N Delta: The missing link

Vanguard

29 May 2011

N-Delta: The missing link

opinion

LOOKING at the prevailing implicit quietude in the Niger Delta, compared with the frenzied situation of bombing of oil installations and kidnapping of oil workers that used to be the order of the day, as well as the taking into custody of the "master", Henry Okah, who is undergoing the trial of his life for terrorism in South Africa, one could be lured to give President Goodluck Jonathan a pass mark for the manner he has tackled the affairs of the region so far. The only thing, however, is that is it is not the way a cat walks that it catches a rat.

As opposed to the rat and cockroach association between former rulers of the country and erstwhile agitators from the Niger Delta, you may want to describe Jonathan's relationship with ex-militant leaders, including Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo; former warlord, Ateke Tom; Farah Dagogo; and Victor Ebikabowei Ben, alias Boyloaf as warm enough to ensure that further threat from the creeks to the unity of the country is checked.

In fact, it was to Tompolo that he ran, as vice-president in 2007 when his former boss, the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, assigned the unenviable task of "whipping" his agitator-brothers into line. The meeting, held at Camp Five, Oporoza, in Delta State, and was attended by the 'who's who' in the militant community in the Niger Delta then, except Henry Okah, who refused to attend.

Emma Amaize