Still in search of sustainable peace in Niger Delta

Once again, the Federal Government and stakeholders in the Niger Delta have embarked on another tedious and long process to achieve sustainable peace in the Niger Delta, presently engulfed by militancy.

When the late President Umaru Yar’Adua administration granted amnesty to Niger Delta militants and created the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in 2009, there was calm in the region. However, the much-awaited development that was supposed to complement the creation of that ministry and end militant hostilities has become a mirage. Thus, militants in the region are restive and once again expressing discontent with the degradation of their communities through oil exploration and government’s handling of the whole issue.

Perhaps, in cognisance of the fact that sustainable peace in Niger Delta might remain elusive, if government does not demonstrate the willingness and capacity to meet the needs and grievances of the people of the Niger Delta region, the presidency was spurred to convene the much-anticipated meeting with stakeholders in Abuja to find the best way to tackle the challenges that have continued to plague the region.

The meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and some Niger Delta elders, under the aegis of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), last week, has meanwhile continued to elicit mixed reactions in the region, where there is so much uncertainty on how sustainable peace can be attained amid the destructive conflict.

During the meeting, the Niger Delta leaders, led by Chief Edwin Clark, told the president that the best way to sustainable peace and security in the Niger Delta is through dialogue, backed with such meaningful actions, as would convince the people of the region of the
Federal Government’s commitment and sincerity of purpose.

He explained that in the process of trying to broker peace in the region, the Niger Delta leaders discovered that the recent resurgence of militancy was caused by a sense of alienation and the lack of meaningful development in the region. And to resolve the conflict, about 16 broad dialogue issues, were presented to the Federal Government.

PANDEF demands include, a review of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which Yar’Adua proclaimed to end hostilities in the Niger Delta, facilitate stabilisation of the security conditions and pave way for sustainable development of the region. The group said tensions over the fate of the amnesty programme, seven years after its inception owe a great deal to the long-standing absence of any genuine exit strategy.

Other demands are: law and justice issues; the effect of increased military presence in the Niger Delta; the plight of internally displaced persons; the Ogoni cleanup and environmental remediation; the National Maritime University in Okerenkoko, and the 30-year old Maritime Academy, Oron, Akwa Ibom State; key regional critical infrastructure, such as, completion of the existing East-West Road, resumption of work on the abandoned Bodo-Bonny Road Project, implementation of the proposed East-West Coastal Road Project, which stretches 704km in length along the Atlantic coastline, from Odukpani Junction in Cross River State, connecting over 1000 communities to Ibeju on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos State; removal of bottlenecks militating against the full activation and utilisation of the existing ports in the Niger Delta, including Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar, dredging of the Escravos bar-mouth, which will open up Burutu, Koko, Sapele, Warri and Gelegele.

Other issues, which the regional leaders felt, if solved would halt militant hostilities, include: review of security surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure, such that the responsibility will be given to communities, rather than individuals; relocation of administrative and operational headquarters of international oil companies to the Niger Delta; power supply; economic development and empowerment, inclusive participation in oil industry and ownership of oil blocs, restructuring and funding of the NDDC; strengthening of the Niger Delta Ministry; the Bakassi question and fiscal federalism.

Goodluck Jonathan. PHOTO: bloomberg.com

“In accepting your invitation, we have come with a very open mind, and have presented to you for discussion, those Issues that need to be resolved quickly, to bring peace and progress, not only to the region, but indeed, to the whole country. In this regard, we feel constrained to bring to your attention certain documents and publications that tend to suggest that your Government has already taken precipitate, unilateral decisions on a number of those issues,” said PANDEF.

President Buhari had asserted after the meeting that his administration was already looking into many of the issues raised by the Niger Delta leaders.

He said: “We are also currently reviewing the implementation of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, to determine the shortcomings, and areas for reform. Nigeria cannot thrive, if any part of it is trapped in conflict and violence. We have to give peace a chance in the Niger Delta. I also told the leaders that they have more to do than anyone else to bring peace to the Niger Delta, given the influence they have on militant groups. When there is peace, we will all benefit. Nobody will invest in an insecure environment. We must cooperate to make Nigeria work for all of us.”

But, barely a few hours after the stakeholders’ meeting, militants attacked Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline at Batan Flow Station around Ekweregbene of Delta State, which is the main stronghold of the Niger Delta Avengers. The attack perhaps signals the discontentment that has trailed PANDF’s composition.

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and Ijaw National Congress (INC) have warned that politicisation of the Niger Delta crisis will not yield the desired peace.

The groups stated this in reaction to the exclusion of ethnic nationalities from the stakeholders meeting between President Buhari and some stakeholders from the Niger Delta in Abuja.

Bari-ara Kpala, Spokesperson of MOSOP President, told The Guardian that Ogoni people were disappointed that the Federal Government, for some inexplicable reasons, decided to exclude some critical stakeholders, such as, MOSOP from the meeting.

He recalled that the Ogoni ethnic nationality has been in the frontline of Niger Delta agitation for over two decades. He wondered how the Federal Government, if truly sincere, intends to resolve the Niger Delta question without contributions from critical stakeholders like MOSOP and others that were not invited for the meeting.

