Date Published: 05/25/09

Niger Delta: Ijaw leader writes Bankole, demands apology for Rep's stance

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, has been asked to apologise to the Ijaw people and the entire peoples of the Niger Delta for the utterances of some of the house members.

In a letter to the speaker dated May 24, 2009 by Dr. Felix Tuodolor, the Ijaw leader particularly took on Hon. Bala Ibn Nallah, regarding the invasion of Ijaw communities in Delta State, saying the utterances of Nallah implied that the Niger Delta people are inconsequential in Nigeria.

''In addition the resolution of the house on Thursday, May 21, 2009 on the Niger Delta should be reversed immediately. However, this might not be necessary if it is part of the premeditated greater plan to annihilate the Ijaws'', the letter said.

The House last Thursday passed a resolution supporting the gmilitary operation in Gbaramatu Kingdom. The resolution also asked the JTF to extend their crackdown  on militants Bayelsa and Rivers states.

Tuodolor said the stance of the house was disappointing to Ijaw youths who because of the high esteem they hold the house made the m to seek the assistance and collaboration of the lower chamber of the National Assembly in resolving the Niger Delta crises.

In a letter dated  March 9, 2009, the Ijaw youths allegedly requested for audience with the speaker to discuss the peace and security situation in the Niger Delta, and for them to explore possible solutions to the Niger Delta crises.

''Your office acknowledged the letter and informed us that you are busy presently but will make out time to discuss with us. Despite several reminders through telephone, we are yet to meet with you. Perhaps, if we had met, the present genocide may have been prevented as we have designed alternatives to military solution of the crises in the Niger Delta region. In fact, the Ijaw youths leadership were working hard to bring this alternative to reality before this invasion by the JTF'', the letter to Bankole said..

According to the letter, ''the presence or existence of arms, 'militants' and 'militant camps' in the guise of religion, sovereignty, resource control or boundary dispute dots all the regions of Nigeria. Yet it is only the Niger Delta that has been selected for militarization. Is this not hypocritical? Or are the citizens of the Niger Delta lesser citizens in Nigeria? What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. It will only be just to militarise all the regions where these crimes are taking place as they are not different from the Niger Delta. The House of Representative should also pass a resolution to this effect''..

The rest of the letter has it, ''what I and many Nigerians are worried about is the usurpation of the powers of the National Assembly by the Executive arm of government on the present invasion of the Niger Delta. Section 217 of the Nigeria Constitution provides that the President needs the approval of the National Assembly to deplore the military to any part of Nigeria. Section 217(2) states:

“The Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of -

(a) Defending Nigeria from external aggression;

(b) Maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea, or air;

(c) Suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly; and

(d) Performance such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly”

''If i may ask, where is the act of the National Assembly that provides for the presence of the JTF in the Niger Delta? Where is the act of the National Assembly authorising the President to invade the Ijaw communities in Delta state from May 13 2009? The invasion and genocide ordered by Mr President is a breach of Section 217 of our constitution. If our democracy must blossom and not be haunted, there must be separation of powers between the Executive and Parliamentary arms of government.

''My layman understanding of our constitution is that the National Assembly should have queried Mr President for deploring the military to the Gbaramantu kingdom without an act of the National Assembly. Instead, the house supported an unconstitutional act by its resolution. I think that the resolution passed by the House of Representative is cowardly. Or has the National Assembly abdicated its responsibilities to the President? If this is the case, then the National Assembly, in this case the House of Representatives, should be dissolved as it may no longer be necessary.

''Mr Speaker, there are so many questions begging for answers regarding the present invasion and genocide on the Ijaws. In as much we all abhor and condemn kidnapping, hostage-taking and other anti-social vices, one wonders why high ranking officers of the Nigerian Army, such as a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, were escorting a Chevron ship as being claimed by the JTF Coordinator before they were ambushed. Or are there other motives behind the presence and engagement of such high ranking officers in activities meant for lower ranks? Why should sophisticated weapons of war such as helicopter gunships, gunboats, and bombs be used on local communities (far away from the so-called “militant camps”) for a “search and rescue” operation by the JTF? Or is Nigeria at war with the Ijaws? Or are the Ijaws no longer part of Nigeria?''