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Why the Niger Delta Peace Talks Fell Apart-The Kingibe Factor-Ijaw Group

December 16, 2007

 

The press release by Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) today signals what could be the death knell of the Niger Delta peace talks that have been taking place secretly at Abuja and elsewhere. Earlier today, MEND says it supports and commends the position taken by the Ijaw Youth Leaders Forum as outlined in its communiqué dated December 14, 2007 where the group announced that it was pulling out of peace talks with the Federal government.

 In a statement sent via e-mail to news outlets, MEND said it had always suspected the insincerity of the Nigerian government, the military, and multinational oil companies along with their collaborators, notably the likes of traitors such as Asari Dokubo and General O.Azazi , individuals who MEND said, “who have sold their birth rights for a bowl of porridge”.

 

They alluded to a secret memo leaked from the office of the Chief of Defense Staff, which MEND said affirms the insincerity of the Federal government. The memo outlined plans to attack Niger Delta militants while at the same time pretending to talk peace. The revelation, according to MEND makes it impossible for any disarmament to take place at this time.

 

“We call on all genuine militant groups to unite and cripple the oil industry in Nigeria once and for all and stand strong to face a common enemy. The time has come for all breakaway factions to come together and wage war of a different kind in 2008”, the statement reads.

 

Sources told Saharareporters that some Ijaw activists that have been representing the Ijaw community in talks with the government have suspended participation in the Federal Government of Nigeria/ Ijaw Community Representatives Joint Committee after coming to the conclusion that there is a lack of commitment on the part of government to effect widespread or meaningful change through the dialogue engagements that has taken place so far.

 

The Niger Delta activists and militants coming out series of dialogue with Abuja said they were deeply uncomfortable with the Federal Budget and its inflated security vote and the apparent impending cave-in on gas flaring deadlines which will once again will be breached in January 2008.

 

In series of interviews with Saharareporters, they restated that Niger Delta community members are concerned that despite government expression of a commitment to apply the recommendations of the Ogomudia Report (which recommends a development approach, rather than a security approach to addressing the crisis in the Niger Delta), the government is continuing with the military approach, which has only increased conflict and destruction in the region.

 

The group also said that they remained worried by the apparent lack of vision on the part of the presidency, insisting that contrary to public stance of the Yar’adua that he wants genuine dialogue and zero-tolerance against corruption; politicians like former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, James Ibori and DSP Alamieyeseigha continue to influence Yar’Adua.  They cited a recent example, where Yar’adua tried to force James Ibori on the team as a member of the “Presidency Dialogue Team” in the discussions with members of the Niger Delta community at the peace talks. The groups also expressed disappointment that Yar’adua allowed Ibori to order him (Yar’Adua) to suspend swearing-in for Elder Godsday Orubebe as minister a few weeks ago.

 

When the peace talks started early in Yar’adua’s presidency, the group of individuals representing the Ijaw community responded with the following pre-conditions for dialogue…

 

 ·        Resource control/derivation in the context of true federalism

·        Community equity in the oil projects/companies

·        State/LGA creation

·        Good governance and public accountability/free and fair elections

·        Transparency in revenue management at all levels of government

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 They also went ahead to propose a structured dialogue in which a time frame was put forward for discussing each of the issues on an agreed agenda including ground rules. This, the group contended, must be complemented by a verifiable implementation plan, which can be monitored, evaluated and publicly reported.

 

To demonstrate good faith, they requested the Federal government to honor these minimum articles of faith:

 

  1. The withdrawal of armed forces of the Nigerian state from the roads, streets and creeks in the Ijaw areas of the Niger Delta. These occupation forces have not and cannot maintain peace but rather continue to abuse the rights of the as exemplified in the massacres at Odi and Odioma;
  2. A visit of Ijaw communities by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to observe and understand the nature and extent of environmental degradation, impoverishment and nonexistent social infrastructure in areas that continue to provide billions of dollars for the Nigerian state and transnational oil and gas companies;
  3. The declaration of a development emergency in the Niger Delta (including rebuilding Odi, Odioma etc.). In particular, the Government of Nigeria should implement the Ogomudia report on the security of oil producing communities, commissioned by the Nigerian government with the participation of the governments of the states in the Niger Delta and oil producing companies.
  4. Withdrawal of trumped up treason charges against Ijaw political leaders and a declaration by the state that no Ijaw self-determination activist shall be arrested or prosecuted under any guise;
  5. The release of activists, political detainees including Ralph Uwazuruike and other leaders of MASSOB, and Dieprieye Alamieseigha following inability of the state to ensure justice in his case;
  6. Any dialogue should take place at venues outside Abuja.

 

 

 

Further, they also agreed to a credible mediator/observer mission to guarantee the good faith of parties, and report such progress as the parties may agree from time to time.

 

But following intense discussions involving Umar Yar’Adua, Jonathan Goodluck and Baba gana Kingibe the preconditions were accepted by the presidency with October 2007 as the deadline implementation and a committee was to be set up to monitor implementation. But the government has not delivered on anything agreed upon. Instead, they started preparing for a jamboree tagged ‘Niger Delta Summit’ and  also organized a rent –a-militant peace signing ceremony in Bayelsa State.

 

They also belatedly set up a committee in September, a letter of inviatation signed by Baba Gana Kingibe, the secretary to the Federal government dated September 17 2007 was sent out to invite some people to be part of a Federal committee set up to monitor and implement the agreements described above; they were composed of the following person:  Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe (SGF) as Chairman;  Senator James Manager, Chair of Senate Committee on the Niger Delta as member; Hon. Ajayi Agboola, House Committee Chairman on the Niger Delta as member,  Alhaji Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, Minister of Defence as member,  Mrs. Diezani K. Alison Madueke, Transport minister as member, Major Gen. Godwin Abbe, Interior Minister as member, Taminu Yakubu, the Chief Economic Adviser to The President as member, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency as member, Nine Ijaw community representatives including, T.K. Ogoriba, Dr. Bello Oboko, Alhaji Dokubo Asari, Dr. Chris Ekiyor and Nze Akachukwu S. Nwankpo, Special Assistant to VP-Secretary

 

 The terms of reference of the committee include, the implementation of the road map and sequence of events agreed on the 24th of August 2007 between the FGN and Ijaw representatives; a plan for a successful dialogue towards the resolution of the “Ijaw question” and oversee its implementation, facilitation of the successful participation of the Ijaws in the Niger Delta Peace Conference and the committee was also to oversee the implementation of the outcome.

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