THE consensus among the leaders of Niger Delta that attended the three-hour close-door meeting, Tuesday, November 1, with President Muhammadu Buhari, at Aso Villa, Abuja is that the parley was a good start and has broken the seeming barrier between the president and the region. But whether the President is sincere enough and ready to tackle the issues headlong, opinions are still ambiguous.
However, spokesperson of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, the most dangerous militant group in the region, self-styled Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo, in an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard, gave the leaders a pass mark, indicating that they have at least presented the demands of the people to Buhari and it was now left for him (President) to take the preliminary discussion to the next level.
On the contrary, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, NDGJM, a militant group in Delta state and Urhobo Common Cause, UCC, think the Niger Delta leaders, who were in Abuja, simply went to gallivant.
Some Niger Delta groups, among them, the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, Ijaw Human Rights Monitor, Niger-Delta Security Watch Organization of Nigeria, NDSWON, on the other hand, commended the leaders for their representation, but mouthed some reservations.
The man, who led the Niger Delta leaders to Abuja, former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, disagreed that the meeting was not an achievement, a position that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who facilitated the assembly, re-echoed in an interview with Saturday Vanguard.
What transpired?
A Niger Delta leader, who was at the meeting, told Saturday Vanguard: “We, (the leaders) got to the venue quite early before 11.00 am and the ministers and other top officials of the president came in. The meeting started I think with the media man to the president saying some things after the president came in.”
“The governors from the region, who were there spoke. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa from Delta state and Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo state were there. I also saw Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom state. I cannot say precisely if Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state was there, but I know that I did not see Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state,” he said.
His words: “Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi was not there, but Okowa, Okorocha spoke. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and his Niger Delta counterpart also spoke.”
“Chief Clark in his usual manner made some comments on why the Niger Delta leaders came and introduced the co-chairman of the Central Working Committee, CWC, of Pan Niger Delta Forum PANDEF, traditional ruler of Twon Brass, His Majesty King Alfred Diete-Spiff to read out the position paper of the leaders.
“In his introductory remarks, Clark told the president that we are here for peace, that Nigeria belongs to all of us and we are not against Buhari’s leadership, but there are issues he has to look into. I think the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Attah, a co-chairman of PANDEF, spoke before Diete-Spiff read our 16- point demand.
“It was after the demands were read that the president now spoke. But there was a little drama, as Clark told Diete-Spiff that the address should be personally presented to the president, and as they were trying to do that, somebody wanted to take the paper from him, but the matter was resolved.”
According to the source: “The Minister of Niger Delta, who wore a Hausa cap came to speak and all what he was saying was that we (Niger Delta) is not together. I cannot imagine him saying that we are not together so blatantly, knowing all the efforts we made to come together under PANDEF. It was a painful gospel that the leaders were not in-charge.”
He asserted: “President Buhari stated that he had set up a security committee and has received first and second reports and was waiting for the third one that will tell him, who are the militants, their leaders and where they are operating from. He stated that he was ready to tackle them.”
“The president made it clear that he was not going to read from his prepared speech and apparently because of what the Minister of Niger Delta said earlier, he unequivocally stated that the leaders have to do more than they have done, saying nothing can be done without peace in the region and the leaders have to guarantee peace before anything can happen.
“He said bluntly that the militants can leave the country if they want to leave. It could be taken as an honest statement from the president, but the way he said it with arrogance made me wonder,” the Niger –Delta leader added.
In his opinion: “Our main proposal was for him to set up a team to dialogue with the region, he did not say anything on that when he spoke. Rather, what I could make out of his statement is that if we (leaders) do not get the boys to stop, then, there is not likely to be further action on the region.”
He added: “I will, however, say that we have opened up to the President. I think that not just the Niger Delta region, but the international community and all those interested in finding peace in the region know that we have bared our mind and the ball is now in the court of the president.”
Asked his impression of the meeting, he said: “Overall, I do not think his response was encouraging. It appeared to me that he has made up his mind about issues in the region on the basis of what his aides have been briefing him. But I also think that it is the beginning of new challenges for him in the Niger Delta. It was not all together a fruitless meeting and I dare say that no president can afford to neglect peace in the Niger Delta, especially when our dependence is on oil and believe that he can succeed.”
“In all, But for the intervention of God, I foresee danger for the people of Niger Delta,” he asserted.
