Nigeria Government And Peaceful Times

Miles P. C. Opara

National Secretary Igbo Union Graz, Austria

It is deplorable when in the cause of human events, it becomes necessary that Nigeria's government must always indulge in conflicts because we resent doing the right thing in times of peace.

For decades the Nigeria government did not only shun initiatives by Niger Delta indigenes to seek redress to their handicaps but had the life of their vocal men sniffed. Consistent repressive government measures rightly borne the eruption of militant groups. At first the militant group led by Masari Dokubo was not to inflict injuries on any soul let alone taking lives. They had hoped that mere threats and brandishing of sophisticated weapons could signal their seriousness to the Nigerian government. But Nigeria government do not act on peaceful times.

The militant's threats to blow up pipe lines did not bother the Nigerian government. The government decided to put their threats to test. And it happened. The militants were labeled oil thieves and nothing was done to diffuse their anger. And so it went on till the militants matured into paralyzing oil activities in the creeks.

Nigeria sent their soldiers to crush them. It was when the soldiers took fire and fear camouflaged them that they reported a non easy task to their masters. This prompted the president to fly Masari Dokubo to Aso Rock with his private jet for dialogue. It had to be hasty because peaceful times were never utilized. Cash exchanged hands with the promise that the militant's demands will be met. And peace returned. There was this belief that the peace will last. It never happened. Because immediately after their talks the president and his officials went into their usual luxury lifestyle and side-lined their promises. Militants responded this time by taking hostages. The president took worry and sent soldiers. Soldiers failed because they couldn't shoot. Nigeria economy suffered. Money for third term lobbies and luxuries were in daily decline. Worry and pressure forced the president and his government to rally the militants for negotiations. And hostage release was celebrated. Nigeria government wanted celebration to last for ever for which they resolved to use millions of dollars to acquire deadly weaponry and fortify the creeks with soldiers and barracks as against building infrastructures to alleviate the sufferings of our creek brothers.

The Nigerian air force which has never tested their outdated bombers managed to fly to villages in the creeks and bombarded their little huts for which only civilian casualties were recorded. The militants felt that Nigeria government resent peace and started killing Nigerian soldiers and police almost unprovoked and at will even with their fortifications and newly acquired arsenals.

The militants took hostages, the second time. The Nigerian government threatened. The militants put the government threats to test and it was empty. The government realized how vulnerable they could be and called for release of the hostages and subsequent negotiations. The militants after some time released the hostages within humanity but shunned their talks. However some Niger Delta groups attended the meeting presided by the president himself. The president reiterated his need to meet their demands and with the speed of the cyclone. Comments from several quarters condemned the forceful nature of the militants as if they do not know that the government would have done nothing if they had remained peaceful. Nigeria do not do what they are supposed to do in peaceful times.

The Niger Delta issue is not alone. And some of us who write on issues of the sort are often perceived as trouble makers. But I only write for those who are prepared to think. If the Igbos are treated as co-owners of Nigeria 36years after the civil war, I may be ashamed asking for Biafra. But if they are treated otherwise, l will have no choice than to do so. I had in the past written that lobo language has no place in a foreign country. That was when Nigeria was intent upon relegating the Igbo language out as one of Nigeria's official languages. And l had told the lobos to rejoice than to try to force inclusion.

And now, the recent exclusion of Imo and Abia states as oil producing states desire to be celebrated. There should be no such thing like calling Nigeria government to order. Indigo should immediately charge a group to seal the oil wells in these territory for now until our own arrangements of lifting the crude has been completed. It will serve our own benefits more if we market our crude ourselves than the paltry oil revenue allocation we receive from Nigeria. The foreign exchange received as a result should be shared among lobo states with Imo and Abia having the lion share. The lobos should have no fear in doing this because Nigeria can not prosecute them for selling crude that does not exist. The Nigerian government can only act accordingly when they are engaged in some kind of attack.