“Whether it is a coincidence, one cannot tell, or action born out of sheer patriotism, it is not very clear; if there are some economic considerations only those who are in the know can authoritatively say, but the sudden amalgamation of groups, even the unlikely ones, towards the re-election project of the President is beyond happenstance,” said a public affairs commentator who asked not to be named.
The general election this year appears to be throwing some surprises. For many years, some ethnic militia groups had maintained low profile. Some of them had worked at cross purposes with the Federal Government.
For instance, the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) had claimed it was not part of Nigeria and had nothing to do with the most populous black nation on earth.
In 2003, the Ralph Uwazuruike-led group had urged its members and indeed, people of the South East, against participating in the general election of that year, claiming that the people of the Igbo extraction had nothing to do with the entity called Nigeria.
Over the years, members of the group had at different times and locations clashed with security operatives. Most of such clashes left blood and tears in their trail. On a regular basis, a good number of MASSOB members are being detained by the police and chances are that there are still many of them being held for various alleged offences.
It would also be recalled that at various times, the group had launched Biafran flag, anthem, songs and other insignia with the aim of achieving liberation some day.
But at what point the leadership of the self-determination-seeking group that described itself as non-violent decided to wholly get integrated into the Nigerian system to the point of trying to pontificate to Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the method to adopt to achieve credible election for Nigeria is not known.
Recently, MASSOB organised a protest in some parts of South East calling for Jega’s resignation and verbalising their opposition to the use of card reader machines for the elections.
In a similar move that has been described as curious by observers, members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a militant group of the Yoruba stock, last Monday marched through the popular Ikorodu Road in Lagos, wielding dangerous weapons. They also wanted Jega out of office.
OPC, a militant youth group in the South West was vibrant many years ago, particularly shortly after the return of the country to civil rule. The group’s activities during the first stanza of Olusegun Obasanjo administration between 1999 and 2003 turned Lagos into a dreaded state. They ruled like lords and determined who deserved to be punished or otherwise. At that time, they were said to be responding to the alleged injustice done to the Yoruba race by the military junta headed by Badamasi Babangida by virtue of the 1993 June 12 presidential election presumably won by the late Moshood K. Abiola.
It would also be recalled that the OPC at a point was factionalised between Frederick Fasehun, founder/leader of the group and the youthful Gani Adams. But it appears that there has been a fence-mending and somewhat understanding.
Recently, Kingsley Kuku, special adviser to the president on Niger Delta, was in Lagos to meet with Fasehun and Gani Adams as part of winning supporters for President Goodluck Jonathan re-election.
He did obtain their promises to support the project. Fasehun said he personally had promised the OPC members that whosoever delivered his unit and ward would get a tangible reward.
“OPC members are going from house-to-house to woo people, with incentive for everyone that will win his constituency; we are going to work until Buhari looses totally. I thank God for Jonathan. I want to congratulate all, and those who want good things to continue should support Jonathan.”
“OPC members are going from house-to-house to woo people, with incentive for everyone that will win his constituency; we are going to work until Buhari looses totally. I thank God for Jonathan. I want to congratulate all, and those who want good things to continue should support Jonathan.”
“Let the President be rest assured that the OPC friends and families are in his support, because we will go around armlets and villages to campaign for him, because we know what he has done, only that the reports have been too low. He is a good ruler, let us not lose the opportunity to enjoy him further,” the OPC leader further said.
When Kuku met with Gani Adams, the following day, he also got the assurance that OPC was for President Jonathan. Adams promised to garner support for the President because he had seen the insincerity of the opposition, saying that 6 million members of the group nationwide had resolved to vote for President Jonathan at the polls.
“The OPC members took the decision at their national council meeting after taking time to assess President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“OPC is rooting for Jonathan because of his human rights records, in not arresting or detaining any activist since he came to power, convocation of national conference and promise to implement the 633 recommendations that will help to restructure the country, which is in the interest of the Yoruba and South West.”
It would also be recalled that the militants of the Niger Delta have left no one in doubt of what they are capable of doing should Jonathan fail to clinch re-election at the poll.
Tough words have continued to ooze out from various militant groups, even from the unlikely quarters.
Analysts say that the basis of the militants’ resolve to frustrate any plan to thwart Jonathan’s victory could be located in the “good time” they have had in the last six years one of their own has been in the saddle as President.
Jonathan is from Bayelsa State, an oil-rich enclave of the Niger Delta in the South-South geo-political zone. Allegations are rife that some big names, who claim to be ex-militants, are living big off the present administration as they control multi-million dollar contracts directly from the seat of power.
Attempting an explanation for the gale of protests by the OPC and other militant groups, Kayode Otitoju, a politician, said: “Too much money is moving around, they want their own share.”
Watchers of political events, particularly the current campaigns, speak in tandem that so much money is exchanging hands and compromises are being reached.
“When you see unlikely groups making bold statements in support of politicians and their parties, you should understand that something must be beating the gong for them, the rhythm of which they are dancing to. As we speak, some people are becoming instant millionaires.
The irony of it all is that not all those that receive this money will come out to vote on the Election Day. Some people are getting mouth-watering contracts. But, on a very serious note, this portend very serious danger for the country,” a civil society group, who craved anonymity, said.
Zebulon Agomuo
