For Immediate Release
(Please distribute widely)a
Contact: Mukhtar Dan'Iyan at (317)216-4590 or FNM@ix.netcom.com =
Monday, May 05, 1997
Over the past few days the Free Nigeria Movement's Commission on Justice initiated a dialogue among the leaders of the Ijaw, Itshekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups of Delta State (the FNM does not recognize the six States or the Local Government changes instituted by the Abacha dictatorship) about the ongoing massacare of the members of the ethnic groups. Among other things, the following consensus emerged:-
1. The ethnic crises was orchestrated by subterranean elements working for the Abacha regime in order to create discord and panic among the people in the region; thereby giving legitimacy to Abacha's attempt to perpetuate his rule under the pretext of maintaining law and order.
2. By creating a false sense of division among the ethnic groups in question, and providing sophisticated arms and ammunition, as well as financial compensation to previously unarmed factions to use in slaughtering each other, the Abacha regime is only creating further justification to turn yet another oil producing area into a militarized zone for the unhampered flow of Nigeria's oil through Multi National Corporations (MNCs) such as Shell Oil, Texaco, and Chevron among others.
3. The tactic used is similar to that employed in an attempt to divide another set of people on the Niger Delta; the Ogoni and the Andoni. A division that was not allowed to take place as a direct result of the leadership of the martyred Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Based on the above points, the leadership of the three ethnic groups in question, through the auspices of the Free Nigeria Movement hereby calls on all those involved in the conflict to:
1. Cease fire immediately and lay down the weapons of destruction.
2. Support the FNM's initiative for grassroots based emergency dialogue immediately.
3. To unite with the Free Nigeria Movement in its condemnation of the Machiavelli inspired divide and conquer tactics employed by the illegal regime of Sanni Abacha.
The FNM would once again like to call on all well meaning and patriotic Nigerians to join our effort to peacefully bring about an end to 27 years of military tyranny in our great country by restoring all the electoral mandates held by the democratically elected representatives of the Nigerian people as of November 1st, 1993.
Long live Freedom, Long live the Free Nigeria Movement, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
On behalf of the Free Nigeria Movement:
Sincerely,
Tunde Okorodudu
President, FNM
Mukhtar Dan'Iyan
Secretary-General, FNM
Free Nigeria Movement
P.O. Box 441395,
Indianapolis, IN 46244
Phone/Fax (317)216-4590
Email: FNM@ix.netcom.com
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