January14, 2007:
By unwritten (but not unspoken) agreement, all the major
political parties have nominated a Moslem to run for president in the April
elections. This is because for the last eight years, a Christian president has
been in power. The nation is split in half by religion. The south is Christian,
the north Moslem. Thus the unwritten understanding that the presidency will
alternate. Actually, it is believed that the recent census showed that the
Moslems were now at least 55 percent of the population. This doesn't matter
much, as Christian and Moslem politicians are equally corrupt. Attempts, in the
past few years, to impose Sharia (Islamic law) in largely Moslem northern
states, have failed to stem the corruption and crime.
January
11, 2007:A local chief in the Delta, obtained the release of the nine
South Koreans who were kidnapped yesterday. Some money probably changed
hands.
January
10, 2007:Over a dozen men, in six speedboats, invaded a residential
compound in the Niger delta, overpowered 45 security personnel, and kidnapped
nine South Korean oil workers. So far this year, 18 foreign oil workers
have been kidnapped by gangs. In the past year, sixty foreigners, mostly oil
workers, have been kidnapped.
January
9, 2007:In the Niger delta, armed gangs, loyal to rival politicians,
clashed several times, leaving at least ten dead, and many more wounded. Such
violence was not just in support of upcoming elections, but also because of
tribal disputes over land and religious issues.
January
8, 2007:An increasing number of civil aviation accidents brought to light
the fact that 85 percent of the 165 commercial aircraft in the country are 21
years old or older, and usually poorly maintained. Corruption and bribery has
made it impossible to maintain aviation safety standards. Military aircraft are
in no better shape, and most rarely, if ever, fly.
January
7, 2007:In the Niger delta, a navy patrol boat was attacked by seven
rebel speedboats, abducting at least two security personnel (as the others
fled.) Attacks on security personnel (police, soldiers, sailors) are becoming
more common.