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A cross-section of Nigerians have criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for his last minute pulling out of a planned visit Thursday to the restive oil-rich Niger delta to launch a pollution clean-up.
No reason was given for the sudden change in plan but it comes in the wake of an upsurge in militant attacks on key oil infrastructure in the creeks and swamps of the oil-producing south.
Buhari had been scheduled to visit Ogoniland in Rivers state for a long-awaited clean-up of the region.
Ogoni leaders were yesterday holding meetings at Korokoro-Tai-Ogoni in Tai local government area, to ensure the success of the visit and for the youths not to allow themselves to be used to disrupt the strategic visit.
Paramount rulers from the four Ogoni local government areas, – Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme – as well as the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara; youth leaders, women groups, religious leaders and top politicians, among others, attended the meetings.
But President Buhari Cancelled the trip to Ogoniland over “Assassination Threats”
A Presidential source told Elombah.com that President Buhari will be represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The cancelation is not unconnected to security threats to the President from a newly formed militant group, Niger Delta Avengers who had threatened to kill the President should he step foot in the Niger Delta region.
But an oil investor was not amused at the excuse.
Joe Attueyi told Elombah.com: “A whole General should not be scared away by a rag tag group of militants. At this rate PMB may become a recluse like Abacha–only marginally better in that he can travel abroad.”
He continued, “This is not looking good at all–not for Nigeria, not for PMB and not for the Delta. If the president is not safe in the delta how will he convince an investor to put money there?”
ABOVE: Environmental devastation to farming and fishing in the area has for many come to symbolise the tragedy of Nigeria’s vast but squandered oil wealth ©Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File)
A Lagos based attorney from the Delta Region also told elombah.com:
“Trip to Lagos cancelled. Not safe in the South West? Trip to South South cancelled today. Not safe in the South South & South East? Is Buhari by his own doing President of Northern Nigeria?”
Carol Ajie added: “Make no mistake about it, one part of the country shutting down. Help President M Buhari now, tell him to listen to British Foreign Minister when he said military solution must be ruled out.”
Elombah.com had reported that Buhari also pulled out recently of a planned trip to Lagos, which would have been his first trip as president to Nigeria’s financial and business hub. Scheduling problems were blamed.
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Attacks on pipelines and other infrastructure have cut Nigeria’s oil production to some 1.4 million barrels per day, exacerbating revenue shortfalls caused by the global slump in crude prices.
In August 2011, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report said the region may require the world’s biggest-ever clean-up after a succession of oil spills.
Oil giant Shell was forced to pay compensation to farmers and fishermen who have lost their livelihood after court action was brought in Britain.
Environmental devastation to farming and fishing in the area has for many come to symbolise the tragedy of Nigeria’s vast but squandered oil wealth.
Ahead of the visit, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yesterday trading accusations over alleged plot to disrupt the president’s visit.
While The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a statement warmly welcoming President Muahhamadu Buhari to Ogoniland, Governor Nyesom Wike sued for peace, urging the people to give a rousing welcome to “our amiable president.”
In a broadcast, the governor said: “As part of measures to enhance security during Mr. President’s visit, I hereby place a ban on the operations of motorcycles and tricycles in Gokana and Khana LGAs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, 2nd June 2016. The security agencies have been directed to enforce this ban and ensure full compliance.
“I call on Rivers people, particularly the people of Ogoni land, to come out in great numbers and give our amiable President a rousing welcome during his visit.”
The governor added: “It is historic because it marks his first official visit to the state since assuming office as the President of this great nation. It is most significant because Mr. President is not on a political mission, but to kick-start the largest environmental clean-up in our nation’s history, for which Rivers people, and indeed the Niger Delta, will remain grateful.
QUOTE: “If the argument is right that @NGRPresident @MBuhari can keep cancelling visits to the South for ‘Security reasons’ then @GEJonathan was right for cancelling trips to the North for ‘security reasons’ then. Don’t we owe the CLUELESS one a big apology then? If President Buhari’s handlers are aware of on going security threats to President Buhari in some parts of Southern Nigeria then they should stop announcing his attendance of events only to cancel at the last minute.
“They should simply allocate those ‘delicate’ part of Southern Nigeria to Osibajo and leave President Buhari to make Katsina Kaduna Kano his safe heaven.
If there is a part of Nigeria we need to desperately reach out to more bearing all risks and pull back into the fold it is thye South South and South East and ONLY the President can take a major lead in that to isolate the few who continue to portray him as being allergic to the 5%. We do not have to wait for elections. When did the ‘Security threat’ got to the point of cancellation, the Presidency can adopt a new strategy of the President turning up unannounced in surprise visits rather than consistently advertising a visit and canceling in zero hours.
“It portrays the Presidency as largely disorganized, unserious and unreliable.”
===========Kayode Ogundamisi
