Question : How can lasting peace be achieved in the Niger Delta?.

Answer : "Lasting peace can only be achieved if the fundamental demands of the people are met. And the demands are well enshrined in the various declarations of the people; from the Ogoni Bill of Rights, the Kaiama Declaration, to the Benin Declaration of Pan Niger Delta Action Council that led to the arrest of Asari Dokubo, Uche Okwukwu and a couple of others.

The people of the Niger Delta want their freedom and their sovereignty restored. How can you impose a Constitution over a people and claim they are party to it? How can you expect peace when you have Decrees consolidated by the same Constitution without input from them? You confiscate their lands and assets and you expect everybody to go on and assume there is peace. Everybody desires a free and democratic society and there cannot be a democratic society when the constitution is not democratic.

The basic law of every society is what determines the society. If the constitution is decreed and imposed, and lies that it derives its authority from the sovereignty of the people, and in practice the people have noticed that some are more equal than others on the basis of their nationality, they would agitate. Some people may not be able to interpret it properly but they feel the oppression, and they want it taken off. The moment the people’s right to self-determination is recognised and they become part of making the constitution, locally first, then federally, there will be peace.".....by.......Mark Olise of LNC