• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Niger Delta Today
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Niger Delta
    • Abia State
    • Akwa Ibom
    • Bayelsa State
    • Cross River
    • Delta
    • Edo
    • Imo
    • Ondo
    • Rivers
  • National News
  • Politics
  • Metro
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Niger Delta
    • Abia State
    • Akwa Ibom
    • Bayelsa State
    • Cross River
    • Delta
    • Edo
    • Imo
    • Ondo
    • Rivers
  • National News
  • Politics
  • Metro
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
Niger Delta Today
No Result
View All Result

OPINION: Niger Delta Region In A Season Of Threats

by Niger Delta Today
July 6, 2020
in Opinion
0
ADVERTISEMENT

Jerome-Mario Utomi

Similar to history which has a way of repeating itself, the sudden wave of ultimatum issued to the federal Government in a space of one week by two oil producing communities in Delta state, another by two Niger Delta region agitators should be to all a reality to worry about.

These communities are; the Omadino Federated Communities, an umbrella body for Itsekiri communities in Delta state. And the Gbaramatu Kingdom, a major contributor to the economy of the nation and one of the prominent Kingdoms among the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta, located in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The two group of agitators includes; the Thirteen Niger Del­ta militant groups, former beneficia­ries of the Federal Government’s amnesty pro­gramme, organised under the ae­gis of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators (CNDA), and Niger Delta ex-militants, under the auspices of the 21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC).

The reason for the nation to feel worried is simple. If such threat is allowed to follow through, it will again portray us as a nation that has not learned any useful lesson from history, mark the commencement of another vicious circle of chaos, damage the nation’s fragile economy that is crude oil dependent, and fundamentally, sweeps away President Buhari’s recent claim that the Federal Government has restored peace in the Niger Delta Region through sustained engagement of youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders.

Recommended For You

Houses Burnt As Bandits Attack Ex-Niger Delta Militant’s Country Home In Bayelsa

WELCOME, 2021, BY FRANCIS EWHERIDO

2023 Presidency: If Not Tinubu, Who Else Does The Cap Fit?

NDT Marriage Corner: Sad Tales From A Mission School, By Francis Ewherido

For a better understanding of the piece, a peep into their demands reveal that while Gbaramatu Kingdom wants President Muhammadu Buhari to address the marginalisation meted on them by the oil companies. And among other demands puts an immediate halt on the current process of bids for 57 marginal fields and come up with new modalities, where competent companies owned by Gbaramatu indigenes will be given right of first refusal. This demand, however, comes with a threat to shutdown petroleum operations in their communities in the next 10 days (out which 6 days is spent), if the development is not addressed.

On their part, the Omadino Federated Communities, an umbrella body for Itsekiri communities in a simialr petition dated Tuesday June 30, signed by Roland Oti Yomere, Chief Priest of Omadino and Spokesman for the Federated Communities and addressed to President Buhari, accused the present administration of gross marginalization of its people. And for that reason, want the President to address their ten-point demand as failure to comply within 9days will lead to a shutdown of crude oil production activities in the locality.

At about the same time, the thirteen Niger Del­ta militant groups,in a joint statement signed by its leaders and made avail­able to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday 1st July 2020, threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire agreement and resume hos­tilities in the region be­cause of President Muham­madu Buhari continued re­fusal to address  the thorny issues of mar­ginalisation of the Niger Delta in terms of appoint­ments in the oil and gas sector particularly the replacement of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petro­leum Corporation (NNPC) with somebody from the region.

ADVERTISEMENT

In a similar style, CYNDAC on Saturday 5th July, frowned at the Federal Government’s delay in reaching an agreement with the Pan Niger Delta Elders’ Forum (PANDEF) for a critical and holistic look towards a peaceful resolution of the myriads of problems facing the region, and again warned of renewed hostilities in the region, if the FG fails to implement the 16point agenda as submitted by PANDEF few years ago.

