NIGER DELTA MILITIA PSYCHOLOGY THE ART OF WAR
In most of the militant camps, there is an ideology of warfare that is preached and accepted by a handful of militant of less than 21% not synonymous with criminality or any form of Negative acts other than for the emancipation of all the communities within the Niger-Delta region. The occidental philosophy is, in life one must be a warrior, and war (either by conspiracy or in collaboration) requires stamina achievable in its entire ramification by all means necessary. As strong as this 21% are, while others (the 52% militant criminal, bunkerers, and collaborators in high places) may find beauty in endless dreams, the latter finds it in all its shapes, figures and colours in reality and persistent struggle for survival and liberation of the several communities being sabotaged by those with Presidential and Federal government immunity.
The truth is underpinning in a relationship between the 52% of the criminals and the conspirators, they have forgotten that their limits can set up predicated ethnic cleansing, set the stage for another civil war. The master strategists have seen the Nigerian problematic economic schematic from mountaintop of several debates, and critical observation of whole government. It is clear, that both side will lose, yet more success is to certain groups, which I may somewhat classify in this book; yet in war, there is no victor. The jigsaw puzzle can be unraveled like the cat; they are aware and looking for the perfect economy of motion and gesture in the way to give their blows the greatest force with the least expenditure of effort. The Militant Groups from all indication are ready to give the insensitive federal government a good fight. They also realize that if they are to fall, they will do so with gallantry and ferocity, and not as cowards.
Although the Amnesty package was a welcome development on the negotiation and conflict resolution process of the federal government and all restive groups in the area; only if the right words are used, and from a standpoint, it is not clear if the government understands the common grounds for reconciliation. For the Amnesty truce to work, the both party must shoulder certain blames, and must take responsibility for atrocity perpetuate on the innocent and to the communities over time. Reasons why Asari Dokubo went haywire on the lukewarmness of the federal government to accept fault, and declare state of emergency on the region for immediate development as compensation for the age-long deprivation, genocide, environmental degradation and injustice; government should call up a genuine sovereign national conference in order to deliberate and reconcile all ethnic, economic and socio-politico bitterness. If this presidency is sincere enough, the gaps between the people of the region, the federal and proposal for development of the area can be closed. Both parties must sue for Peace and tranquility.
In militant camps today, agenda have been compromised things have fallen apart, reasons why the centres could not hold for this long. With Ateke tom, Soboma George, Soboma Johnson and co on my end; with Tom Polo, Henry Okah on the other end, while Asari Dokubo and others yet on another end could grieve the bitter horse wipe. While I may have had first hand information on situation as regard current activities in these camps with my very limited intelligent network, I have concurrently loss the motion and gesture for the actual master plan with the main zones of the intelligent reports. However subtle, it is necessitated by the available and limited resource and manpower. With the right finding, results are as ripe as a drop fruit from the tree top.
In my report, I am aware that these militants (more than 21%) have been exhausted in terms of resources, but not in manpower; still the 52% indulge in all known atrocity in the area, such as kidnapping and vandal have in all ramification both resources and manpower, with their major supports from multinationals corporations who are themselves cronies in this widespread international conspiracy, haven be cut temporary because of fervent observation and monitory of non-governmental agencies. While the 21% recognizes and appreciated their limits, there are things they can never do, talents they will never have, loft goals they will never reach; that hardly bothers them. As ferocious warriors they focus on what they have the strength that they do possess and that which they must use creatively; knowing when to slow down, to renew, to retrench and retreat, they outlaw their opponents. They play for the long-term, because by their establishment and oath, they respect the wishes and aspiration of the people which they represent and fight to death for.
