Why the Avengers can never give up.

From indications within the guerilla group the Avengers, their mission is far from over as they renew their intentions to blow up every oil pipeline or super structure that is within the Niger Delta. The leader, captain Olotuowei speaking from a secured location in the creeks, said the Avengers are more determined than ever given Buhari’s proclivities and his stance on the confab resolutions and restructuring of Nigeria. “So, Buhari thinks every part of Nigeria is existing to serve the Hausa/Fulani. Anyway, here in the Niger Delta, we rather fight to the death than be conscripted into that internal slave plantation. We will bring Buhari to his senses. He can go ahead and intimidate and abuse the human rights of innocent villagers. Nothing can stop the Avengers. The oil industry will be crippled.” Continuing, he said, “We are half way there.”

Given the events in the region now fastly moving past the rubicon, only the politically naive will fail to grasp what is happening, that a low level civil war is already beginning in the Niger Delta. And Buhari’s words to the effect that the national confab resolutions should be kicked to the archives has only stoked the fire only waiting for a little gasoline. Now, the president himself has provided the reason why the Avengers are about to take out the oil industry by blowing up every pipeline within their sight.

While Buhari claims on one hand he would do everything within his power not to allow the disintegration of the country, he has also given ammunation to those who think the only way out of the corporate contraption call Nigeria is by forcing the issues, by fighting the entrenched forces of hegemony to a logical conclusion. As far as the Avengers are concerned, that logical conclusion is the emergence of the new nation called the Federal Republic of the Niger Delta. What can stop the advance of the guerilla group and the long war of attrition is the immediate application of the confab resolutions and a restructured Nigeria on the ideals of true federalism.

The Avengers know they are facing an invading military force that is well oiled to the teeth. Hear Col. Olotuowei, “there was no time in recorded history that an army has not been badly bruised by a guerilla group determinded to free their people from slavery and marginalisation. In Africa, the lessons of South Sudan easily comes to mind,” he said. “Look, we know what we are doing and very soon the military will have to contend with the mercenaries who will be swarming these creeks.” 

For now the determination of the Avengers is not in doubt, neither is Buhari’s belief in the none negotiable equation of Nigeria’s unity. Consequently, the guerilla group and Buhari are primed to be a long collison course. However, if Buhari still believes the rumbling in of jet fighters and more naval assets will cow the Avengers into submission, he will be dreaming for a long time. For now, the army has been reduced to a despicable unit good at intimidating only the civilian population who are caught in the crossfire between David and Goliath. Sadly, both combatants are using state of the art weaponry in the act of mutual destruction. In this match up of strategy and tactics, the Avengers have clearly shown that there will be no easy cake walk in the Niger Delta without another genocide in which Buhari and his generals will be held accountable by the World’s Criminal Court for artrocities and crimes against humanity.

In his recent public address on TV, Buhari’s narrative was tall on Nigeria’s unity but short on the enabling environment to cement her oneness. While he waxed arrongance and political invincibility, he compounded it by once again the deafening silence about the Fulani herdsmen as Nigeria’s imminent and present danger. Therefore, discerning Nigerians are not fooled on where Buhari stands on the critical issues affecting the country. In the process many have come to believe that Buhari and the north are only interested in One Nigeria as long as it serves the larger interests of greater Arewa Nation. From that context, the Avengers cannot be faulted for their determination to fight to the last man.

             ____________ Ebi B Asain

“Those who make peaceful

  Coexistence impossible, 

  make violent revolution 

  inevitable.”