Alaji Dokubo Asari Release

Alaji Dokubo Asari the Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, was Jailed since September 2005 on charge of treason by the President Obasanjo Administration.
Asari was brought to court and pleaded guilty, after publicly accusing the Government 2 be illegitimate, call for the disintegration of Africa’s top Oil Producer in order to gain control on the oil resources, and call all the Ijaw people, a vast group living in the riverine Delta where most of the oil is extracted, to form their own country.
The Nigerian president Obasanjo’s administration arrested him, and accused him to represent a threat to National Security
His arrest caused anger among Ijaw youth, whom started a harder struggle, forming more militias groups aiming to kidnap expatriates disrupt oil facilities while demanding for his release…
Last Thursday the 14th of June, he was released on bail, from Abuja, and arrived Saturday morning in his native “River” State at Port Harcourt Air force Base, where thousands of people came from all over the Delta region to welcome him.
He attended a brief meeting in the House of chief G. Douglas, a politician supporting the Ijaw cause, where he made a speech stating that if the new government will not come to terms with the Ijaw agenda, NDVF will go back to the creeks ready to fight for their demands.

Presidential Handover

On 29th May 2007 Nigeria witnessed the official end of Olusegum Obasanjo’s eight-year presidency and the inauguration of Alhaji U M Yar’Adua as its new leader, with Deltan Goodluck Jonathan as his Vice. This was watched with doubtful eyes by international community observers and journalists who had declared the recent democratic electoral process a farce. Nevertheless the occasion was marked with a two hour ceremony full of pomp in Abuja’s Eagle Square, attended by a large crowd of PDP party supporters, several African leaders and foreign dignitaries who enjoyed colourful marches and synchronized dances in between the swearing-in of the new leaders.























“I offer myself as a servant leader. I will be a listener and doer, and serve with humility”
Yar’Adua’s speech went on to list the seven point agenda from his election campaign: rebuilding physical infrastructure and human capital, accelerating economic reforms, strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies and especially police, reducing inflation, maintaining a stable exchange rate, rebuilding basic infrastructure, overcoming the energy challenge. He also pledged that his administration would give urgent attention to the crisis in the Niger
Delta.
Although Nigeria is one of the most populous countries in Africa, a major oil producer and rich in resources, its mismanagement, the succession of wars and leaders, inter-ethnic conflict, the corruption and greed of its governors have slowed down the process of development.
The new President is facing a huge challenge. Few steps have been taken toward establishing systems of healthcare and education, developing energy distribution, telecommunications, roads and basic infrastructure, or tackling poverty and unemployment.
Once again the Niger Delta, the sensitive region that produces 80% of the Nigeria’s revenue, is the nation’s Achille’s Heel. If the situation with militias and rebels worsens, the nation will be brought to its knees. And this against a backdrop where the majority of the people are already struggling to survive.