...Not a few persons have asked: what else do Niger Delta militants want?
Recall that in 2009, late President Umaru Yar’Adua introduced an amnesty programme to end Niger Delta insurgency. Two years earlier, the architects of Nigerian politics had also deemed it necessary to allocate the Vice Presidency to the Niger Delta, and by sheer providence, the occupier of that slot, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan soon became Acting President following the death of his boss, and later in 2011, he won the Presidential election and became President.
For about seven years, under this programme, introduced by President Yar’Adua and sustained by President Jonathan, Niger Delta militants were demobilized and disarmed. The top hierarchy soon became security consultants to the Federal Government, monitoring pipelines, and helping to check oil theft. The middle cadre was placed on a monthly stipend while those who could be trained were sent to technical colleges and universities in Southern Africa and Eastern Europe. The militants became rich and gentrified, and with their kinsman in office as President in Abuja, the people of the Niger Delta began to feel a sense of ownership and belongingness that no one in that region had felt since 1960.
But what is now happening clearly shows the limits of the politics of appeasement that Nigeria has played since independence. No country can be successfully run on a short-term basis and through the assignment of tokens to aggrieved parties within the union. It was mere delusion to have ever imagined that the people of the Niger Delta could ever be successfully appeased with a pacifying short-term amnesty programme and a shot at the Presidency. Even under President Jonathan, there were protests about the distribution of amnesty largesse, and disagreements among the former militants, who practically relocated to Abuja to take advantage of their brother’s ascendancy. The quarrel was all about who got what and it was only a matter of time, before those who felt short-changed would stage their own drama, which they have now started, in the hope that they may be luckier this time around and get their own share of appeasement. This is the sub-text of the deliberate distancing by the new boys from the old guard of militants.

The bad news is that President Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to address these fundamental issues. He probably has every reason to be angry, and he may even raise such questions as: what is wrong with these Niger Delta avengers? What exactly do they want to avenge - their kinsman losing election? Do they think they can blackmail government even when the amnesty programme has been “magnanimously” extended? These may sound emotional, but they are serious questions, signposting how access to power at the centre and survival in that space has become a victim of deterministic ethnic rivalry. The emerging trend that whoever becomes President of Nigeria now has to worry about the possibility of being sabotaged by an aggrieved ethnic group or groups is dangerous for our democracy...

There is no justification however, for President Buhari, in dealing with these challenges, to also play the game of vengeance. Speaking in China, recently, he directed the military to crush the new Niger Delta militants and indeed there has been a scaling up of military operations in the region. A military solution to a crisis such as this, as has been learnt with the Boko Haram, and much earlier in the Niger Delta, ultimately proves to be inadequate; instead there should be a return to the core issues of making Nigeria a country that works for everyone regardless of extraction - religious or ethnic. President Buhari is a livestock farmer; it should not be too difficult for him to understand how the chickens are now going home to roost in the Niger Delta. In the face of unemployment rate hitting 12.1%, youth unemployment, 42.24%, the GDP recording a negative growth of -0.36%, inflation standing at 13.7%, crude oil accounting for 90% of exports and 70% of national revenue, crude oil production dropping to low levels, and the country facing recession, a foreign exchange and power supply crisis, and financial insolvency, renewed restiveness in the Niger Delta, and threats by avengers who want to cut off Nigeria’s key source of revenue, can only further deepen the people’s agony, and place the country on danger list.
President Buhari may deal with the impunity and criminality of the avengers, but Nigeria must address the more ideologically original parts of their protest, and how particularly, the politics of appeasement has made the country far more vulnerable than imaginable. Preventing the country from imploding so dangerously, on so many fronts, as is currently the case, should be considered a matter of urgent national importance.


www.reubenabati.com.ng/2016-05-22-The-Niger-Delta-Avengers-By-Reuben-Abati.html

I'm impressed.
He did x-ray the situation clearly.
Where he fell short is articulating a solution or plan of action from the stand point of one that has been in government and from his experiences.

This is a very brilliant and balanced writeup by Reuben Abati. As much as I agree with him that Buhari should not embark on "vengeance" as he calls it, the truth is that if we continue the cycle of bringing negotiations first whenever a group rises against the govt with arms, it will continue to repeat itself.

Deeply impressed by clear elucidation of facts. Destroying our main source of revenue can never be a solution. Destruction of your homeland and turning it to a Martian environment can never be justified. We can say all we want for and against but I will never burn down my house to frustrate my neighbours.

Revenue is down. States can't pay salaries. Most oil producers and mono economies are hanging on. Negotiation does not look palatable. The HAWKS only have to point out d funds expended on militant rehabilitation and d assurance that another group will emerge if NDA are 'settled' to win their argument

On the demands from d militants; some say they are attainable. Pls tell me, how can you demand clean up of Ogoniland while you unleash millions of litres of sweet crude? Were the oil blocks shared in May 2015? What are d procedures for revoking oil blocks? When Senator Enang bravely stood his ground on the issue of oil blocks, how many SS senators stood with him? Can't they mobilise n form an alliance with other regions like SW n SS to bring a bipartisan bill to change the status quo?

To all those cheering them on; this battle will be fought in your homes, your villages, your people will know war and be the collateral. You lands will be descreated. Internally displaced will move to towns, crime will soar, extended family ties will be strained.

I've visited an IDP camp; its not something you wish on your worst enemy.

Reuben Abati is staging an impressive comeback!

GEJ squarely sustained the "politics of appeasement" by appointing you as mouth piece of the presidency. At that time this form of politics of appeasement was necessary and rewarding because barrel production was increasing due to Amnesty. Surely, you have nothing to say than reminding us that you were once useful.

