Nigeria: Force Can't Solve Niger Delta Crisis - Anyaoku
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This Day (Lagos)
28 August 2008
Posted to the web 28 August 2008
Victor Efeizomor
Asaba
Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has said crisis in the Niger-Delta region cannot be solved by the use of armed force, but through dialogue and negotiations.
Anyaoku also implored the Federal Government to consider problem in the Niger-Delta region as a national crisis, which can not be resolved by the use of armed forces.
He made this observation yesterday in Asaba, at the first information summit on Media, Peace and Development, organised by Delta State Ministry of Information, to mark the state's 17th year anniversary.
The occasion featured personalities like former minister of information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Timi Alaibe, one time military Administrator of Delta State, Ibrahim Kefas, and Chairman, Punch Newspaper, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola, among others.
"My first observation is that the country must recognise that we now have in the Niger Delta region, a major crisis with potentially perilous implication that will go beyond our national economy, if not properly resolved. The cisis is the culmination of long years of neglect of the interests of the people of the region , and indifference of the ecological consequences of the exploitation of the region's oil and gas resources," he said.
"The primary responsibility for this neglect and indiiference lies with our national adninsitrations, which have, over the years, not only controlled proceeds from the main resources of the region, but also have allowed multinational oil compaies to operate in the area in a manner that would not be tolerated in more environmental conscious countries.
"The response to this national crisis must begin from a clear understanding that the situation which now exist in the Niger-Delta region cannot be resolved through force of arms. There should be no confusing of activists who are seeking to give vent to their people's legitimate grievance, with those elements who are criminally exploiting the situation.
"The Niger Delta region crisis should be treated as a national emergency by the Federal Government. It is to be welcomed that Yar'Adua acknowledged the seriousness of the situation right from the beginning of his administration and accordingly decided to convene a major dialogue of stakeholders on the Niger-Delta," Anyaoku said.
Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his remarks said he has been called all sort of names because of his consistent believe that armed force was not a lasting solution to the Niger-Delta crisis, adding that "you will not win the war if you invite the military into the matter."
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He also suggested that oil companies must listen to the peoples cries by allowing them equity share in their company to give them a sense of belonging.
Read comments. Write your own.
If Yar's adminstration is sincere about resolving the Niger Delta crises peaceably, I can't think of a better candidate to chair the effort than Chief Anyaoku, as a well regarded sons of the soil. Not only did he serve his country creditably as the Commonwealth SG, his sense of diplomacy is renowned worldwide, unlike Gambari's failed diplomacy in Burma as reported in yesterday's Washington Post editorial. but then, do yar ever had a vision talk less of attaining the 20/20 vision of OBJ. What a waste.
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The problem showing up in the Niger Delta is not only due to neglect of the Niger Delta but a more enconmpassing problem of TERIBALISM that has been used to control the polity since independence. We are witnesses to the result that shows Nigeria demonstrates one of the worst progress in the world given the resources available. With the TRIBALISM in the polity, areas that have the tendency to progress are being indirectly pulled back by the policy of the government and so overall, the country is progressively moving backwards relatively to other countries in the world. THE… [Read Full Text]