October 31, 2008
“A kingdom can endure with unbelief, but cannot endure with injustice”
-Shehu Usman Fodio
Life in most parts of Africa is like a restless sea, with a series of unpleasant and painful events. Failure in life, privation, death of dear ones and affliction of many kinds are commonplace, especially in Nigeria. Certainly, means of comfort and welfare have not been within one’s reach. Everyone living must bear some burdens of life or face gargantuan sufferings!
Niger-Delta, goose that lays the golden egg, was a beautiful region filled with many unique waterfalls, green forests on contours that could be resourceful to students of land-related courses; there were zigzags of various streams in the area, which have been habitat of varied and numerous species of fish. The region is potentially worthy of attracting tourists from across the globe on permanent basis, even if there is no discovery of hydrocarbon deposits.
After the discovery of petroleum in commercial quantity, Niger-Delta has, within short time, metamorphosed into a war zone. It is arguably a military battle field where sophisticated weapons are on display and often used on unsuspecting public and visitors alike. As a matter of fact, the area is at war and in pieces.
Over the years, billions of barrels of crude oil, otherwise referred as black gold, worth billions US dollars have been pumped-out, which has been fetching Nigeria much-coveted foreign exchange. Most of the money being realized from this God-given resource has most often been mismanaged. The beneficiaries have constantly been those at the helm of affairs, their families and cronies. The oil-bearing communities have however not been impacted. Most of them are paradoxically harmed. Who is to blame? Of course, Nigerian political leaders who are directly and vicariously liable for the crime and deserved to be thrown into jail and keys be thrown in the sea.
The Niger-Delta people often flee their ancestral land; their houses are set ablaze by oil prospecting activities and often destroyed. The environment is bastardized. The atmosphere has been polluted, waters contaminated, trees poisoned and fishes exterminated. The streams used by the natives for navigation, transport and fishing are threatened by oil spillage. The farmlands have been destroyed by oil sleek. Yet, oil communities have not been provided with basic necessities of life; no potable water, no primary healthcare facilities, no schools and employment to the teeming youths. A combination of this has led youths in the area to deadly and misguided militancy, a few engage in criminal sea piracy. No wonder that the former Senate President, late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo who paid a visit to Niger-Delta, as an aftermath of government-induced military raid in the area, was quoted to have said in response to press inquiry, “There is nothing to speak about, because there is nobody to speak with”
According to the Word Health Organization (WHO) studies, air pollution as a result of gas flares is harmful to human beings. The WHO finding further indicates, “it is unhealthy for human beings to breath-in air more than 100 -120 parts per billion (PPB) of ozone contaminants for more than a day in a year. Residents of Niger-Delta are at risk of suffering permanent breath difficulties, headache, cough and eye irritations.
When Ken Saro-wiwa and eight Ogoni activists were hanged thirteen year ago, most Nigerians were made to believe that the hanged Niger-Delta activists were agents of the West, allegedly paid handsomely to destabilize peaceful co-existence of Nigerian state. However, it was later discovered that the cause they were fighting was a just one. They were fighting for the survival of Ogoni land, an area of about 404 square miles in the South Eastern part of the country. They were concerned of its heavily degraded environment that threatened means of livelihood of its teeming citizens.
Boro, Owunaru and Dick were in the fore-front of furthering the Ijaw cause. They were the promoters of a self-help organization called Integral WXYZ, which was dedicated to promoting employment and political education in Ijaw land. The group was later re-named Niger-Delta Volunteer Services.
Isaac Boro’s high level of patriotism seemed to have stirred in him the urge to join forces with the federal troops, at the out break of the Nigerian civil war in June 1967. He was eventually killed by a fake commando from the West. Boro fought for the cause of the oppressed, and for the preservation of Nigerian state. Even in death and defeat (?), he could be said to be victorious. His grassroots movement for the survival of Ijaws and by extension people of oil-bearing areas in the Niger-Delta catalyzed the establishment of OMPEDEC, NDDC and now the Ministry of Niger Delta.
They had awakened Niger-Delta people for action against oil exploiters. It is also a revolt against Federal Government that led to creation of twelve states in 1967. The political tree of economic freedom by the oil producing states was planted by Boro and his group. He had arguably devoted his life and strength for the similar cause fought for by Late Mallam Aminu Kano. It was a struggle for the liberation of mankind.
When Alhaji (Chief) Mujahid Asari Dokubo described Northerners as parasites, some commentators from the North reacted angrily. They made rather feeble defense on pages of some national dailies but failed to prove the North could survive without oil revenue. As a matter of fact, the North is in very serious danger. It is increasingly becoming obvious that the region cannot survive without the oil revenue; not under the leadership of the present crop of rogues masquerading as leaders.
When a group of concerned Northerners organized an Economic and Agricultural Summit recently, very few Northern governors patronized it, which revealed the level of apathy and un-seriousness by the North leaders. How could one dream of the region’s economic survival with the crop of leaders in charge of its affairs?
With the exception of Lagos, almost all states in the federation are parasites and dependant on Niger-Delta resources. For instance, Kano State branded as centre of commerce and distant second to Lagos state, could only generate two hundred million Naira monthly, according to the confession of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. The governor also stated that his government was spending a billion Naira monthly on salary. Simple logic dictates that the state cannot survive without oil revenue. It is not surprising that most state functionaries in Nigeria are profligate; embarking on reckless spending of money they hardly suffer to get. This could be the explanation for widespread corruption by public offices. It is, indeed, sweet to spend money got without sweating for it. This explains why most governors have misplaced priorities. They often go on senseless foreign trips, purchase of brand new cars for monarchs, sponsoring mullahs/ reverends to questionable religious trips.
The Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND), among other Niger-Delta insurgents, might engage in criminal acts of kidnapping, oil bunkering and massive killings of innocent citizens, but they still have a just cause which needs urgent attention. Until their just demands are addressed, no one would have the right to call for crushing their agitation, or regard them as militants. They are rather fighting for survival.
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