Goodluck Jonathan: Nigerians are watching you

Independent

22 August 2011

Goodluck Jonathan: Nigerians are watching you

President Goodluck Jonathan owes his ascendance to the top-most political position in the country to the battle waged by late Ken Saro Wiwa, Niger- Delta environmentalists and militants against the Federal government over the criminal negligence and environmental despoliation of the Niger-Delta region.

As a result of oil exploration in the region, their farmlands were devastated; their seas and rivers polluted, which endangered aquatic life there.  But, sadly, the Niger- Delta region, the goose that lays the golden eggs, is neglected while other parts of Nigeria are being developed with oil-wealth from the Niger – Delta region.

The region could not put up with such inequity so, they adopted violence as a tool to right the wrong as well as call global attention to their plight.  The Niger-Delta militants blew up oil-pipe lines and abducted foreigners working for oil companies for ransom.  These violent acts of the restive Niger-Delta youths affected our economy as production and the sale of oil was reduced.

So, in order to appease the restive and indignant Niger-Delta militants, one of their own, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was chosen as the running mate of the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua in the 2007 Presidential election.