Why We're Talking to Militants, By Obasanjo
From Josephine Lohor in Abuja and Donald Andoor in Port Harcourt
President Olusegun Oba-sanjo has said that the discussion between government officials and the leadership of militant Ijaw group, the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) was part of the effort to restore peace, stability and harmony to the oil producing region of the country.
Security agents Wednesday held talks with the leader of the NDPVF, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, following the group's threat to blow up oil installations in the Niger Delta.
The President in his four-page national broadcast to mark the nation's 44th Independence Anniversary titled "Let Us Rebuild Nigeria Together" also appealed to elected officials in the Niger Delta area to live up to their responsibilities by providing dividends of democracy to their people.
While stating that his administration has stabilised the polity and utilised the democratic environment to allow opposition groups to articulate their demands,Obasanjo said "we are talking to those I described as rascaly elements from the Niger Delta in the effort to open lines of dialgue and peace as they feel aggrieved by their authorities."
He said that "a rapproachment is taking place and that peace, stability and harmony will return to the Niger Delta.
"The obvious assessment so far is that not much impact has been made on the lives and living standards of most ordinary people of the Niger Delta. In the interest of security and stability of the Niger Delta in particular and of Nigeria in general, I appeal to those elected officials of the region whose efforts are not measured up to expectations, to endeavour to be seen to be more alive to their responsibilities and the plight of the people they are elected to govern," he added.
While thanking Nigerians including those in the Diaspora for "their continuing belief in Nigeria, in our government and in the boundless opportunities and possibilities that God has placed before us," Obasanjo appealed "to all Nigerians that rascality and vandalism which are rapidly becoming the hallmark of the Niger Delta have implications for the production, distribution and pricing of crude oil; for our global economic rating; for investor confidence in our economy; and for overall resources available to support growth and development."
"Let me assure those patriotic, peaceful and law-abiding Nigerians that government will not tolerate in any way or form, any act that would mortgage or compromise the interest of the majority. Accordingly, government is taking appropriate steps to stem the tide of undue militancy and we are confident that reason and the law will prevail," he said.
Obasanjo said "the 13 per cent special allocation to the Niger Delta on the basis of derivation, which now extends to the offshore is meant to deal with the recognised and acknowledged situation of the Niger Delta." He also urged Nigerians to "develop a new attitude towards government and governance."
Meanwhile, in continuation of moves to find an amicable solution to the violence being perpetrated by militant groups, the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Group (NDVG), Mr. Ateke Tom, yesterday left Port Harcourt, aboard a chartered jet to honour the invitation of the presidency.
Tom's departure to Abuja for peace dialogue followed a similar meeting which the presidency had earlier held Dokubo.
Tom and Dokubo's group have engaged each other in bloody clashes in different parts of Rivers State, resulting into loss of hundreds of lives and properties. The discussions with the security agencies were believed to aimed at persuading them to voluntarily lay down their arms.
THISDAY gathered that the decision of the presidency to invite the warlords, together with the governors of Bayelsa and Delta was based on peace efforts brokered by the Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Fredrick Bozimo.
It was further gathered that Tom who was airlifted about 5.00 pm was accompanied by four of his comrade in arms for the peace dialogue.
It will be recalled that the Defence Headquarters had on the orders of the presidency set up a joint military task force to combat the security situation in Rivers State about 30 days ago. The task force which swung into action immediately is yet to bring the situation under control.
On Wednesday, Minister of Information, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu, said Dokubo and a few of his men who had been engaged in confrontation with the military were in Abuja to discuss with security agencies over the unrest.
Dokubo had earlier on threatened that his group will today declare an "all out war" on the country by bombing oil installations in the Niger Delta zone. He warned all foreign nationals to stay away for their safety. The uncertainty over his threat immediately forced crude oil prices above $50 per barrel.
The President who spoke on other issues said the decision to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry by government was "taken out of love and out of concern for our future, not out of insensitivity or sadism."
He also disclosed that "in the specific area of deregulation of the downstream sector, the Federal Government has set up a committee chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance to consider what cushioning measures can be taken to alleviate or moderate the pressures without compromising the goals of our reform."
"I hope that the committee will submit its report for inclusion in the 2005 Budget that will be presented to the National Assembly in the first half of October 2004," he added.
He added that "our government is not intent on making life difficult for Nigerians. Our commitment is to steadily wipe off the pain from the faces of all Nigerians. We can only do this by working together, thinking together, planning together, bearing pains together, sharing ideas and hopes as well as praying for God's guidance together."
The President who promised that Nigerians' "understanding, support and sacrifices shall never be in vain," stated that "however we look at it, the truth is that our reform agenda is working. We have stabilised the polity."
He said "the fundamental focus of this administration has been on the consolidation of our democratic enterprise. We were fully conscious of the distortions and dislocations in our socio-economic and political realities that mediated the full functioning of democracy. We thus committed ourselves to strengthening political institutions, fighting corruption, building new leadership, sanitising the nature of political competition and refocusing our political perspectives towards peace, tolerance, inclusion, harmony and collective dedication to the common good. Of course, this has not been easy but we are getting there."
The President, however, stated that "even our harshest critics agree that we are making admirable progress and the economy at the centre is being steadily and visibly moved away from profligacy, fiscal indiscipline, mismanagement, corruption, waste, misplaced priorities and insensitivity to the plight of the common person."
At another forum yesterday Obasanjo stated that the economic and social reforms being put in place by his administration would continue beyond 2007 when his second term as President ends.
Receiving the outgoing Japanese ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Akira Matsui to Aso Rock, the President said in order to ensure sustenance of the reforms, legislation would be put in place, where it becomes expedient, to ensure that the reforms have legal backing and support.
Obasanjo added that ensuring the continuance of the reforms was important because "the reforms are for all Nigerians, owned by everybody. They are not just government reforms."
The President also noted that for the reforms embarked upon to be successful, such reforms should be on the agenda of a strong political party and not be an individual crusade.
He said Nigeria's reform programme should be supported by her development partners, especially as it concerns concessions and debt relief because "I (Obasanjo) believe we are doing well and it is when you are doing well that one should be rewarded and encouraged to do more."
The President stated that the support of international development partners was equally very important because of their influences. He added that "it is important that we carry our development partners along."
Obasanjo stated that any reward to Nigeria through concessions and debt relief would encourage other countries to perform similarly, just as Nigeria is not asking for any rules to be bent.
"Once you do not bend the rules, encouragement should be considered and given," he added.
Speaking earlier, Matsui who will be leaving the country after two years and ten months tenure in Nigeria said that Overseas Development Assistance from Japan to Nigeria had risen from $35 million to $80 million during his tenure and described Nigeria's economic reform as being "on track."
Also yesterday, Obasanjo told the out-going Malian Ambassador, Mr. Seydou Diatigui Diarra, that his government was prepared to open official channels to enable importation of Malian textile materials to Nigeria as part of efforts to encourage inter-African trade, but would not tolerate dumping.
He said that he was determined to further strengthen the very warm personal relations between him and Malian leadership. He added that this could encourage national relations between the two nations.
The out-going Malian Ambassador had earlier said he enjoyed his 5-year stay in Nigeria and asked Nigeria to reconsider the ban on importation of "Senegal or Kampala" cloth from Mali.
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