![Nigeria rebels say ‘open to talks’
“What the government has done in the case of Okah is like treating the symptom and not curing the disease,” he said.
“That will not put an end to militancy there because there are many Henry Okahs there.
“There are issues that drove the militants to the trenches. Until those issues are resolved in a fair and just manner, there will never be peace in the Niger Delta.”
Or more profits for Shell Gas, as Robb notes:
[Okah]was able to orchestrate the shutdown of over a half a million barrels a day of Nigerian/Shell oil production for over two years, with a total market value of $29 billion — a major reason why the global price of oil is currently over $100 a barrel today.(2/08)
For background on the ‘whys’ of Okah’s and MEND’s attacks on oil pipelines and infrastructure, TIME says:
Okah and his group claim to be championing the disenfranchised residents of the Delta region, who see little benefit from the oil being pumped out from under them. Nigeria, with a daily production of around 2 million barrels, derives nearly all of its foreign exchange earnings from the energy sector concentrated in the Delta region, where millions of residents have little access to education, clean water or electricity. Okah’s lawyer claims Nigerian authorities offered to buy off the MEND leader by offering him ownership of several key oil blocks, but that he refused the offer. The Nigerian authorities deny the allegation.](http://28.media.tumblr.com/x9JGCu6o8pwr64ys75Cq83eQo1_400.jpg)
Nigeria rebels say ‘open to talks’
“What the government has done in the case of Okah is like treating the symptom and not curing the disease,” he said.
“That will not put an end to militancy there because there are many Henry Okahs there.
“There are issues that drove the militants to the trenches. Until those issues are resolved in a fair and just manner, there will never be peace in the Niger Delta.”
Or more profits for Shell Gas, as Robb notes:
-
[Okah]was able to orchestrate the shutdown of over a half a million barrels a day of Nigerian/Shell oil production for over two years, with a total market value of $29 billion — a major reason why the global price of oil is currently over $100 a barrel today.(2/08)
For background on the ‘whys’ of Okah’s and MEND’s attacks on oil pipelines and infrastructure, TIME says:
- Okah and his group claim to be championing the disenfranchised residents of the Delta region, who see little benefit from the oil being pumped out from under them. Nigeria, with a daily production of around 2 million barrels, derives nearly all of its foreign exchange earnings from the energy sector concentrated in the Delta region, where millions of residents have little access to education, clean water or electricity. Okah’s lawyer claims Nigerian authorities offered to buy off the MEND leader by offering him ownership of several key oil blocks, but that he refused the offer. The Nigerian authorities deny the allegation.
