United Ijaw States

Dearest Brethren,

Now is the time for us again to declare our desires, intentions and our action plans as far as the Ijawnation is concerned. We all know the issues and we ache to get a grip on our destiny as a distinct indigenous people of the Niger Delta basin. We and indeed the nation of Nigeria are at a critical crossroads in history. What we do from here henceforth may well change the course of our history. Failure is not an option. "Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them."– Orison Swett Marden

These Suggestions: Politics.
 
01. Reaffirm the Kaiama Declaration (Self determination).
02. Reiterate Resource ownership, control, management and choice.
03. Work with other tribes of the Niger Delta.
04. Promote positive public image of the Ijaw cause worlwide. (Internet websites, write in, phone calls, posters, handbills and press adverts)
05. We must incorporate live video and still pictures into our public activities. This has the power to move compassion to our side.
06. We must equally have live video and still pictures of governmental securities brutalizing peacefully demonstrating Ijaws.(Ijaws being beaten and shot at if possible)
07. We have to get the names and pictures of government officials who order massacre of Ijaws or other Niger Deltans.
08. We should call for a moratorium on demonstrations or any activity that will be perceived as being negative in the western press. We will have our opportunity to make our case better after a resounding yes vote.
09. We should consider having a signature or thumb print petition drive on a United Ijaw States statehood or a Niger Delta Republic.
10. We should call for a popular vote on November 22, 2002  (Odi 3 Years) or in December  (Kaiama 4 Years) on statehood. A yes vote with a huge turn out  will catapault our agenda to the world. We can strategize on how to conduct the vote later.
11. Be actively engaged in the politics of Nigeria. We should have an Ijaw name out there as a presidential must reckon with. We have to let the nation know that the way this Ijaw candidate is treated will determine how the Ijaws and the entire Niger Delta would vote in the next general elections. We will take polls that  reflect nationwide support.
12. We should utilize Newspapers and Magazines reporters, adverts, editorials to press and promote our collective agenda.
13. We need to pray in our own ways like we have never prayed before for guidance and boldness in all that we do.

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot." — Eleanor Roosevelt

Let us continue to work towards improving the following areas.

Locally
 
1. Education, Education, Education. 
a.  How do we change and make our schools better.
b. We need better schools infrastructures.
c.  New skilled or trained teachers that are adequately equipped to help our school children.
d.  Develop adequate curricullum to reflect the changing eduational dynamics of the world.
e.  Emphasize math, science, computer literacy, technical skills, arts and history etc.
f.   Statewide or regional educational standards with adequate funding but local control.
g.  Local fiscal responsibility in managing educational resources. ( We should seek international educational grants)
h.  Ask those of us on vacation back home to volunteer to teach even if for one week.
i.   Find ways abroad to get even used texbooks to supplement what is available back home.
j.  

2. Health.  (Doctors, Nurses and other Health Care Professionals please weigh in on this)
a. We need better, well trained, better equipped and adequately staffed health care facilities.
b. We must educate our people about the causes of and how to prevent  HIV/AIDS, ALCOHOL ABUSE, MALARIA, TYPHOID, Teenage Pregnancy etc.
c. We need to promote Health Fair, First aid, Blood Pressure Screening, Heart Disease, Women’s Health Issues, Men’s Health Issues etc.
d. Invite Doctors Without Borders and other international health NGO’s back to the Niger Delta for periodic help in training, teaching and treating our people.
e.  
f
g.  
h.

3. Economic Development and Empowerment Council.
a. Cooperative endeavors in capital intensive projects like energy between private and public entities.
b. Business mentors to help someone grow.
c. Small business enterprises that are flourishing should be helped to grow further if need be.
d. Encourage small business production and maufacturing.( Bakeries, construction materials, furniture, iron or metal works etc)
e. Open an Economic Development Bank
f.  Storage and processing of agricultural products such as rice, yam, cassava, plaintain, potato etc.
g. Seafood industry should provide for commercial fishing, oysters, crawfish, shrimp, salmon and catfish farms
h.  Development of our eco tourism areas. The beaches are still wide open . We promote this via brochures and the internet when ready.
i.  We must begin to wean ourselves off  the oil industry. We need to open up other industries.
j.  Establish a technology center to train computer skills.
k.
l.
m.

4. Elected Leadership Accountability.
a. Hold elected leaders to be accountable to the electorate. Bring the level of corruption way down.
b. Bring about sustained meaningful development ( roads, bridges, clean water, electricity etc)
c. Work with #3 above to attract and encourage entrepreneurship.
d. Educate the people as to the issues and work to defeat political candidates that are inept and blatantly corrupt.
e. Form a governmental oversight council to monitor the performance of elected officials.
f.  The current leadership that has failed woefully should not be allowed to continue in office or win elections
g.  Local Financial responsibility.
h.  Establish a civic leadership council to encourage and promote good governance.
i.
 
5. Gap Bridging Council
a.Work with other indigenes of the Niger Delta to reolve past differences and emphasize common goals. We are in it together and better off together.
b. Put positive pressure on oil conglomerates doing business in the Niger Delta.
c. We should be able to expose via communiques or videos of what is going on in the Niger Delta.
d. Produce a video documentary "CRY CREEK TOWNS" or  "CRY NIGER DELTA" for worlwide distribution. We can raise funds from sales of this documentary
e.
f.
g.
h.

6. Financing
a. We need brethrens who are skilled in grant writings to help secure grants from Foundations worldwide.
b. We conduct fund raising campaign twice a year
c. We lean on our well off brethren to contribute significant sums to the campaign fund regularly. We may call on them to finance some projects.
d. State and local governments will develop revenue bases other than the dependence on federal subsidy.
e. We will ask for sacrifice from all. ( A $1,000.00 a year contribution per family from all indigenes in the United States, and other western nations)
f.  Minimum donations and or contributions from our brethren back home will be encouraged. ( Amount to be determined)
g.
h.

7. Militancy
a. We should avoid for now any move to arms. We are not prepared for that right now.
b.
c.
d.

"It’s the action, not the fruit of the action that’s important. You have to do the right thing…You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no results."…. Mohandas K. Gandhi

I am sure there are people or groups that are interested in some of these areas and are doing something. We should encourage them to begin to act on them right now or take it to the next level.
 
WE MUST USE THE POWER OF THE VIDEO THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA IN THE WESTERN WORLD TO CHANGE ATTITUDES TOWARDS US. WE MUST USE THESE VIDEOS TO BRING ABOUT COMPASSION WORLDWIDE AND NOT JUST SYMPATHY.
 
What do you think? We will have to make up our minds to leave the bickering behind and be focused again.
 
 
Remain engaged.
 
Titoe Miriki