Buhari not egotistical — Clark
PANDEF leader, Chief Clark, disagreed that the president was arrogant in the manner he spoke. As far as he was concerned, the president was blunt and spoke his mind.
He said the leaders had earlier at a meeting in Abuja considered the report of PANDEF’s CWC from where an outline was approved and the 16-point demand later developed.”
EDWIN CLARK
Clark confirmed that he made introductory remarks before Diete-Spiff and others spoke, saying: “I am impressed with what the president said and I believed that something will come out of government. He (Buhari) was quite relaxed. He did not read his prepared speech, he was straightforward. He touched some of the points we made and I think government made a good gesture on the take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.”
“It was enough gesture from the government, it has shown that it is ready to take up some of the issues, but on our part, we should maintain the peace. I appeal to all the youths to sheathe their swords and give the leaders a chance to discuss with the government,” he said.
Continuing, Clark asserted: “I was quite happy when I saw him relaxed; he took photographs with the monarchs, leaders and even the youths after the meeting. If he was not happy with us, you would have seen it. He was patient with us.”
He said it was not true that the president was derisive of the leaders and the region at the meeting, adding: “I can say that the suspicion that the president is against the region was cleared at the meeting, there was nothing like talking down on the leaders.”
On his reaction to an alleged indictment of the leaders by the Minister of Niger Delta, he said: “I am unaware of that. He was asked to move a vote of thanks. I did not listen much to what he said and you know when the president had spoken, there is nothing any other person is supposed to say thereafter. What I know is that he moved a vote of thanks.”
He surmised: “The meeting was a friendly start and those, who thought the president and Niger Delta leaders do not see eye to eye would be surprised. I can tell you that the mistrust and hedge have been broken.”
Avenue for talks now open — Ikponwen
Former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Idada Ikponwen (retd.), who attended the meeting also told Saturday Vanguard: “After all these months of trying to persuade the president to hold a meeting with Niger Delta leaders, who have received the mandate of the militants , I want to say that the meeting was a good start.”
“It afforded the region the opportunity to present its 16-point demand to the government, not necessarily in order of priority. The president addressed us and expressed his strong feeling that achievement of peace was a prerequisite for moving forward and that the leaders should be after peace for normal planning of government to go on.
“He also said that he did not believe as observed by the Minister of Niger Delta that we were not working together, against the background that the boys were still bombing. But my take is that an avenue for dialogue has been opened even though no dialogue team was set up as we requested,” Ikponwen said.
His words: “The president can no longer say that he has nobody to talk to in the region, the leaders are there for him to talk contrary to his earlier statement that there was nobody to talk to in the region.”
Kudos for N-Delta elders — AVENGERS
Niger Delta Avengers spokesperson, Agbinibo, in an interview with Saturday Vanguard, said: “The Niger Delta Elders and leaders under the leadership of Papa (Dr) Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Pan Niger Delta Elders and stakeholders Forum deserve kudos by well- meaning Nigerians by presenting such minimal demands before the government of Nigeria to pacify the people and region that have being continuously raped and dehumanized over six decades because the golden egg she lays is commonwealth of the nation.”
“These demands will lead to the road-map to the desired peaceful atmosphere that Nigerian state so need if there is sincerity. The days of free peace to extract our resources are gone for good. Since the day crude oil and gas resources were discovered for the past 60 years, we are only asking for potable water, electricity, affordable healthcare, quality education etc. Until 1994, our people were visited by state sponsored military invasion by the regime of General Sani Abacha that, President Muhammadu Buhari served as one of his henchmen and chaired the Petroleum Trust Fund.
“Our elders, traditional rulers and stakeholders have spoken. They have placed the minimal legitimate demands of the Niger Delta region before the Nigerian government. The prospects of regaining the trust of the people by talking down on the people or using the instruments of force by the state are gone. This is the 21st century Niger Delta; we gave the Nigerian state and her International Oil Corporations freedom, peaceful atmosphere for overtime, but were betrayed.
“We are not deterred by President Muhammadu Buhari mulling over continuous military operation and the so-called funny and odd doctrines like military choke points, Operations Delta Safe, etc,” it added.
NDA stated: “This nation has being feeding and sustaining itself from the resources of the Niger Delta since 1976. The President has a date with history now. Since 1994 when his colleagues advised their boss, General Sani Abacha to draft the military into Ogoni land, it has not been the same again.”
