YOUR LETTERS
Niger Delta and peace diplomacy
Those who know Chief Olusegun Obasanjo were pretty surprised by his recent approach to the crisis in the Niger Delta. Surprisingly, the leader of one of the groups in Niger Delta was flown into Abuja in a Presidential jet for a high level peace meeting.
To most keen observers, the news of Asari’s presence in Abuja was taken with cautious pessimism. In fact, I was one of those who said that the man had foolishly given himself out. I thought he was simply lured to Abuja to be captured, forced to expose the mechanics of his operation, so that his group and similar groups will be finally decimated. From the benefit of hindsight, I do not blame myself or others who nursed similar trend of thoughts. In the ancient times, the Roman General, Didius used the same trick. He lured a whole tribe of troublesome natives into a Roman camp by pretending a peace deal. When they came, he had them all slaughtered. Obasanjo was a military man and sometimes forgets he had left the army a long time ago, as he still behaves typical of military men.
By his recent peace moves, inviting trouble-makers to Abuja, and admonishing them like a father, Obasanjo has replicated the Periclean wisdom. If this type of wisdom is applied to other groups, I have no doubt that they will be made to understand their fooly, not the foolishness of fighting against injustice as some of them claim, but the foolishness of carrying guns, snuffing off life without compuction, terrorising the nation on account of trifles.
I have said the foregoing because, in truth, injustices abound in the country. It has thus become normal for ambitious Nigerians and disenchanted youth to forment trouble as a smokescreen for fighting those injustices.
No doubt, the Niger Delta has become the proverbial geese that lays the Nigerian golden egg. About 70% of the wealth of the nation today comes from that region. But before that wealth is produced, there is always the consequent damage to the environment, the ecosystem, the flora and fauna. The damage is such that their rivers are polluted through spillages, thus making it difficult for an otherwise aquatic rich areas to sustain aquatic lives. Studies in the past reveal the absence of planktons, vital to aquatic lives, in the ocean and rivers. Most of the areas are swampy and the activities of the oil companies make farming unattractive. When these areas are left miserable and their youths see the wealth of the nation building Lagos and Abuja, they are right to demand for a fair deal
But the point to note is that the past governments made efforts to add value to the area, but the efforts were still born. Obasanjo, recognizing the truth set up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
If the bandits in the Delta as represented by Dokubo and others are allowed to thrive, the gains of NDDC and the increased government presence in the area will be jeopardised. Likewise, the use of force, even though it will eventually succeed in the light of superior power, will achieve only but pyrrhic victory. The peace diplomacy as Obasanjo has opted remains the best option.
Mr. Otubom Bassey
Agency for Peace and Social Justice
4 Ikom st, Calabar,
Cross River State.
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