What, however, made this development newsy is that like in strategic development where timing is the first consideration, this is happening few weeks after Mr. President claimed that the Federal Government has restored peace in the Niger Delta region through sustained engagement of youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders.

Conversely, before believing the above position by Mr. President, that there was peace in the region, wait till you cast a glance at the content of a statement by the Spokesperson of Gbaramatu Kingdom for the Traditional Council of Chiefs, Chief Godspower Gbenekama JP. As it perhaps bring more tragic recognition of reality that took place  between the kingdom, and reveal how clear it has become that the Federal Government is doing far more than devastation of the hopes of the people of the region.

ADVERTISEMENT

The kingdom, the statement noted, is constrained to write to the president on issues that have previously been made known to the government via various forms and at different times to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, especially during his visit to the Kingdom in January 2017. Recalling that Gbaramatu Kingdom has kept to her end of the social contract that enabled the end of the previous dangerous era of agitation that was prevalent in Gbaramatu Kingdom, and has led to a situation where “Gbaramatu is one of the safest places to live, do business and visit in Nigeria, despite government’s refusal to treat them fairly.

They further lamented that the Omadinor-Excravos road Project which was started, and would have led to greater peaceful coexistence and dramatically improved economic and more cordial relations between the Ijaws and Itsekiris of Warri south and Warri South-West neighbouring Local Governments has been put on indefinite hold under this administration. While submitting that nowhere is this marginalisation more glaring than in the abrupt abandonment of the Multi-Billion Dollar Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Gas Revolution Industrial Park, Ogidigben and Deep Sea Port Project, Gbaramatu Project that would have created thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Certainly, a striking tragedy deepened by the awareness that it was avoidable particularly when one remembers that this threat is neither by accident nor the first half of a reoccurring circle but rather the beginning of something new.

And, looking at the recent declaration by the Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA)-a Lagos Based non-governmental, that the Nigerian state has not treated the Niger Delta well, It is obvious that the protests by the communities is justified.

While noting that despite the African Commission’s well-considered decision in the celebrated SERAC vs. Nigeria’s case, finding the Federal Republic of Nigeria in gross violations of 2, 4, 14, 16, 18(1),21 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and therefore recommended a total clean up of the polluted Ogoni and other adjourning communities in addition to taking preventive remedial and compensatory measures to improve economic and social outcomes for the Ogoni community, SEJA in that statement was particularly not happy that all available indicator points to the fact that the Federal Government environmental legacy project which is the clean up of Ogoni is failing and lagging behind because Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) handling the Ogoni cleanup lacks the capacity to conduct a proper cleanup.

As this debate rages, the greatest concern is that instead of the FG, seeking real victory via dialogue and not through conquest, chances are that they may go for another military drill as used in past. While forgetting that as a nation, we have in the past traveled to the southeastern part to watch the python dance. To the south-south to witness the ugly crocodile smile. And the recent episode of these drama series Codenamed: “Operation Octopus grip” as declared by the Nigerian Navy in the Niger Delta region. And all these ‘dances, smiles and grips’ shares but a common outcome called chaos. They have a way of leaving in their trails sorrows, tears and blood.

Despite the fact that those of us who belief in the unity of Nigeria may not agree with campaign of any group or ethnic nationality to dismember Nigeria, the truth must be told to the effect that the whole gamut of restiveness of youths, whether in the South east, South-South, North or Southwest, and resurgence demand for the dissolution of Nigeria stems from mindless exclusion, injustice and economic deprivation.

The template to solve these problems is already there: the Report of the 2014 National Conference. The holistic implementation of that report is germane to the survival of the Nigerian which is right now in its most fragile state since the end of the civil war.

I believe that the protests in the Niger Delta would instantly fizzle away and their cause dies naturally, if Nigeria is restructured to ensure more inclusiveness. But agitations for the death of Nigeria cannot go away when nepotism and sectionalism continue to be evident in the manner of political patronage and distribution of our common patrimony as currently obtained.