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention planning committee, Nyesom Wike.

He said: “If they are politicising the issue of the Niger Delta, then, they won’t get the desired result, because all the stakeholders are supposed to be at the meeting. In the case, where a few people are selected to discuss the Niger Delta without the Ogoni voice, is worrisome. Lets wait and see the outcome of the meeting.”

Kpala insisted that all critical stakeholders from the region must be part of any dialogue with the Federal Government, if a lasting peace in the Niger Delta is to be achieved. He faulted the approached adopted by the Federal Government so far, and called for an all-inclusive dialogue.

Similarly, the Ijaw National Congress, (INC) has said its exclusion from the meeting with the President smacks of a lack of genuine commitment to holistically resolve the Niger Delta issues.

Victor Burubo, INC National publicity secretary told The Guardian that the exclusion of the ethnic nationality was a brazen step taken by the Federal Government.

Burubo, who described the meeting as a charade, said it would not yield the desired result, because the true representatives of the various ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta were excluded from the meeting.

“I find it strange that the government could exclude stakeholders, such as, MOSOP, INC and others. It shows that this dialogue is a road to nowhere; it is only a freemen dialogue. There are a lot of people in the Niger Delta, who are not free. Where a government antagonises former President Jonathan, Government Tompolo and others, would you say the region is free? We need our freedom and the former President should be respected,” he added.

On his part, Udengs Eradiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), observed that President Buhari seems to be approaching the resolution of the Niger Delta crises his own way. He, however, stated that whatever approach the presidency wants to adopt must be holistic and not merely trying to make sure oil flow to boost the country’s ailing economy.

On the 16-point agenda and how realistic it was, Eradiri pointed out that nothing in it was unrealistic, but everything depends on government’s approach and whether it truly recognises the importance of oil to the nation’s economy.

He said: “If the president feels that the waiting game would pay him better, the leaders’ hands are tied, because if this kind of information goes back, it will affect the cease fire process and once confidence is broken, we will just be leaders by mouth, because nobody would want to listen to you anymore, because the government is not playing its roles by listening to us. I wonder how we can reach a peaceful end. Well, we will just have to wait, as the president has told us to keep our fingers crossed, that he wants to study our documents and some reports he is expecting and that he will act accordingly.”

Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State have also said that with sincerity on the part of government in the implementation of the demands, the current unrest would soon be a thing of the past.

Prof Edet Akpakpan of the University of Uyo said once government can enforce the relocation of headquarters of oil companies operating in the area, the indigenes would have a sense of belonging and see themselves as co-owners of such companies, thereby reducing the restiveness.

He, however, explained that, in as much as all the demands are good, he would not subscribe to government accepting all, especially the demand for military withdrawal from the zone. Instead of total withdrawal, he called for the definition of their role of engagement.

“Why should that be a problem? What should be done is to clarify the mandate of the military. They don’t go after peaceful citizens, but after criminals. So, it is only the criminals that should be afraid of the military,” he said.

He noted that with relocation of oil company’s headquarters, people of the area would have the opportunity to be employed and taxes paid to the government of these states. “No right thinking human beings would see anything wrong with such demand,” he said.

On the issue of financing of the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC], he called for adequate funding and an urgent review of its mandate, noting, however, that the commission should be seen to be accountable, by releasing its scorecard every year on how it has expended the resources allocated to it.

Rotimi Amaechi

On the amnesty programme, the University don said it should not be seen as a programme in perpetuity, as those trained in different skills should have become entrepreneurs by now, through establishing businesses that should be training and employing others.

“Amnesty is supposed to be a short term intervention, just to appease people, get them out and train them say for two years. We cannot continue with the amnesty programme indefinitely,” he said.

Apparently referring to the demands made by the Elders, he warned the Federal Government not to look at the issues in isolation, but as a whole to create the needed impact.

“All these should be a package, not you picking one out and expecting to have peace. Whatever government can do to create the sense of justice, let it be done,” he said.

Commending the move as timely and expressing hope for a lasting solution, the immediate past commissioner for Justice and attorney general of the state, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, noted that the bold step was a clear indication that, despite the ills done to the region, they are still ready to support the Nigeria project and live as one.

“I strongly believe that though the demands presented to the Federal Government are in no way exhaustible or capable of completely alleviating and addressing the wrongs and ills done the Niger Delta, it will be a good starting point, if the Federal Government would promptly respond to them and begin implementing those demands,” he said.

He said inasmuch, as implementing these demands is not a guarantee to solving all the problems, such would be a good process to healing the wounds of the people of the region.

To Ime Bassey Okon, representative of Ibiono Ibom State constituency in the State House of Assembly, the move by the leaders of the region and Federal Government’s readiness to negotiate for peace has always been his advocacy.

“I have always held the opinion that there may be no peace in Niger Delta, if the Federal Government does not negotiate with the people. The use of force cannot solve the problem. The people have articulated the issues and it is left for the President to address them. With sincerity of purpose, I think peace could be achieved,” he said.