Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, addressing the "African-Americans Speak Out for Palestine" forum on January 31, 2009 in Detroit. (Photo: Alan Pollock)
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
After five decades of formal independence, instability and underdevelopment persists
By Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire
October 1 marked the 50th anniversary of independence for the West African state of Nigeria. The former British colony established a federal system of governance that has remained for five decades under successive political and military rulers.
This year’s commemoration was marred by a series of car bomb explosions that killed at 11 people and injured dozens of others. The bombings took place in the political capital of Abuja where official independence anniversary ceremonies were taking place.
Soon after the attacks, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the bombings. However, the official government response has been that it was an organization based outside Nigeria that was behind the attacks.
Controversy has surrounded claims that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan was warned of an imminent attack. In a statement issued by MEND prior to October 1, it says that “For 50 years, the people of the Niger Delta have had their land and resources stolen from them.” (Associated Press, October 1)
In the aftermath of the blasts another statement was issued by supposed representatives of MEND pointing out that they “warned the authorities ahead of time who decided to ignore the warning and alert the public. The blame goes to the Nigerian authorities and our message to the families of those who may have been affected is that we deeply regret any loss of life.” (Associated Press, October 1)
Possibly in response to fears of an attack, the British monarchy’s representative, the Duke of Gloucester, had been scheduled to attend the parade but failed to appear. The former Prime Minister of the UK Gordon Brown cancelled his visit to the country altogether.
A potential rival of President Jonathan in the upcoming 2011 elections, former military leader Ret. General Ibrahim B. Babangida, was also absent from the official ceremony in Abuja. In a statement from Babangida’s campaign representative, Prince Kassim Afegbua, he said that “The position of the Federal Government on the very painful and morally reprehensible act of car bombings on the Golden Jubilee celebration did not only expose a breakdown in the security of the nation, but also exposes the lack of co-ordination of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.” (Nigeria ThisDay, October 4)
Jonathan’s campaign issued a response to Babangida saying that “Trying to make political mileage from this sad event can only be the provenance of people whose staple is the violation of the lives and property of Nigerians.” (Nigeria ThisDay, October 4)
Nonetheless, President Jonathan, who is campaigning to stand for election next year, reiterated the government’s claims that MEND was not responsible. Jonathan stated that the attacks were carried out by “a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria that was paid by some people within to perpetrate the dastardly act.” (Nigeria Guardian, October 4)
Jonathan continued to claim that “We are on their trail and I promise Nigerians that the matter will be investigated to the last, and until everybody that is connected is brought to book, we will not rest. Government will no longer condone this culture of impunity.” (Nigeria Guardian, October 4)
The president also maintained that MEND had nothing to do with the bombing saying “There was a statement purported to have been written by MEND, but investigations showed that members of MEND have said they don’t know about it. Anybody who thinks that he can come under the cover of the Niger Delta struggle to perpetrate violence and criminality, your time is over.” (Nigeria Guardian, October 4)
Amnesty Program at Stake
The bomb attacks on the official 50th anniversary independence celebrations came at the same time that the government was also publicizing the completions of the first year of the amnesty program designed to disarm and re-integrate members of MEND back into Nigerian society. Reports in the Nigerian press on October 4 announced that leaders of MEND had visited the bomb sites to pay their respects to those who lost their lives and that members would visit injured victims in Abuja hospitals.
Special Adviser to President Jonathan on the Niger Delta and Chief Executive of the Amnesty Program, Timi Alaibe, said through a media spokesperson that “Having disarmed and embraced the offer of amnesty from the federal government a year ago, the leaders of the former militant groups in the Niger Delta have since registered their disgust at the Abuja bombings and are poised to use the opportunity of the commemoration of one year of amnesty proclamation to debunk insinuations that agitators in the Niger Delta were involved.” (Nigeria Next, October 4)
Alaibe’s office also claimed that 20,192 ex-members of MEND have turned over large caches of arms to the Nigerian government. According to the Special Adviser, “As of today, 5,533 ex-militants have received non-violence transformational training and are now being posted to skill acquisition centers and institutions across the country and abroad. The process of rehabilitation and reintegration is continuing.”
Meanwhile in the Republic of South Africa, a former leader of MEND, Henry Okah, who was granted amnesty along with other members and has been residing in Johannesburg, was arrested and later charged with terrorism by the courts there. He will have to make another appearance before the court on October 14 even though his lawyer has denied any involvement by Okah in the Abuja attacks.
It was reported over the years that attacks by MEND had cost the Nigerian oil industry $1 billion per year. As a result of the unrest in the Niger Delta, Nigeria fell behind Angola as the largest producer of crude oil on the African continent.
Although the amnesty program enacted one year ago has resulted in large declines in unrest and violence against oil installations and personnel in the region, there have still been several high-profile cases of kidnapping for ransom. Three French oil workers were reported kidnapped this year and have yet to be located by the authorities.
Role of the U.S. and China
The United States government is very much concerned about developments in Nigeria since the country had been the largest importer of oil from Africa until 2009 when it was surpassed by Angola. A recent agreement was signed between the U.S. and Nigeria to ostensibly fight narcotics trafficking.
According to the Nigerian Guardian newspaper, “The U.S. government will deploy a technical advisor as part of its continued support for the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). “ The same article also noted that Nigeria was recently removed by President Obama from the list of Major Illicit Drug Producing and Drug Trafficking Countries for 2011. (Nigeria Guardian, October 4)
Earlier in May 2010, Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China signed a $23 billion agreement for the construction of three gasoline refineries inside the country. In an article published by the Voice of America it states that “The deal between state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited is expected to add 750,000 barrels a day to Nigeria's refining capability.” (VOA, May 15)
In addition, a Petroleum Industry Bill proposed by the government could significantly reduce the profits for various multi-national firms such as Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell and Total. Shell, the country’s main foreign investor, announced several months ago that the adoption of such a bill could jeopardize $40 billion in investments. (Associated Press, September 21)
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