Ofehe: “If we have everyone’s support we can achieve something”
A two-day international Conference in The Hague, Netherlands attempted to reconcile different groups struggling for peace and justice in Nigeria’s oil-rich region, the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta Peace Consolidation Conference was organized by the Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in the Netherlands.
It was mainly attended by heads of NGOs operating in the Niger Delta. Several ex-militant leaders were also invited but the organisers said that they were denied visas.
Mr. Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the only militant who attended the Conference warned all oil multinational companies and their staff operating in the Niger Delta to prepare for deadly attacks in the near future.
Mr. Dokubo-Asari who is the leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force (NDPVF), and the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), is convinced that Niger Delta should be an independent country.
He claimed that the people of Niger Delta were ready to use any means to achieve self-determination. “We are going back to armed struggle,” he affirmed.
In a clear warning to oil multinational companies and their staff in the Niger Delta, Mr. Dokubo-Asari said those caught in the line of fire will be killed. “From now on you’ll hear from us and it will not be the news you’ll like,” he said with an angry tone.
“It has become more expedient for us to fight,” he said. Without beating about the bush, Mr. Dokubo-Asari said: “I subscribe to armed struggle.”
The choice of the Netherlands as the venue for the Conference was strategic, being the home country of Royal Dutch Shell, the largest oil multinational in Nigeria. Shell, together with other oil multinational companies in Nigeria, has been accused of causing serious environmental problems in the Niger Delta. They’ve also been accused of making a fortune from oil without investing some of their profits in improving the living conditions of the people in the Niger Delta.
“Time has come for us to put an end to violence”
Mr. Sunny Ofehe, President of HNDC said: “Niger Delta is very significant for the global economy.” The crisis in the Niger Delta, he said, “should be resolved, I believe it can be resolved.”
He urged the groups looking for a solution to the Niger Delta crisis to be united, to dialogue and find a common solution. “I believe if we have everyone’s support we can achieve something.”
He strongly rejected the use of violence in solving the crisis. “Niger Delta people are peace loving people, I’m a non-violent campaigner, I love peace. Time has come for us to put an end to violence, to embrace peace,” he said.
Mr. Ofehe was disappointed at the fact that the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria denied visas to some of the former militant leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) who were willing to come to the Conference.
Mr. Anyakwee Nsirimovu, Executive Director, Institute for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, asked Shell to stop treating local people as sub-human beings.
Speaking on behalf of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr. Kabiru Bala said the Federal Government of Nigeria is sincere in searching for a solution to the Niger Delta crisis. He appealed to all other parties involved in the process to be sincere in searching for a solution.
Mr. Bala urged all to promote the national unity of Nigeria, saying it is essential in solving the Niger Delta crisis.
Dr. Christopher Ekiyor, President of Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, also rejected the violent approach. “There is no bad peace, there is no good war,” he said, adding that “the road to peace must be peaceful.”
Dr. Sofiri Peterside from the Centre for Advance Social Sciences, Nigeria, blamed the Federal Government of Nigeria for lacking political will to solve Niger Delta’s problems.
Mr. Ledum Mitee who chaired the Government’s Committee on Niger Delta that produced the “Niger Delta Technical Report”, observed that lack of justice led to agitations in the region. “Ignoring people’s cries led to armed militancy,” he said. Mr. Mitee regretted that the Government had to wait for attacks from the armed militants in order to listen to people’s cries and start doing something. “There is a cry for justice but nobody is listening,” he said.
The Conference called for full implementation of the “Niger Delta Technical Report”.
Participants at the Conference were, however, surprised to learn that many Government officials supposed to implement the report, including some officials at the Nigerian Embassy in the Netherlands, had never seen it. Some were not even aware of the existence of the report.
The Conference called for a strong commitment to fight corruption and to make proper use of Niger Delta’s resources in improving people’s living conditions.
Fight corruption, carry out electoral reforms
Mr. Mitee observed that Nigerians are not united against corruption and corrupt officials. Supporting the call for electoral reforms, Mr. Mitee said: “when people know that their vote counts, then those elected will be accountable.”
A similar call was made by Mr. Mike Igini, Executive Director, Centre for Leadership Values & Policy, Nigeria, who said there is no accountable leadership in Nigeria. “We have irresponsible leadership, that’s why oil companies don’t respect international standards,” he said. The country’s leaders don’t use their power for the people’s good, Mr. Igini said.
Nigerians should have the “power to hire and fire,” he added.
Mr. Festus Keyamo, a Nigeria Human Rights lawyer said the Federal Government of Nigeria should not allow multinational oil companies to operate in the Niger Delta without first consulting and reaching an agreement with the local people who own the local resources.
The Niger Delta Peace Consolidation Conference in The Hague was an important step in creating a united front for the struggle for peace and justice in the Niger Delta. It was a step in the right direction.
However, without unity of all the key players in the Niger Delta and a commonly shared vision, very little progress will be achieved.
All the armed movements, NGOs, ethnic leaders, religious leaders, Federal Government officials, local Government officials, the international community, as well as the oil multinational companies operating in the Niger Delta will have to find a way of coming together for serious discussions to pave the way forward.
By Stephen Ogongo
