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| Tompolo |
The more the nation’s
colony of ex-militants and other known Goodluck Jonathan sympathizers try to
extricate themselves from resurgent pipeline vandalization in the Niger Delta,
the more they seem given away by some curious coincidences. From his hideout
suspected to be in Gbaramatu (in Delta State), fugitive Tompolo has been
churning out tons and tons of statements lately disclaiming the new militant
group called Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
colony of ex-militants and other known Goodluck Jonathan sympathizers try to
extricate themselves from resurgent pipeline vandalization in the Niger Delta,
the more they seem given away by some curious coincidences. From his hideout
suspected to be in Gbaramatu (in Delta State), fugitive Tompolo has been
churning out tons and tons of statements lately disclaiming the new militant
group called Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
Funnily, the more
Tompolo tries to distance himself from NDA’s nefarious activities the harder
the group defend him in statement issued each time crude pipeline is blown or
gas vessels broken. They tell us he is a nice guy; the type a nation should be
proud to call a patriot. Wonderful indeed.
Tompolo tries to distance himself from NDA’s nefarious activities the harder
the group defend him in statement issued each time crude pipeline is blown or
gas vessels broken. They tell us he is a nice guy; the type a nation should be
proud to call a patriot. Wonderful indeed.
But this serpentine
road looks familiar. We walked the dodgy path before.
road looks familiar. We walked the dodgy path before.
The comedy continued
few days ago when a group that called itself “Egbesu Mightier
Fraternity” – obviously operating from the same depraved hole as NDA –
took infamy to another level by adding the release of Sambo Dasuki, a key
suspect in the theft of $15bn arms cash, to their list of conditions to cease
fire.
few days ago when a group that called itself “Egbesu Mightier
Fraternity” – obviously operating from the same depraved hole as NDA –
took infamy to another level by adding the release of Sambo Dasuki, a key
suspect in the theft of $15bn arms cash, to their list of conditions to cease
fire.
It is not our
intention at this moment to question or speculate on what moral universe could
possibly drive supposed “revolutionaries” or
“freedom-fighters” or any entity that affects any modicum of
righteousness to so blatantly hold brief for someone suspected – in fact,
already encaged by mounting exhibits – of a felony as grave as the complete
rape of the communal till and remain unashamed of the obvious contradictions.
That is a topic for another day.
intention at this moment to question or speculate on what moral universe could
possibly drive supposed “revolutionaries” or
“freedom-fighters” or any entity that affects any modicum of
righteousness to so blatantly hold brief for someone suspected – in fact,
already encaged by mounting exhibits – of a felony as grave as the complete
rape of the communal till and remain unashamed of the obvious contradictions.
That is a topic for another day.
 |
| President Buhari |
Of grave concern
presently is the great hardship the activities of these fake
“freedom-fighters” are increasingly imposing on the rest of us.
Damaged pipelines have resulted in the steep decline of in oil receipt, and
broken gas vessels have led to a drop from an average of 4,000 to an abysmal
1,300 megawatts in the past few days. Without gas, the power plants cannot
generate electricity.
presently is the great hardship the activities of these fake
“freedom-fighters” are increasingly imposing on the rest of us.
Damaged pipelines have resulted in the steep decline of in oil receipt, and
broken gas vessels have led to a drop from an average of 4,000 to an abysmal
1,300 megawatts in the past few days. Without gas, the power plants cannot
generate electricity.
It is reassuring that
the authorities are already taking the current challenge as an opportunity to
finally do what ought to have been done all these years: diversifying the
nation’s energy source from dependence on hydro and gas. At least, this is the
simple message one could distill from the policy pronouncement made by 3-in-1
minister, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, last week while unveiling a roadmap as a
response to the worsening energy crisis.
the authorities are already taking the current challenge as an opportunity to
finally do what ought to have been done all these years: diversifying the
nation’s energy source from dependence on hydro and gas. At least, this is the
simple message one could distill from the policy pronouncement made by 3-in-1
minister, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, last week while unveiling a roadmap as a
response to the worsening energy crisis.
 |
| Buratai |
According to the
minister, greater energy would in the coming months be channeled towards
escalating the production of energy from solar and coal, to be added to the
national grid and bolster what is available for consumers. Given the country’s
relatively good weather, the solar option looks more attractive.
minister, greater energy would in the coming months be channeled towards
escalating the production of energy from solar and coal, to be added to the
national grid and bolster what is available for consumers. Given the country’s
relatively good weather, the solar option looks more attractive.
Appetizing as that
might sound, the devil is however in the details. Solar energy doesn’t
come cheap. The components are unique and capital-intensive. It has been
suggested that the delivery date could be shortened if the government finds the
means to expedite the creation of the enabling legal framework, which
ordinarily involves tedious paper-work. Apart from offering other incentives
like waving of duties on the hardware and software to be imported.
might sound, the devil is however in the detail
come cheap. The components are unique and capital-intensive. It has been
suggested that the delivery date could be shortened if the government finds the
means to expedite the creation of the enabling legal framework, which
ordinarily involves tedious paper-work. Apart from offering other incentives
like waving of duties on the hardware and software to be imported.
 |
| Dr. Ibe Kachukwu |
So, the question: does
the government have the political will to bring the vision outlined in the
Energy Mix to fruition and in good time?
the government have the political will to bring the vision outlined in the
Energy Mix to fruition and in good time?
Only when energy
source is completely diversified from gas and hydro can the nation effectively
castrate deviants and irritants who currently hold us to ransom by breaking the
pipes ferrying gas to the energy plants.
source is completely diversified from gas and hydro can the nation effectively
castrate deviants and irritants who currently hold us to ransom by breaking the
pipes ferrying gas to the energy plants.
But before then, it is
high time genuine leaders of the Niger Delta rose and told off these criminal
elements to stop profaning the Niger Delta question by turning an otherwise
noble struggle into a tool for extortion and self-aggrandizement. True, they
made fortune through several guises and disguises under their idol, Jonathan.
But how did that really benefit the typical swamp-dweller who, like most other
Nigerians, remains trapped today in desperate condition, with little or nothing
to show for all the six relatively “prosperous” years Jonathan held
sway.
high time genuine leaders of the Niger Delta rose and told off these criminal
elements to stop profaning the Niger Delta question by turning an otherwise
noble struggle into a tool for extortion and self-aggrandizement. True, they
made fortune through several guises and disguises under their idol, Jonathan.
But how did that really benefit the typical swamp-dweller who, like most other
Nigerians, remains trapped today in desperate condition, with little or nothing
to show for all the six relatively “prosperous” years Jonathan held
sway.
As one has always maintained in this column
over the years, plain buccaneers either seeking fresh ransoms or sulking over
the loss of source of cheap money should not be mistaken for those genuinely
seeking cogent and sustainable answers to the enduring Niger Delta
question.
over the years, plain buccaneers either seeking fresh ransoms or sulking over
the loss of source of cheap money should not be mistaken for those genuinely
seeking cogent and sustainable answers to the enduring Niger Delta
question.
