AKANIMO SAMPSON

YAR'ADUA's DEATH SHOCKS AMAECHI, MILITANTS RENEW DEMANDS

THE death of the ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua on Wednesday night, came as a shock to Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, who had planned to receive the now President Goodluck Jonathan to the oil and gas rich state on a three-day official visit.

And for the insurgents of the Niger Delta, while commiserating with the Yar'Adua family over the incident, they claimed that divine providence has provided Mr. Jonathan with a golden opportunity to right the wrongs to the peoples of the Niger Delta.

Mr. Nengi James, co-ordinator of the Network of Freedom Fighters in the Niger Delta (NFF), an insurgent group, told AkanimoReports on telephone on Thursday that the peoples of the oil region are looking up to Jonathan to initiate moves for the abolition of all ''obnoxious laws'' that have denied the region their property rights.

James said they are expecting action on the Land Use Act, a raise in the derivation principle to at least, 50 per cent, and a working post-amnesty programme as well as a shake-up of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

On their part, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), another armed group, expressed what they described as ''our sincere condolence'' to the new President of the Nigerian State over the death of Yar'Adua.

Mr. Bakabio Walter, spokesperson for the group in an on-line statement to AkanimoReports on Thursday said, ''this puts to an end months of speculations of who is actually in charge of the Nigerian State''.

According to them, ''we call on Jonathan to muster the political courage of mind and character to convene a Sovereign National Conference of all the ethnic nationalities that presently find themselves under the neo-colonial authority of the Nigerian State. This is the only peaceful way to the resolution of the crises in Nigeria and that which is brewing as a result of the death of Yar'Adua''.

Continuing, they said, ''the suggestions of Muammar Al-Gathaffi on the peaceful breaking up of Nigeria has become more relevant. We can no longer continue to waste the blood of innocent people on the alter of the insatirable greed of a few disgruntled individuals''.

The JRC however, pointed out that ''Operation Boro'' shall continue in the coming days with the greatest vehemence until we are able to liberate our territory.

However, Governor Amaechi who was shocked by the tragic development, observed that the late Yar'Adua was a friend of Rivers state and the Niger Delta , noting that he was one of the moving spirits for the return of peace in the region.

''On behalf of the government and people of Rivers state, I commiserate with Mr President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the widow and family of our late resident, and all Nigerian people on the unfortunate demise of our much loved President, Umaru Musa Yar Adua, GCFR'', Amaechi said.

Continuing, he said, ''Yar Adua was a friend of the Niger Delta and especially Rivers State. He made deliberate choices to change the situation in the region against all odds''.

He recalled Yar'Adua's commitment on the amnesty programme and support for the return of peace and security in Rivers State, as well as his insistence on greater participation of oil bearing communities in the oil industry,noting that these roles were historic and unforgettable ''as Nigerians and particularly those of us in Rivers State, remain indebted to him''.

Adding, he said, ''while we mourn this great loss, we totally submit to the sovereign will of the Almighty God and pray him to grant his widow, family and the nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.''

On their part, the Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy(GIPD), a civil society group, regretted the death of the president, saying, Yar' Adua died when Nigeria and her democracy needed him most.

Mr. Akinaka Richard, its executive director, said in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, that the late president was a stabilizing factor in Nigeria since 2007, who strived to carry out reforms that were aimed at strenthening democratic institutions in the country.

''The Niger Delta will mourn him as he displayed uncommon courage and statemanship in declaring amnesty to the Niger Delta agitators and spiritedly moved to implement the amnesty protocol befor his health deteriorated'', Richard said.

Richard berated Mrs.Turai Yar'Adua, noting that she played ignoble role in her husband's health saga and unleased unnecessary controvery on the gentleman presient.

''Her children and other Nigerian women should learn a lesson from the sordi practice of power hungry woman who could not understand that power belongs to God'', he said.

Richard who expressed belief that Jonathan would implement the administration's Niger Delta plan, why condoling the bereaved family, called for immediate swearing in of acting president Jonathan.

A Port Harcourt lawyer and member of the Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA), Mr. Angus Chukwuka , in his tribute, described the death of the president as ''unfortunate and painful''.

Chukwuka said that the late Yar'Adua would be remembered most importantly for his promotion of the rule of law and the granting of amnesty to the Niger Delta Militants.

''He led a simple life as a president and is and example in this regard , may God receive his soul'', he said.

In the mean time, there were personalities and groups who believe that the official announcement of the demise of the president was a good omen to the polity as according to them , it has resolved a lingering political logjam that would have posed grave danger to political stability in the months ahead.

Some of these analysts belief that the visit of Good Luck Jonathan to Rivers would have given the acting president a new courage and resoluteness at the end . ''the announcement could therefore be a preemptive action to forestall the expected gain of the visit if it had taken place'', they argue.

Elsewhere , some peoples who have been discussing the announcement of the death in groups in public places such as vendor stands, beer parlors, and in the streets, express happiness that the presidency that some people were footdragging in allowing Jonathan to assume had been resolved by fate and nature.

Most of these people believe that the president had long been dead but that a cabal was hiding the fact away from everybody to practise their design.

Peoples Daily findings show that the hub of discussions accross the Niger Delta has shifted from concern and suspecion over Jonathan's leadership to relief, celebration , anxiety and what Jonathan will do with power. ENDS