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Sokari is the outstanding and legendary publisher at Black Looks blog. She is a Nigerian blogger that has being blogging since 2004 before I even know what blogging is all about.
She
was part of a group of bloggers who connected the world leaders at the
G20 summit in London to the rest of the world. She is an activist of
note that fights and defend human rights in all sphere of life.
It was a great pleasure for me to have met her at the Info-activism Camp
in Bangalore India, where we became friends. She share with us her view
on Niger Delta crisis, the resuscitation of the indence bill
proposition and LGTBI rights.....
What is your view about Niger Delta crisis?
It
is an act of war by the Nigerian "military" government against the
Nigerian people. This attack is the latest in a series of systematic
attacks against Nigerians of the Niger Delta which has been on going
for the past 20 years from Babaginda, Abacha, Obasanjo and now this
pathetic individual who calls himself President when in fact he was
never even elected - unless you call rigging an election a legal
process. What is unfortunate
is the failure by the weak Niger Delta states leadership - Senators,
representatives, governors, traditional rulers - to come out and
condemn these acts of violence against ordinary people and their land
and property. The other unfortunate aspect of this is the focus
on MEND and other militants by the Nigerian media and public. This
focus is what the Nigerian government want people to do instead of
focusing on the brutality of a government attacking its own people over
and over again. As for the militants they themselves represent a step
in a long process of resistance and struggle which due to the violence
of the Nigerian state has now led to the growth of the militant
movement. Personally I believe that resistance and struggle should be a
non-violent process - the militarisation of the issue of the ND is not
the answer.
Do you think the government has done enough to end the crisis and bring about peace?
No,
the Government and their puppets (see above) are the ones causing the
crisis. People want schools, hospitals, roads, electricity - whether in
the ND or elsewhere. People
no that it is the oil from their land that has fed the country for 50
years - built Lagos, built Abuja - but they have received nothing.
The ND leaders are also guilty of corruption and betraying the people -
always ready to be bought off by the Federal government.
Do you think the militants are representing the people of Niger Delta or are they fighting for their own personal gain?
Yes, I do think the militants represent the ordinary people of the ND. Where they fail is they do not appear to have any idea of what they would do if they did have control of the region.
How would they govern? What is their endgame? They do not appear to
have a civilian branch which has some idea of what kind of social,
political and economic organisation they would put in place. This is
not the way to conduct a struggle.
What do you feel will help in resolving the Niger Delta crisis?
The struggle in the ND is applicable to all Nigerians. We are all affected and involved in one way or the other. It is not a question of ethnicity but of governance ie corruption, mismanagement but most of all GREED!
If all Nigerians collectively chose to protest against all of these and
refused to accept thieving leaders then the ND issue would be solved
because then the region and the rest of the country would be developed
as it should have been. there is no economic reason for Nigeria to be
poor and to lack decent roads, hospitals, schools, electricity and
water - no need at all.
As
a human rights and feminist Activist, do you think the Nigeria
government is reasonable about the denial of the existence of gays and
lesbians in Nigeria?
No, I think they are ridiculous along with the religious hypocrites of all types. Everyone knows LGBT people exist and have always been part of Nigeria since time. Nigeria is no different from anywhere else. They can deny all they want but that will not
