Nigeria is a leader in the African continent on many fronts. The country called Nigeria has the continents highest population, largest economy and highest deposit of oil. Nigeria’s estimate was 2,427,000 barrels of crude oil per day followed by Angola and Algeria with 1,756,000 and 1,721,000 barrels per day respectively.
The history, economics and politics of oil in Nigeria is definitely one of the most intriguing in the world. Oil and its discovery in Nigeria has often been referred to as a “curse” rather than a blessing. The discovery of oil and its extraction has impoverished the country more over the years with the added “curse” of enriching a few tyrants in the military and the political system.
The African Opinion (TAO News) will continue on this not so happy tale of poverty in the midst of plenty another day. However, let us be reminded of recent events in Nigeria, the current democratic president of Nigeria, General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) was sworn in on May 29, 2015 after a national election.
The new president has often been in the news recently for what many Nigerians perceive as shocking and negative news. Nigerians interviewed said they are faced with extreme hardship but are daily bombarded by propaganda akin to the North Korean style. The information minister and other government officials daily report discovery and recovery of billions of stolen money but have never shown the proof to its citizens or the law court, neither has the impact of the “recovered billions of dollars” been felt in the economy.
The latest sad news from the president and “former” dictator is the threat to treat anybody alleged to have tampered with oil pipeline or power installation “like Boko Haram.” If we study carefully the underlying tone and body language of General Buhari, this might be another veiled plan to destroy communities and kill people of the oil producing South under the guise of protecting pipelines.
We hope that this is not an indirect authorization by for the military and police to continue with extra judicial killings of the southern people. We at TAO remind the General Buhari (retired or not), that the whole world is watching. A tacit approval for genocide will not be without consequences. The international Court of Justice, Amnesty International and Human Rights Organizations are watching.
General Buhari on Wednesday was quoted as saying Nigeria will crack down on groups responsible for recent pipeline attacks in the oil-producing Delta region,
“We will deal with them the way we dealt with Boko Haram,”
“I hope this message will reach the vandals and saboteurs who are blowing up pipelines and installations,” he said.
“The government is still being dared, but those who are sensible should have learnt a lesson. Those who are mad, let them continue in their madness.
“I am aware that in the last two weeks, the national grid collapsed a number of times. I hope this message will reach the vandals and saboteurs who are blowing up pipelines and installations.
http://www.africanopinion.com/
