign embassies. Finally, it entered the creeks to convince the militant commanders to stop fighting.

As far back as 2006, Allen Onyema and his Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria, FEHN, converted Dr Ekiyor and the powerful IYC he led to the Kingian Non-Violence Philosophy. The security committee, in truth, was dominated by non-violence converts. Without its good work amnesty would have been impossible as the militants clearly had the upper hand in virtually all theatres of war.  All combatants accepted Presidential Amnesty when on June 25, 2009, citing Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua declared it and were immediately disarmed thereby bringing the arms race to an end.

It is ironic that the hegemony ruling Nigeria rewarded members of the committee by stigmatising them as security risk. The corrupt leaderships of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and APC, two fingers of the same budget-padding hand, are used in rigging them out in every election. The powers that be fear none could control these Ijaw nationalists if allowed to win elections into public offices. But by allowing unconscious elements to emerge in dubious party primaries, the hegemons are confident of controlling the rich resources of the region forever.

What to do
All eyes are on the Ekiyors, Ekpebides, Tuodolos, Ogoribas, etc, of the Niger Delta to defeat the post-Amnesty arms race. Though respectable statesmen in their own rights, they must reenter the creeks for firsthand knowledge of what is really happening.  Only then can they proffer solution as they did in 2009.

But to defeat the APC-owned apartheid that engendered it, we must relaunch the Niger Delta Congress, NDC, established by Biriye in 1959. Only this party can modernise the neglected Eastern Seaports and rail line. Above all, only the NDC can give these nationalists, elected or appointed, their rightful place in the government of their motherland.

How long shall we stand in the rain begging ungodly fraudsters in PDP and APC for our rights? Does our citizenship of Nigeria not supersede their membership of ephemeral political parties? Are we mummies that feel no injustice? Their violence, and threats of more violence, rather than strike fear into our hearts, only challenged our resolve. We must take the patriot oath and liberate One Nigeria intact by any means necessary.

Concluded

Eke: email:[email protected]; phone: 081 3515 9313, takes full responsibility for his own opinion.