“Despite the state orchestrated and sponsored killing fields, Ogoni-Nine (Kenule Saro Wiwa) to Kaiama, Odi, Okerenkoko etc, all to sustain the free flow of crude oil from our fatherland, nothing can stop our resolve to achieve our legitimate struggle. We are only waxing stronger, more determined and mastering the battlefields.
“It is high time president Muhammadu Buhari employed capable brains and characters who would manage his government positively before it degenerates to a psychopathic regime. At his age, he can decide to stop listening to those who bankrolled his journey to power… Any leader that is ready to govern his people must have political education else. You can treat the Niger Delta with disdain, when you treat terrorists and mere kidnappers by committing the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement from Geneva to witness your transactions with them.
“Our fathers and elders have done the needful, we are not disappointed. The issues they raised bring to the fore the mistakes of the Nigerian federalism that gave rise to the perennial struggle of our fathers. The demands are minimal and a legitimate road-map to setting up the framework to achieving the short, medium and long objective to the restoration of tranquility in the region.
“Some are issues that need affirmative action; the immediate take off of academic activities for the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) Okerenkoko for the 2016/17 academic session, withdrawing all occupational security agencies and agents in Ijaw land. The Nigerian state genuinely need the cooperation of our people to sustain the flow of the abundant crude oil and gas resources in our land that they have being extracting without regard to the people and the environment,” the group said.
Rift among militants
On the obvious differences among the militant groups, especially the continued bombings by Niger –Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, NDA spokesperson said: “There is no problem among groups in the agitation; we may have challenges of speaking in one voice. When the trumpet blows, we will go the biblical way of “separating the Shears from the Tares” (Matthew 13:24-30).”
Sympathy
“The path to peace and conflict resolution is always not a straight jackpot. There will come a time you too can do the thinking for difficult opponents when the opportunity arises. There are many ways to skin a cat.
“The man, President Muhammadu Buhari needs our sympathy at present. From the trauma of Boko Haram and herdsmen, his so-called brother and children that he is handling with kids gloves to the deliberate state -orchestrated killings in Biafra land.
Praises for Kachikwu
Gbaramatu-Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekem, who was at the Abuja meeting with Buhari, said: “My take on the meeting with the President and his body language is that first: there is the need for the federal government to ensure that the pronouncements made by the government through the Minister of Petroleum as concerning the Maritime University Okerenkoko and the EPZ projects are implemented to the letter.”
“That the Minister of Petroleum is worthy of commendation because since the problem started, he has shown determination in solving the problem in his own little way in the face of other hostile minister in the same government. It was also clear that the minister actually worked to bring the President to the table to receive the Niger Delta leaders as shown by the president’s speech,” he said.
President’s body language discouraging
He asserted: “The body language of the President was still not too encouraging. For him to still be expecting to hear from service chiefs the number of militant groups, their leaders and area of influence shows that he still has some hidden plans. He should reciprocate the gesture of the Niger Delta leaders.”
“One cannot understand why the President could not even make any statement concerning setting up an inter-ministerial committee to discuss with the Niger Delta people as demanded by the leaders of Niger Delta.
… Slams N-Delta minister
“All those ministers, who are representing the Niger Delta in the present dispensation should sit up. The address by the Minister of Niger Delta was not palatable. It shows the problems of the Niger Delta are in the hands of some sons and daughters of the Niger Delta,” he said.
Gbenekema added: “Lastly, the President should see the Niger Delta people as his subjects and not his enemies. This would give hope to the people of the Niger Delta to keep faith in his government. He should deliberately demilitarize the zone as a show of respect for the elders so that we do not discuss under a tense environment. I want to thank the Niger Delta leaders for a fearless presentation.”
Ball in Buhari’s court
“We should not expect everybody to agree with our style but let us be focused, we would get there. And to our brothers, who are agitated about the attitude of the present government, let us still give peace a chance. If the federal government fails to set up their team, let it be obvious that it is the government that is not ready for peace. Please let us keep the peace. I strongly believe this government cannot afford to avoid the peace move of the Niger Delta people,” he said.
Why bombing won’t stop— Ultimate Warriors
Another militant group, Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta, UWND, Sibiri Taiowoh: “Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta, UWND, first reaction on the outcome of the PANDEF meeting with President Buhari is that the Niger Delta question is a policy issue that does not even need leaders of the region visiting Mr. President like they have just done, which to us is like going cap in hand to beg before critical decisions about the region can be added into the budget.”
