Use Sports To End The Niger-Delta Crisis

[Ashipa James Olashupo]

We should use the Kenyan and Ethiopian models in sports (especially Marathon) to end the crisis in the Niger Delta. This is possible if we hire a world-class swimming coach to sharpen and refine the raw skills and techniques of our Ijaw brothers to become Olympic champions. There is this myth that these young men and women can stay for a long time under water before emerging. If this is true, it means that the thing dey body and only needs to be annexed.
It is a fact that Nigeria once imported Bulgarian coaches to train our weight-lifters and wrestlers and we went on to win laurels at various Olympic events.
So, we should create many Phelps in the region and not militants!

[ANAELE SAMUEL]

Mr.Ashipa James,I absolutely agree with you, just as every other right thinking individual will as well do.
Of a truth, I have friends from Niger delta region who can remain underneath Rivers for days.If anybody is doubt and poised to bring them to limelight or for more information,I will give him or her their contact addresses.
This issue raised by Mr. Ashipa,needs an urgent attention,if we are serious about ameliorating the height of youths' restiveness then FG, State govt,Ministries and all relevant stakeholders should take the bull by the horn.

[Samuel Ochanji]

OK,you are making fun of the fact that these guys can stay longer in water(guerrilla tactics) and this somehow makes them better swimmers.Let me take that with a pinch of salt.
I am Kenyan and athletics has not solved of our problems.Contrary to what many people believe ,not all kenyans are good runners.There are Kenyan communities who are better runners and this has been influenced by their ecosystem and lifestyles:highland areas/high altitude that enables them to endure long distance races.These areas that produced good runners also 'produce' tribal conflicts...The best way to combat tension and violence in society is equitable didtribution of resources...to let all have the pie.The Niger Delta in Nigeria will always be a red zone as long as the underlying issues,resources and justice, are not resolved!