Finally, the Niger Deltans, especially its youths, should allow sanity prevail over emotion. But as noted in a previous intervention, I hold the opinion that ‘the destiny of the ship is not in the harbor but in sailing the high sea’’ and so shall our collective responsibility be, not to destroy this great nation but join hands to nurture and sustain it.

If we are able to manage this situation and other social menaces effectively and navigate out of dangers of disintegration, it will once again, announce the arrival of a brand new great nation where peace and love shall reign supreme. But, then, no nation enjoys durable peace without justice, stability, fairness and equity!

Utomi is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant.

Tags: Niger DeltaNiger Delta crisisOpinion
Previous Post

Ondo Gov Akeredolu Recovers From COVID-19

Next Post

Akeredolu Appoints Oluwatuyi As New Ondo SSG After Abegunde Resigned

Related Posts

President Mohammadu Buhari
Opinion

What Do We Do About The New NDDC Sole Administrator?

January 19, 2021
Francis Ewherido
Featured

NDT Marriage Corner: Paternity Fraud: A Pound For A Pound? By Francis Ewherido

January 16, 2021
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi
Opinion

Delta 2023: Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi And The Political Pretenders

January 15, 2021
Francis Ewherido
Opinion

NDT Marriage Corner: DNA Test? Why Not? But…. By Francis Ewherido

January 9, 2021
Opinion

COVID-19 And The Professors, by Femi Adesina

January 8, 2021
Ovie of Uvwie
Opinion

A New Peaceful, Prosperous Ekpan-Uvwie Is Possible!

January 7, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

LATEST

Festus Marinho

Pioneer Managing Director Of NNPC, Festus Marinho, Passes On, GMD Kyari Mourns

January 20, 2021
Joe Biden taking oath of office

Obama, Bush, Bill Clinton, Others Attend Joe Biden’s Inauguration As 46th US President

January 20, 2021

Police Deny Involvement In Death Of Woman, Daughter In Delta

January 20, 2021
Scene of the accident where the woman and her daughter was crushed by police van chasing suspected yahoo boys

UPDATED: Panic As Operatives Chasing Suspected Yahoo Boys ‘Crushes’ Woman, Daughter To Death In Delta

January 20, 2021

BREAKING: FG Raises Retirement Age For Nigerian Teachers

January 20, 2021

POPULAR POSTS

  • Oma Djebah

    Buhari Approves Posting For Nigerian Envoys, Sends Ex-Delta Commissioner To Thailand

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • UPDATED: Panic As Operatives Chasing Suspected Yahoo Boys ‘Crushes’ Woman, Daughter To Death In Delta

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pope Appoints Bishop Kukah Into Top Vatican Job

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Obaseki Submitted Two Different UI Certificates To INEC, Forensic Expert Testifies At Edo Tribunal

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Delta Cancels Transfer Of 4,500 Secondary School Teachers As Schools Resume Tomorrow

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Why Schools Should Not Reopen Now – House Of Reps

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • IGP Redeploys Frank Mba, 20 Other Police Commissioners

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gunmen Storm Delta Community, Abduct Bank Manager’s Husband

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • President Trump Grants “Lil Wayne”, 142 Others Pardon (See Full Names)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How Tony Elumelu’s Coy Acquired Shell, Total, ENI Stakes In Niger Delta Oil Block For $1.1bn

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 NIGER DELTA TODAY - Published By NDT Associates Ltd.

No Result
View All Result
  • Niger Delta Today
  • Niger Delta
    • Abia State
    • Akwa Ibom
    • Bayelsa State
    • Cross River
    • Delta
    • Edo
    • Imo
    • Ondo
    • Rivers
  • National News
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Metro
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Social Media
  • Niger Delta Today TV

© 2019 NIGER DELTA TODAY - Published By NDT Associates Ltd.