Taiwoh asserted: “This is one of the reasons we had opposed this option right from beginning and have canvassed for the federal government naming a team that would re-negotiate with leaders of the region, while the federal government leverages on the ceasefire to come out and implement its blueprint for us.”
It added: “OMPADEC, NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta and the Amnesty Programme were all off springs’ of agitations and insurgency. The Nigeria government has not on its own volition, and as a matter of national security and interest of the Niger Delta marshaled out executable plans for the region. What has the FG really given to us on its own, Nothing?”
Disenchanted with govt
“We had expected the federal government to make a policy statement on November 1, but what we got was noncommittal and some sarcasm on the part of the government. What a shame!
“UWND is seriously dissatisfied with the federal government position and it will only bring us back to the trenches in the days ahead.
“How can Mr. President pronounce ‘no quick fix’ on issues that have been on the front burner for months? It only portrays how unserious and non-committed the government is. It shows this government is not prepared right from onset to do anything right for us. Their interest is to keep the crude oil running to the detriment of our people. And it only exposes the federal government’s nonchalance to the problem of this country because all the issues tabled before President Buhari are not new to him.
What Buhari should have done?
“We expected Mr. President to have unveiled a holistic blueprint of what government intends doing for the region and make a specific commitment on some of the issues raised, but the government said they have to study the document presented to them first. Does that mean the government had nothing to offer us before now?
“We want to know, when was the demand for the infrastructural development of the FCT made, when did northern leaders lead their own delegation to Mr. President before the North East Development/Reconstruction Commission was set up? Why is the case of the Niger Delta region always different? Must we go cap in hand begging all the time before what we duly deserve is given to us?
“UWND make bold to say that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot feign ignorance of what the remote causes of the crisis in the Delta are. We have so many reports on the region archived in the Villa, so the excuse of studying the documents presented to them before they can make a presidential response shows they were never prepared for this dialogue.
Despite the federal government’s bellicose nature when it comes to issues of the Niger Delta, we want to reaffirm our support for the dialogue process so far it does not bring us back to square zero.
To this end, we have decided to nominate Chimennma Okolo, a lawyer, youth activist and environmental rights campaigner to liaise between us and the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, led by Chief E.K Clark, who we mandated to dialogue with the federal government and bring good news to the region.
Our demands
Okolo, is by no mean a member of UWND, but we have mandated him to articulate our position. The issues are: the issues of resource ownership/control, reallocation of 65 percent oil bloc, pipeline surveillance to the communities, a stop to gas flaring, payment of gas flare penalty funds, de-militarize the region and let the Niger Delta be a construction site.
Meeting was a failure – Ann- Kio Briggs
Niger Delta activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, said: “The meeting was not successful as our people are not prepared to present the true picture of the feelings of the Niger Delta people. People, including myself, should not just get up and say things that would enslave us and our children.
“I am one of those, who believe that if anyone is discussing on behalf of the people of the Niger Delta and they are given something that does not augur well for us, such should be rejected and I believe that this is one of just times.
“We need restructuring, fiscal federalism and the people of the Niger Delta want to control the oil, but in the demands made, fiscal federalism is number 16.
“Also, the meeting has made it very clear that President Muhammadu Buhari is totally insensitive to the issues of the Niger Delta people. We would never get anywhere and we need to tell ourselves and the Federal Government the truth,” she said.
A charade – Urhobo group
The Urhobo Common Cause, UCC, Delta state, in a statement by its leader, Henry Tafri, said: “It was clear to all and sundry; those who participated and those who watched the meeting on network news, that it was a complete fiasco. Clearly, the attendees regretted going for the meeting.”
Triumph for Tompolo
“Secondly, some participants claim victory with respect to the Maritime University, many also doubt if this can be considered a victory in the true sense, knowing that this university may actually kick off in next two academic sessions, it is still at its conception stage. If any victory was gotten, it was technically that of Chief Government Ekpemepulo, the victory is situated in the fact that one of the reasons he was hounded into hiding by government is the issue of the land he sold to the government. With government’s acceptance to kick start the Maritime University, it means they have accepted all encumbrances attached to the land,” he added.
House divided
Tafri stated: “Let me begin by saying that those who have eyes let them see and those who have ear let them hear. The solution to crisis is embedded in the demands of the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) and strengthened by the Niger-Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) demands. It is just a simple statement that most persons gloss over, but its positive reactivation will bring the peace and the issue of negotiation can then take place in a serene atmosphere.”
