Letter to a Nigerian Militant
July 16, 2008 by 
Guest Writer
My Dear Militant, the major security problem that is shaking Nigerian Nation today,is the series of Nigerians and foreign oil workers that you kidnap daily as well as the series of attacks on oil facilities by you, Militant of the Niger Delta.
I guess that you must be feeling quite happy these days with so many people all over the world trying to find out why you took to Arms struggle. The World is asking why you chose to be Militant. Is it poor family background, is it economic hardship or political motivation or you just want to be called ‘Hardman’.
Some say you are fighting for a greater share of our region’s oil wealth which may have largely bypass you and ended up in the pockets of Corrupt Politicians. However, we can see that what may have been a political motivated protest has degenerated into extortion and crime.
You wield automatic riffles, overrun Navy, kill Police and Army, and hold Nigerians and foreigners’ hostage. Of course, there ought to be reasons for anything, but I feel so sorry for you because I know that one day you will be caught.
Do you think that you are great because you are able to take away life which you can never create? Sniffing- off promising lives, engaging yourself in dubious activities, bending the law to suit your appetite, kidnapping people, bombing and looting.
And you feel good to exist on that dark plane? You feel good to be called a criminal. I pity you so much because I know for sure that it would have been better if you were not born because someday, your burden of crime will so weigh you down that you will seek death and not find it.
It is true that Oil Companies have ravage the Niger Delta extracting oils for the global north while leaving a legacy of pollution, dispossession of land .Many Oil Companies have become very rich as a result of there exploitation of oil in Nigeria and yet the Nigerian people remain poverty stricken, ill and abused as a result of the oil activities. The introduction of Democracy in Nigeria has so far not brought an end to the abuse of the Nigerian people or their land by Oil Companies.
But you know you will achieve little if you chose to fight for your right through violence. The pen is mightier than the sword, you seems to forget. The world have been calling on you to lay down your guns and embrace dialogue as a means of solving the Niger Delta issue.
Why don’t you want to lay down your guns and dialogue with the Government of Nigeria? What is making you not to renounce crime? You are not the only person from a broken home, you are not the only person who is bored from too much wealth, you are not the only person living in the Niger Delta under hard condition and you are not the only person with a destructive tendency. Heaven knows ,I can pull a trigger too .But I, like so many persons out there have refused to bend to that kind of life of destruction.
Don’t you want to be like the Mike Okiro’s, the Tele Ikuru’s, the Donald Duke’s,the Ikedi Ohakim’s, the Goodluck Jonathan’s and the Alabo Graham Douglas? Go back to School, take Education serious. Shun violence, shun crime. I don’t need to be a seer to know that you are damaging your life. Your life can be sniffed out at any time. You operate on that frequency, ‘Ogbu Mma ga ala na Mma’ This is a divine law. O yes, he who kills by the sword will die by the sword. And your dreams in life will automatically end.
Don’t kid yourself, divine law does not indulge in excuses. ‘I be small Pickin no dey for this one’. Small Pickin, yet you pull triggers at people, throw bombs at houses and properties. Small Pickin, yet you kill, kidnap, rape, steal and loot.
Why don’t you think? Make a U-turn now before it will be too late. Crime no dey pay.
Embrace peace, embrace dialogue. Join hands to make Nigeria a better place.
Kenneth Uwadi,
Publisher/Editor in Chief
Famous People News Magazine
P.O.Box 320,
Uniport P.O,
Choba,
Port Harcourt
Rivers State
Nigeria
| 2.5 |
Dear Mr “Guest Writer”, with no real name, If America and Britain, others of European extraction were/are happy to be called “hardman,” men and ” a criminal,” criminals for raping, raping and exploiting Niger Delta, and Africa in general, and also fighting an unjust war in Iraq and other regions killing innoncent children, men and women in the name of oil and so-called democracy, then MEND (if this is the group you meant) should be happy for fighting a just cause……for self determination. Not rants from people such as you would stop the revolution. Europe and America already had theirs; they weren’t called “terrorists,” but freedom fighters.
And, I hope you’re not disillusioned by what the West called “democracy” while they wish democrazy for others. America or Britain has no democracy based on equality that is key element to the vague idealogy. A government controlled by the people as supposed to be democracy is nowhere in America where live, not to mention Britain-the rogue nation that stole African treasures and left the mother continent impoverished, and clashes due to its deliberate and devilish forcing of people together for the expansion and growth of its empire.
