Date Published: 12/24/09

"State of Nation Precarious" ...UNDEDSS

The United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy [UNDEDSS], the political mouthpiece of the Niger Delta, has warned that Nigeria is on the verge of failing! “Recent events, and non-events, in Nigeria,” according to UNDEDSS President, Professor Pat Utomi, “may suggest that we are fast approaching the status of a failed state in the eyes of the world.”

In a Christmas message released to the press on Thursday, December 24, 2009, UNDEDSS, the coalition of all ethnic nationalities and civil society of the Niger Delta, condemned the ongoing constitutional impasse surrounding President Umaru Yar’Adua’, ill-health and the resultant absence of anyone in real control of state affairs; and the subsequent failings of governance in Nigeria.

Pointing to the comatose state of the Post-Amnesty process, the non-execution of the Supplementary Budget recently passed in record time by the National Assembly, the illegal seatings of the Federal Executive Council putatively chaired by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, amongst many others, as being evidence that the Nigeria state is as sick as President Yar’Adua, UNDEDSS Secretary General, Mr. Tony Uranta, says, “UNDEDSS demands that an urgent national politico-economic audit be carried; especially in the face of the nonsensical statements by Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, who spuriously claims that President Yar’Adua can lead this enlightened nation of over 150 million intelligent Nigerians from faraway Saudi Arabia.”

Professor Utomi commended the Emirs of the of the north, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum, the Afenifere, the Oodua Peoples Congress, the Arewa Youth Congress, many progressive Senators and House of Representatives members, and others who have demanded that the nation’s Constitution be followed to the letter, and the President be made to do what is best for the common good. “This nation-space must be run according to international best standards. We must begin to do the right things, the right way, and at the right time.”

Amplifying the UNDEDSS President’s position, UNDEDSS Scribe, Tony Uranta said, “Nigeria is not the personal fiefdom of any family or political party, and every attempt by anyone to sell us any dummy to the contrary must be resisted. UNDEDSS hereby calls for the resignation of Mr. Aondoakaa, who has brought more ill than good to the revered office of Nigeria’s #1 Law Officer, with his numerous inane public statements, counter-productive specious reasoning and antithetical positions to the pivotal national war against corruption.”

“President Yar’Adua should be urged to allow the common Nigerian better enjoy this festive season, in the hope of a better tomorrow, by handing over to his deputy, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, and also by expunging elements like Michael Aondoakaa from his cabinet.”

“Failure to do these things without further procrastination,’ concluded Mr. Uranta “could result in all the good work of the Yar’Adua administration being rubbished; and in President Yar’Adua gaining the damning distinction of being the man who presided over this nation’s movement into failure mode!”

Tony I. Uranta

UNDEDSS Secretary General

Thursday December 24, 2009.