“The saying that ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand’ best depicts the relationship between the leaders and elders of the Niger-Delta ethnic nationalities, an Ijaw man is uncomfortable in the presence of an Itsekiri man, this was manifest when the name of Chief Ayiri Emami was mentioned as representing the Itsekiri people with the Olu of Warri, it was ijaw people, who objected to his membership. Similarly, the Urhobo people are uncomfortable with sheer braggadocio of the average Ijaw man,” he said
No alternative to dialogue
Former member of the Delta State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Michael Oberabor, said: “The severe drop in oil revenue, arising from renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region was the only reason that caused President Buhari to call for a meeting with the people of the region.”
“From the list of demands, it is obvious that the representatives at the meeting did not have the mandate of the militants. The only man with solid MEND credentials, Mr. Henry Okah is languishing in a South African jail. Tompolo is being hounded by the state. Respite for these two men should be at the top of the wish list. A close look at the demands will see the above necessity embedded within, but not very obvious.
“In the first place, Jonathan would not have been President if there were no violent agitation from the region. On the long run, President Buhari would have no option than to dialogue with the militants. If the Niger Delta leaders cannot pressure him to do that, the British and the Americans will do so.
As a direct consequence of the non-acceptance of the outcome of the meeting, the militants Wednesday bombed another pipeline,” Oberabor said.
Applause for PANDEF
For activist, Tony Uranta, “Even ostensibly cerebral minds seem to not even understand that a genesis does not translate immediately or automatically to a conclusion. Today, to an amazingly greater extent than ever before, the Niger Delta has achieved a non-partisan unity in PANDEF, equating the South East’s Ohaneze, the South West’s Afenifere and the North’s Arewa, but small minds never see the light until it is blinding.”
“Tuesday’s meeting with the President is akin to the cautious feinting and jabbing boxers tend to start a bout with….it was not a negotiation meeting, but merely one to create the atmosphere in which to commence serious negotiations in the no distant future.
We expected a federal dialogue team – Ifukor
Uche Ifukor of Academic Associates PeaceWorks, a nongovernmental organization, said:
“I would say that the meeting with Mr. President was very necessary as it provided the platform for the Niger Delta People to have meaningful engagement with him. It was the beginning and I see more engagements that would lead to the resolution of the Niger Delta question.“
Gazette agenda for N-Delta
National Coordinator, Niger Delta Vanguard for Good Governance, Ebi Brisibe, however, contended: “Chief E.K. Clark team should sincerely liaise with the federal government to implement and act out the recommendations of reports of various panels of judicial inquiries into the intractable problems, most especially the expedient Ledum Mitee-led report of the Federal Government Technical Committee on the Niger Delta, implementation of the 2014 National Conference Reports.”
“To clearly indicate its sincerity and honesty in the peace initiative between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta, the government of President Mohammadu Buhari should clearly define and gazette its agenda for the Niger Delta region.
“Such a sincerity of purpose on the part of the Government towards the peace building would produce the desired and willing responses of the people in the peace initiative.
Abuja smokescreen
Dickson Bekederemo, president of the Niger Delta Security Watch Organization of Nigeria, NDSWON, asserted: “Recently, Ohaneze ndigbo held a meeting and made a demand for restructuring of this defective federal structure. Unfortunately, the PANDEF did not take a clue from them. Prior to 1st of November, the clamour was restructuring. They told us they were not going to dialogue but to inform the president of their preparedness to dialogue and that they will not make demands, what informed the brutal change beats my imagination.”
“The whole list appears to have been prepared hurriedly. The emphasis could have been on the twin issue of oil governance and restructuring of this defective federal structure that favours one section of the country. The messengers did not appreciate the seriousness of the message they bear. Hence, the President also did not take them serious and as such there was no serious commitment from him, as it relates to their demands. The handshakes and the broad smiles were mere camouflage. They came out disappointed. The issues are still far from being resolved,” he said.
Poor presentation — IPDI
Similarly, national president of the Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, Austin Ozobo, said: “To be honest, there is a lacuna in the just concluded PANDEF team meeting with president Buhari. Frankly the meeting fell below expectations. It appeared to be a political jamboree, a talk shop or show which really cannot provide any solution to Niger delta current challenges.”
“The presentations were made in panic and were face-saving.
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