By Dio Treasure Bafuere
Before the emergence of the amnesty offer from the federal government in 2009, there used to be agitations from the Creek of our dear Niger Delta region for equity, recognition, fairness, justice, and infrastructural development of the oil-rich region of the country.
There were several freedom fighter groups with operations going on simultaneously in the different axis of the mangrove region, one such renowned and vibrant group was The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), this powerful freedom fighter group was headed by a dogged leader known as Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo who is popularly known by the name Tompolo.
There was a strong zeal and desire in this man to see positive changes in the creeks particularly the oil-producing communities as they were neglected by the government and oil companies. These areas produced the wealth of the nation, yet a slum, with a high rate of environmental degradation with her inhabitants living in abject poverty, no infrastructural development, and inhumane conditions surrounding the zone
Thus the agitations and struggle for the Niger Delta particularly Ijaw Nation to create awareness and give the people a sense of belonging as the region that brings wealth and carries the financial burden of the nation.
The message from these freedom fighters was simply driven home to the federal government of Nigeria through an act of violence against all oil installations in the region, which brought about a sharp decline in the nation’s revenue.
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Left with no other options, the government called for a truce and proposed the amnesty program for the people as a way to calm down nerves, provide a sense of belonging and reduce tension in other to enable and continue the uninterrupted exploration of the region’s black gold.
Being a peace-loving race, they sheathed their swords based on the understanding that this offer will attract some level of development and provide a sense of belonging to the region.
Based on the MoU, the Presidential Amnesty Program was expected to better the lives of creek dwellers, solve issues of environmental degradation caused by oil spillages and as well improve the standard of living, and enlightened the region.
But the present outcome of this beautiful initiative has become an eyesore simply because the program has been overtaken by “powers to be”, it’s a pity that most of the braves who carried the “guns” in the jungle aren’t those who are carrying the pen in the PAP scholarships scheme and skills acquisition programs.
The PAP scholarship scheme and skills acquisition programs were expected to educate the region’s youths through access to quality education and skills acquisition, but have been overtaken by greedy individuals both within and outside the region, who see it as a conduit pipe to siphon wealth in order to change their generational poverty line at the expense of the intended recipients.
The program currently is been run “cult” like and has shifted from its core values. As they say, this program has turned into “a man know man affair”, most of the slots given to our so-called “Generals” were supposed to be shared with their comrades and the less privileged within the creeks were monetized to non-beneficiaries outside PAP coverage area at the expense of their own.
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These slots have been turned into “public auctions” with non-intended participants buying off our inheritance while we grieve in pain.
The few creek dwellers who were able to get theirs on a platter of gold were put into “contract” by their benefactors from their monthly stipends for the duration of their scholarship program based on an agreeable percentage of financial responsibilities payable to the provider of the slot.
Failure to keep up with the terms of the agreement does lead to either withdrawal of the scholarship program from the beneficiary or outright stopping of monthly stipends.
Lots of bitter tales from most creek dwellers who have been swindled of their money despite the fact that they have a great passion for acquiring education and learning skills for the betterment of their self and the community at large.
I have also fallen prey to monetizing inducement for a scholarship program, having paid an agreeable sum for a scholarship slot from one of our so-called “Generals”, it ended in tears and regret, because I was made to understand that an outsider of the PAP outbid me.
I lost not just the money but also any iota of respect I hold for such a “General” having sold off our birthright on a platter of gold.
Many such “Generals” have exploited many girls in the name of putting them on their list for either a scholarship or skills acquisition programs which all ended in regrets and garnishing of teeth.
There have also been tales of ghost beneficiaries who were filled up to occupy the slots of these “Generals” while all benefits that should have been remitted to the beneficiaries are been pocketed by such greedy fellows and the spaces wasted.
Don’t get me wrong, there are also exceptional individuals like our revered General Tompolo who fought all odds to make sure his comrades and “common man-children” became real beneficiaries of the PAP program without knowing him in person nor paying any price to get access to it.
He used his good office to bring some level of development to the region.
He touched lives positively by training thousands of Creek youths in higher institutions both within and outside the country under the PAP program. He made sure they also had access to skills acquisition training of their choice at no cost
I think if every “General” in their own territory will be selfless and pursue the good and welfare of his territory and Izon Nation at large as been advocated by Tompolo, by now the creeks would have been a safe haven with improved infrastructural development in every axis and reduction in social vices. It is more profitable to build men than mansions.
If you are opportune to visit our Creeks today, you will be amazed at the kind of flamboyant and luxurious lifestyle many of these “Generals” are living at the expense of their immediate community.
They are of the view that having once been a mouthpiece of the Creek in the struggle, they see their current position of exploitation as a life pension.
Some of the once loving freedom fighters now turned “Generals” have slowly become a plague to the creeks we all hold reverence.
We as a people need to start retracing our steps and put the yearning and growth of our creeks above our personal ambition. They say Rome was not built in a day, but the journey to such an edifice started in a day. Ours should be of no difference.
When the learned within the society sit back and allow the crooks and illiterates to be at the helm of affairs and decision-making as we have in the PAP and other governmental agencies, the learned unconsciously becomes a partner in such committed atrocities which directly results in economy sabotage as we witness continuously in our communities today.
The government of the day is always happy when we have self-centered persons as our representatives in the PAP office and other governmental agencies because they know such individuals can be bought off, and won’t fight for the growth of their region.
It continuously becomes business as usual.
The PAP program itself is laced with a web of corruption that needs serious untangling by competent and dedicated hands, if not it will continue to fall short of its founding objectives.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Daily Report Nigeria.
