President Yar Adua: Confronting the Challenges of the Niger Delta Region

– A Good Will Message to the Presidential Summit on the Niger Delta, Monday, June 4^th, 2007

Monday, June 4^th 2007 is a day to remember as President Umaru Musa Yar Adua performs his maiden national crisis management function when he convenes a national summit on the lingering Niger Delta crisis. The Summit according to President Yar Adua will consider all ideas and initiatives, including the Niger Delta Master Plan, with a view to finding an enduring solution to the crisis in the region. 

The Summit is timely as it is being convened at the time when there is heightened militancy and daring waves of kidnappings, especially of foreign oil workers increasingly taking place brazenly, in open defiance of law and order and constituted authorities by militant groups in the region.  

Furthermore, the Summit is one of the major state functions by President Yar Adua since taking over office as the Executive President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on May 29, 2007. This particular Summit therefore, underscores the promise he made during his presidential electioneering campaign to put Niger Delta development issues on his national priority list (i.e., front burner)! 

The Summit is also remarkable giving the fact that, in the past eight years of Obasanjo’s administration, countless Summits, Retreats, Seminars, Workshops, Stakeholders’ Forums, Civil Society Advocacy, you name it, were  organised on the Niger Delta problems at all levels and spheres of governments. This includes initiatives from foreign bilateral and multi-lateral organisations respectively. Local and international civil society/non-governmental organisations (CSOs/NGOs) were not left out either.  

Huge sums of monies, material resources and productive hours went into these initiatives and activities with the objective of finding lasting solutions to the lingering malignant cancer that continues to eat deep into the fabrics of our national security, stability and cohesion. Yet, no solutions found and the problems persist.  

The history of the Niger Delta development crisis goes back to pre-independent Nigeria. However, since the discovery of vast reservoirs of hydrocarbon resources (mainly crude oil and natural gas) in the region in 1956 and attainment of Nigeria’s independence in 1960 from Britain, the physical nature and dimension, socio-economic, and political and strategic significance of the problems of the region changed phenomenally. What is worrisome in the Niger Delta saga is the national scandal and shame that for about 50 years running and injection of funds for development, the peculiar physical and socio-economic development problems and challenges of the region persist.  

However, these problems and conflicts should have been resolved long ago, and therefore, their persistence is a serious indictment of all involved individually and collectively; from the local community leaders, to federal, state and local governments, and the local and foreign oil and gas companies exploiting hydrocarbon resources from the region. For example, endemic corruption and inept leadership at all levels of governments, especially at the States and local governments respectively, created a power vacuum those militants groups have been quick to fill. This aggravates lawlessness and criminality in the region, the outcome being leaving the people wretched, in misery and deeper extremism, which stoke up anger, prostrations and despair across the region. 

Therefore, to continue ignoring the expectations of the people of the Niger Delta by our national leadership for too long will imperil our national security, stability and prosperity. That was why former civilian president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, recently in Port Harcourt, described militancy in the Niger Delta as the biggest problem facing the country. He advised the new administration of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to employ dialogue in resolving the crisis in the area amicably.

Former president Shehu Shagari who was in Port Harcourt as Special Guest of the Rivers State Government made these remarks when he spoke as chairman at the special valedictory celebration in honour of Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State to mark the end of his administration. While calling for the use of dialogue, which involves exchange of ideas among opposing sides on a neutral ground and level-playing platform, he suggests that such discussions are capable of finding acceptable solutions to the intractable problems leaving each side satisfied (i.e., a “win-win” solution)!

Furthermore, former president Shagari counselled and enjoins those leaving in geographically difficult terrains such as the riverine areas that see their terrain as disadvantaged and deserving the sympathy of other parts of the country, to equally appreciate the problems of other people elsewhere in the country, whom also face certain peculiar geographical difficulties. What this means is that, while thinking locally, we should also think and act nationally and in national interest. This means we should also deeply appreciates each other's problems, to put heads together to tackle them collectively instead of trading blames, abuses, and insults.

Perhaps former president Shehu Shagari spoke from his experiences that date back to 1956-67 and 1979–1983 respectively. For example, as the Minister of Economic Development between 1959 and 1960 under late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s administration in the first republic, one of his mandates was setting up the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) as recommended by the Willinck Commission, which enquired into the grievances of ethnic minorities of the region. However, in order to acquire first hand knowledge of the problems involved, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, together with former Rivers State Governor, Chief Melford Okilo, then Member of Parliament (MP) for the area undertook a boat tour of the entire region for eight days.

