The news that militants in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, who call themselves Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), are arriving in the country in their numbers should be a source of great worry to all peace-loving people in Ghana. As reported by both The Chronicle and the Daily Graphic on 22 June, this year, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, HE. Musiliu O. Obanikoro, like a few others, expressed worry at the influx of these militants into the country.
He warned the Ghanaian security authorities of the imminent security threats that MEND’s presence poses to the nation and its international image as well as Nigeria. ‘Beware of Niger Delta Community’, he warned. If the crocodile pulls itself out of the river and narrates tales of other creatures down there, no matter how unpalatable they might sound, our forefathers advise that we should not grant doubt a space in our head.
At least 3,000 MEND members were reported to have arrived in the country. This was confirmed in radio interviews by Francis Okproko, a man who identified himself as president of Niger Delta Community in Ghana. This man said among other things that they were seeking the involvement of the Ghana government in negotiations with their home government. Was that how to seek the assistance of another country in resolving a domestic matter? Is the 3,000 a delegation? The High Commissioner came out to debunk their claims, saying that the matter in the Niger Delta was resolved and that all MEND members were granted amnesty with even a ministry being created for Niger Delta. This is an issue that is known across the world, and one wonders what the real motives of these MEND militants are.
If they are here as refugees, they should be forthright for the authorities to assess their case and if found credible, they will be treated as such. After all, Ghana has been host to refugees from many countries and they will not be the first guests of refugee status. Ghana will only have to open a new camp for them like the one at Bujumbura and they will be told their bounds. I have my doubt though.
But to relocate to this place and be calling for Ghana’s involvement in negotiations with the Nigerian government smacks of diabolical intentions. Is our oil not the source of attraction? Ghana should brace up for increased crimes of worse proportions. The whole world is aware that fighting between MEND and the Nigerian military is over following a personal intervention by the late president Yar Adua. It, therefore, came as a shock to some of us to hear that there is an influx of MEND members into the country with a call from them for Ghana’s involvement ‘to resolve their impasse’.
MEND actually presents a great hazard to Ghana and Nigeria, as their activities have terrible elements to strain relations between Ghana and her long-standing friend, Nigeria, if not handled carefully. How will these people survive here, what employment will they engage in or be engaged in considering the fact that there are numerous qualified but unemployed Ghanaians? How will they pay their bills-water, electricity and rent? From what economic activity will they remit their spouses and children back home? Where will they get the money from? And they must eat. Danger on the horizon!
Ghana, today, is witnessing first-time crimes such as kidnapping. Remember the kidnapping of some expatriates and a bank manager by Nigerian and Ghanaian suspects? A few weeks ago, police said the rate of taxi snatching in the Eastern Region was very alarming, describing the development as unprecedented in the crime record of the country. Will it be out of place to surmise that some of these militants could be behind some of these crimes? This is not an expression of xenophobia, no! We must be real, how will they eat? There are some foreigners who are law-abiding and in legitimate businesses.
Crimes such as these will certainly cast the nation in a very bad light and will consequently drive investors away whilst discouraging prospective ones. The fact that the Nigerian High Commissioner comes out to warn Ghana means that it is about time we called a spade a spade and confronted the issue head-on before it becomes an albatross.
Some of these people are taking cover behind the ECOWAS Protocol to play to the dictates of their hearts, but not in line with our laws. Recently, we heard a verbal economic duel between some Nigerian traders, who infringed on the trade policies of the country, and the Trades Minister, Hon Hannah Tetteh. They were accused of engaging in retail businesses exclusively reserved for indigenes. Their argument was that because ECOWAS Protocol allows free movement of people and goods, their action was lawful and that the minister had no right to call them to order. They even threatened to quit the country as if that will bring the country to an end. The Trades minister reminded them that every nation, including theirs, has its own laws which must be respected by all, no matter one’s status.
Laws of no regional block grant citizens of member countries freedom to do anything and I do not think Nigeria allows ECOWAS citizens to engage in any business without restrictions. A casual glance at the commission of certain serious crimes in this country will reveal that majority of the suspects are foreigners who describe themselves as ECOWAS citizens. It is unimaginable how a 419 man, Dr Wilson Ojomu, a Nigerian, allegedly attempted defrauding our Vice President, Mr John Mahama, through 419. (The Spectator, 26 June, 2010). Is this not an insult to us as a nation for a foreigner to plan that he was coming to defraud our Veep? We can’t allow this!
Whoever watched Metro TV’s late news of 29 June, this year, will appreciate this article rather than consider it as racist. A cross- section of South Africans interviewed were still angry at what they described as despicable activities of some Nigerians. The fact that these SA Africans spoke with bitterness in the face the World Cup euphoria underscores the pain in their hearts. (Metro TV should rebroadcast this news).
Loving one’s neighbour more than oneself is not a Biblical prescription. Some of our expatriate brothers and sisters are abusing our hospitality. We heard of violent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and some locals in Bono Ahafo Region and certain areas of the nation where the former allowed their cattle to destroy crops.
Recently, there were reports of highway robbery between Have and Vakpo in the Kpando district of the Volta Region. That was the second time such a crime was allegedly committed in the area, and very strange in the region. No one has so far been apprehended. Not even the swift police response was enough to lead to any arrest. It is highly suspected that the perpetrators might be Fulani herdsmen who immediately melt into the bush to follow their cattle. But their cup will be full up one day.
I have been a capital punishment advocate. If you have ever survived hell at the hands of robbers, you will have a clearest understanding as to why we should retain and vigorously apply this law. Why has the US, the bastion of democracy, not abolished death punishment and it is still applying it to the letter? Recently, the US judiciary ordered the killing of one of its citizens through firing squad the same way he committed the crime. So if you kill deliberately, you have no business being allowed to live; you must be killed once your guilt is established without doubt. If what you dish out to others tastes good, why then run away from it?
Have you observed that robbery suspects who have been granted bail from remand do commit robberies worse than those on which they are standing trial? They need money to hire the services of good lawyers and do not care how much legal fee they are charged, and that’s why they become more aggressive. The aftermath of the recent jail break in Sekondi is another example. What did the jail breakers take the rifles for, if they were only interested in their freedom?
The police should be ‘harder’ on armed robbers including car snatchers. That is the only way to ensure sanity in the nation and reclaim its beautiful face being given an ugly mask by criminals. When a few months ago the police decided to meet armed robbers ‘boot-for-boot’ to show them that ‘man pass man’, crime level commendably came down drastically. For instance, between January 2009 to November same year, there was a 5.3% reduction in robbery, that is from 1,347 to 1,276, an official police source announced. But it looks as if criminals are becoming cleverer and my appeal to the IGP is that he should not drop his guard against these nation wreckers.
When Nigeria a few years ago emboldened the police and declared ‘on sight shoot policy’ against armed robbers who were becoming sophisticated and killing the security personnel in attempt to arrest them, the criminals rushed to Ghana, safe haven. Many Ghanaians as well as foreigners have been killed whilst others were maimed by armed robbers. Their crime was that they worked hard to acquire property. Why should it be so? Police should be tougher on criminals. Parliament should take up the MEND’s issue and address it before we are caught unawares, particularly as we are about to bring ashore the first barrel of oil from our waters.
Bright Segbefia,
Accra
bkwamii@yahoo.com
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