GEJ administration had the perfect solution to the lingering Niger Delta issue. What did he do, absolutely nothing for 6 years. Only a selected few enjoyed from the amnesty programme.

Dr Reuben Abati was part & parcel of the previous government...what solution did he give towards the ND crisis.

Buhari should be asking himself these Penitent Questions by Now, Can I govern Nigeria well?, Do I Really know what Nigerians wants and do I have what it takes to meet those wants? I rode on the Mantra of Change into Office but can I really bring about a Genuine Change?.

TheShopKeeper:
GEJ administration had the perfect solution to the lingering Niger Delta issue. What did he do, absolutely nothing for 6 years. Only a selected few enjoyed from the amnesty programme.

Dr Reuben Abati was part & parcel of the previous government...what solution did he give towards the ND crisis.

From this you can deduce those behind the militants.their demands are more political than clean up and the rest. who give them sophisticated weapons Are they fighting a just war Is it Buhari that share the oil wells ............................. how many people were sent as delegate to take their compaint the Federal Gov is it Kuna or Dasuki they are demanding that will settle their course ..........................................mr Abati

pharmagba:
I'm impressed.
He did x-ray the situation clearly.
Where he fell short is articulating a solution or plan of action from the stand point of one that has been in government and from his experiences.

no solution to greed unless you carry all the oyel give them o(personally i would bomb,kidnap and assassinate till i get it all),survival of the fittest o.unless you buy motor for all niger deltans 20 million timos 1 million is 20 trillion(shey you see say e no go work) so fight to the finish.may the best tactician win

It's amazing how reason goes to the gallows when money changes hands but reason gets exonerated when the flood of money ceases...this is the Reuben Abati that could not own up to this statement during the past administration but now his analytical and journalistic prowess have awoken again from a very deep slumber...

...gifts, indeed, cloud righteous judgment...

mikolo80:
no solution to greed unless you carry all the oyel give them o(personally i would bomb,kidnap and assassinate till i get it all),survival of the fittest o.unless you buy motor for all niger deltans 20 million timos 1 million is 20 trillion(shey you see say e no go work) so fight to the finish.may the best tactician win

It is obvious that this dicusssion is way beyond your level and comphrension.

A very balanced article.

A brilliant piece

In summary....

Buhari should crush the Niger Delta Avengers

Nigeria should stop with negotiating with militants

There should be an end to amnesty

All Nigerians should be seen as equal and have access to the same opportunities

The government should focus on addressing innate problems such as unemployment, poverty and corruption

No country can be successfully run on a short-term basis and through the assignment of tokens to aggrieved parties within the union.

Our people make jokes about America's stance never to negotiate with terrorists (keep any argument, blowing up pipeline is economic terrorism as is BH)... laugh they can but deep inside everyone's minds, we all know people who take up arms against others never do for altruistic or noble reasons.

It is a temporary fix, it's like putting band aid on a festering gangrene sore, it will look pretty for a while & fool the casual onlooker but the damage will keep eating deeper till the band aid itself gets soaked and the sore completely breaks down..

Anyway it's viewed, it is tantamount to blackmail & blackmailers can never be appeased they'd always want more..

The only way to quell the genuine inhabitants of ND agitation (not the ones who have hijacked a common course for political expediency and personal gratification) is to ensure that the people directly feel the impact of good governance, no more empowering warlords who won't allow a trickle down effect...

Even under President Jonathan, there were protests about the distribution of amnesty largesse, and disagreements among the former militants, who practically relocated to Abuja to take advantage of their brother’s ascendancy. The quarrel was all about who got what and it was only a matter of time, before those who felt short-changed would stage their own drama, which they have now started, in the hope that they may be luckier this time around and get their own share of appeasement.

Nice article.thumbs up

modath:


Our people make jokes about America's stance never to negotiate with terrorists (keep any argument, blowing up pipeline is economic terrorism as is BH)... laugh they can but deep inside everyone's minds, we all know people who take up arms against others never do for altruistic or noble reasons.

It is a temporary fix, it's like putting band aid on a festering gangrene sore, it will look pretty for a while & fool the casual onlooker but the damage will keep eating deeper till the band aid itself gets soaked and the sore completely breaks down..

Anyway it's viewed, it is tantamount to blackmail & blackmailers can never be appeased they'd always want more..

The only way to quell the genuine inhabitants of ND agitation (not the ones who have hijacked a common course for political expediency and personal gratification) is to ensure that the people directly feel the impact of good governance, no more empowering warlords who won't allow a trickle down effect...

What a masterpiece! Intelligently articulated! Keep up the work dear....

I have always said this same thing, the solution to the ND's problem can never lie in giving out money to warlords who end up living lavish lives at the expense of the real community victims. The solution to the ND problem should have been to deliver proper development to the direct villages suffering from the downsides of oil and gas exploration and production. I don't even subscribe to the idea of 13% derivation given to oil producing states, I would rather have these moneys used on the direct communities and who feel the brunt of oil and gas exploitation.

What these people need isn't so much, good roads, clean drinking water, electricity, good schools, hospitals and empowerment programmes. But from the onset, the main host communities are always neglected while billions are given to the noisiest communities (who may only have a pipeline passing miles away) and the noisiest activists (or miscreants as is mostly the case) who end up living lavishly by themselves and give nothing back to the communities. As long as the communities remain undeveloped, the miscreant warlords will always have blackmailing powers to rubbish the nation's economy whenever they please.

pharmagba:

It is obvious that this dicusssion is way beyond your level and comphrension.

yet i have suggestion and you don't