The tour provided him real life experience of the day-to-day physical and socio-economic development challenges of the area and the sufferings of the people there. The experience from what he saw and the discussions he held with all the local communities and authorities, made him convinced that the area was among the most underdeveloped parts of Nigeria in spite of its having been a gateway for European business penetration into the country for over two hundred years. This was even before the start of full-scale exploration and development of the rich hydrocarbon resources of the region that later, became the main foreign exchange earner for Nigeria until today.

After the tour, Shehu Shagari set up the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) - the first special development vehicle for the region under the Chairmanship of the now late Chief Anthony of Akassa. The civil war disrupted the activities of the Board. However, the good news is that, another structure has been established in its place that is today known as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), established by the immediate past administration of former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Secondly, as providence would have it, Shehu Shagari became the first democratically elected executive president of Nigeria (1979–1983), while Chief Melford Okilo became the first democratically elected executive Governor of the old Rivers State (1979–1983). These two historic eras provided Shagari a first hand experience of the enormous physical and other socio-economic development challenges of the Niger Delta region.

Therefore, it is because of these real-life experiences that Shehu Shagari ardently advocates for the need to convene a special conference that should be held in a neutral ground where the government and the opposing sides can exchange views and ideas on the same level peacefully with a view to finding enduring solutions acceptable to each side. Hence, his lending full support to the latest Summit hosted by President Yar Adua. Former president Shagari points out that his support, suggestions are not new things, and that these will not harm anyone, rather they will benefit all concerned.

One can recall that, former president Shehu Shagari twice attempted to convene special National Summit on the Niger Delta development and security problems in 2001 and 2002 respectively. He specifically instructed his own non-governmental organisation, The Shehu Shagari World Institute for Leadership and Good Governance (SSWI) in partnership with the Port-Harcourt-based World Environmental Movement for Africa (WEMFA) to facilitate the convening of the proposed summit. Unfortunately, however, some people in the corridors of power saw it from a different political angle and thwarted those noble efforts.

The Shehu Shagari Institute welcomes this newest Presidential initiative by President Yar Adua. It is in line with Shehu Shagari’s ardent prayer that both the militants and the new administrations at the state and federal levels should carefully use the opportunities provided by the convening of this yet another national Summit to address the lingering Niger Delta crisis without prejudice. This is the best route to go as Nigerians, in trying to understand each other's problems and join hands to tackle them sensibly together as a team.

Nevertheless, some critics argue that if Summits and all other forms of civil engagements were the panacea for solving the Niger Delta conundrum, the then British colonial masters of Nigeria would have solved the problems since before independence in 1960, with the setting up of the Willinck Commission. This cynicism not withstanding, one would ask if there is a way out of the lingering conundrum. Moreover, how can it be resolved? These are the bonds of contention deifying all decades long of governmental and non-governmental interventions in the region. 

Yes, there is a way out. Probably, this very particular latest summit that President Yar Adua hosts on Monday, June 4^th 2007, may throw up the magic wand that will find lasting and enduring solutions to the crisis and development challenges. Nevertheless, the Summit raises hopes and great expectations of the stakeholders of the Niger Delta region in particular, the nation as a whole and the international community in general.  

Perhaps, the Summit is the right time and place for President Yar Adua to consider granting special pardon to Alhaji Asari Dokubo and his other detained militants facing prosecution by the government. If granted, the Presidential magnanimity on the part of the new administration signifies its good intentions and gesture to the militants, whom in return, must reciprocate by denouncing violence and militancy and embrace peaceful dialogue as means of resolving the crisis and development challenges of the region.

On a philosophical note, former President Shehu Shagari and the Shehu Shagari World Institute for Leadership and Good Governance (SSWI) wish to enjoin all Nigerians, no matter where they reside, to show sympathy, support and solidarity to other Nigerians in any parts of the federation in times of difficulties instead of engaging in blame game. Good or difficult geographical terrain is God-made and, God places people wherever it pleases him. Therefore, Nigerians should always acknowledge each other’s difficulties and strive to extend sympathy, solidarity and support to one another, always bearing in mind that it could be the other way round.

Like the many previous gatherings such as this one, opportunities are created for peaceful resolution of the development challenges in the region. Our prayers are that, no one should squander them. We wish the Summit a resounding success and blessings from God. Amen. 

Signed,

Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

Executive Director

The Shehu Shagari World Institute for Leadership and Good Governance (SSWI), Sokoto, Nigeria

aanuhukoko@yahoo.com