Take America for instance, out of hundred Senators, there is only one “black man” so-called, and that man is Sen. Barack Obama. In about two hundred and fifty years “blacks” have only been allowed to produce less than six Senators. What about the gross inequalitycrimination, sexism, and palpable RACISM ect?
Is it not shameful that lots of Niger Deltans and other Nigerian/Africans are in America and other Western nations languishing in the name of brighter future or greener pasture while we’re rich in oil and gas , uranium, gold, diamond, etc. at home, but siphoned by these same rapers of Africa and takers of all in collaboration with most disfunctional African rulers/leaders?
Did you ever bother to tell those who fought for American independence from colonial Britain and others who led Western/European nations struggle for survival what you’ve told the Niger Delta freedom fighters? Or can’t see how lopsided you are in your judgment?
I abhor violence and seriously against the rampant hostage taking and extortion in the region, however, the struggle the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) for resource and environmental control is just, and not in any manner different from the struggle of America independence and those of others-though, we aren’t demanding a separate country but a fair share of our wealth.
The so-called West knows this. The British imperialists and the slave machinary of America are aware of their impact on Africa. Therefore their claim of glorified ignorance is mischievous and hypocritical. Remember, Nigerian irresponsible government, $hell and the West collaboratively killed Abiola who won overwhelming Nigeria’s presidential election on June 12, 1993, and Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 others etc. (who demanded equity from oil production and environmental conservation, preservation or protection), for peacefully and nonviolently standing in front of shipment of oil to the West and America in particular. What education or family what are you talking about? I hope you haven’t lost your mind writing behind a ghost name.
Notwithstanding the facts above the West have more of a better government for their people but wish hell for others. Any president who wouldn’t act as stooge would be worked against, overthrown by American CIA and others or killed, like Abiola. Mr. “guest writer,” are you one of them?
Don’t get me wrong, there are numerous “whites” around the world that are wonderful with beautiful spirits, though most are racists and would remain so.
Ben Wuloo Ikari, is a Human and Environmental Rights Activist, Writer, Poet and Author of Ken Saro-Wiwa and MOSOP-The Story And Revelation.
[...] A concerned Citizen ( Ben Wuloo Ikari ) ’s Response to: Letter to a Nigerian Militant [...]
[...] Kenneth Uwadi formally responds to Ben Wuloo Ikara’s Comment on his earlier submission “Letter to A Nigerian Militant” [...]
Dear militant,it is true you are fighting a just course.All the major points mentioned so far are genuin.These issues brought about your arm struggle with the federal as well as your state govt.You have also succeeded somehow to make it go international.However,you seem to have miscalculated your struggle.I mean,that any struggle that involves arms is viewed with suspicion.There are various avenues and methods to address sensitive matters.PIL,strikes devoid of violence and the UN.By kidnappingfor ransome,you demean your struggle.And by planting bombs at the oil installations you invite the wrath of the federal government.
.Majority of Nigerians consider your struggle now as personal greed.I wonder how you are going to withstand the federal military might.Worst of it all,you are fighting a lawless army.You can see for yourself that those who voice things out in support of your struggle are speaking with caution,while the aggressieve ones are invisible.Many instances have been cited where both economic and political freedom are fought or are still going on.Do not forget that none of those are ever workable in Africa.
Therefore,i would you disban your militia,seek peace and leave in peace.The whole nation is now concerned oweing the creation of new ministry for the Delta.
So,now is the right time to resort to dialogue and none violence.This may also give you time to visite the families of those who have lost their dear ones in this struggle under your command.
I have a bad experience not involving myself but my friend. He was stranded in Nigeria nad was kindapped by the militant who demand ransom
I have a bad experience involving my friend. He was stranded in Nigeria and was kidnapped by militant who demanded ransom. He has no relative and is surviving on his own. He went there to work when this thing happened to him. I do not know what happen to him and I was sad that I cannot able to help him. i didn’t realise and was shock that human life was not total value by Nigerian people. I don’t understand how people willingly treat human life like a peanut. No remorse and compassion towards human being. No matter who you are, where you come from, as human being that have heart that pump the blood through the vein, the same blood color that all of us have it, we have the right to live in peace and harmony regardless race and religion. Who are we to stop life….