There ware time when their calculation and strategies misfire; what had seem to them during the early years of Kaiama Declaration of 1999, the Ogoni Crisis genocide of 1992, the Ijaw/Itsekeri ethnic crisis of late 1990s, and IYC agitation of 2000 – 07, and other numerous campaign has ignite the beast of conflict across the Niger Delta region in relation fair share of resource control and development, a farce brokered between the region, the multinationals and the government. The Militant groups are aware that not everything can be foreseen, the master-strategist amongst them have known how to pick their battles carefully, along with their ability to know when and how to quit. This honor has preserved them till this day in their engagement militarily of the Federal government. Although there have been clamour of criminality perpetuated by them in the name of militancy and somewhat thwarted emancipation, their funding has been genuine even though Limited and Transparency International attested to this facts with regard to the UNO’s fireman policy.
The 21% may have agreed and concurred with this advocacy of warfare, they have controlled their pride and anger, despite the death toll in several communities within the region by the insensitive action of the joint task force (JTF), and the inhuman Arial bombing that have claimed more than 1,162 lives, displaced more than 2430 people and destroyed properties worth Millions of naira in the just concluded Gbaramatu saga. As servants and puppets of the conspirators both the federal, State/Local government and the JTF have done the dirty work of these blood-thirsty clowns called the bigwigs, or the “Blue Blood”. More to our surprises, almost 80% of the 52% criminals in the Niger-Delta have been infested with the “Share the National Cake syndrome” due to greed and selfish gains, 90% of the 21% have stick to their aims and objectives. They have not allowed anger and pride to overtake their powers of reason and limitedness; they have not fallen into bogus offers and irreparable traps because they certainly knew when to stop.
So far, fighting economically on both sides have built an angle of momentum. The Federal Government, Amnesty group, Transparency International and stakeholders should think of finding common ground for possible negotiation, thereby creating a perfect balance between what both groups are capable of and the task of economic development of the region. Since it is an internal insurgency network, the military should diverse a way of peaceful negotiation between the militants. Best of all, the perpetuators of this conflict, of which focal point is the multinationals and pillars of oil hegemony, should not shy away from the problem which they out of technical problems caused. Instead, they should establish a proper community relations and conflict management units. Expatriate should be trained in conflict management and community relation so as to equip them with ready knowledge of averting problems developed in communities by virtue of their explorative activities on the one hand, while the powers that be who have established their stronghold on the blood and sweat of innocent Niger Deltans should not be left out. Though the Stick may smoke, yet it will never be burnt. As urgent as possible, the FGN and stakeholders through their various Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) networks and departments should provide a better and lasting solution other than the Amnesty package to avert further distress in the region.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TRUCE
In our contemporary Nigerian society, we live in a culture that promotes democratic value of being fair to one and all, the importance of fitting to a group, and knowing how to cooperate with other people, and being able to resolve any types of conflict that may arise peacefully without war within or without is what guarantees peace. Let none at this mourning moment be over confidence, the losses at both side is immeasurable, and the federal government and every actor of this drama are incapacitated with economic resources. The innocent citizens, the militants and federal government through its blood-thirsty servants of doom (JTF) cannot be too overconfidence of victory.
By virtue of our national ethos, the actors were necessitate with ignorance and excesses, all the groups have involved in murder and any civilized society, these groups should be sued and tried for war crime. There is no such action as protecting internal and external security can make for the lives of the innocent who have died for the unconstitutional excesses of the government and militant. Whatever the prime motives and agitation, the death toll has ruled out any genuine index of success; neither will it make anyone go far. We should be aware that the pull of emotion is inevitable, to notice it when it is happening, and to compensate for it when there is time.
The result toward peace and conflict management is that, in all its primordial process, which in turn is galvanized in stages, it requires prospective dichotomy of interest that may arose the resource control discourse, the heart of which pervades our Federal uniqueness. Peace is a process, and if we must end conflict and crisis, both religiously motivated and ethnically or socio-politically initiated, negotiation, intervention and identification paradigm should be put into play in our contemporary Nigeria especially in the Niger Delta region, North Central and Middle Belt of Nigeria; the causes of conflicts are deep rooted. Ideally the only solution to averting future recurrence and predominant crisis is through rigorous applications of the peace process paradigm (PPP – P3).
Although scholars of non-violence and clinical mediation have stipulates in their peace process model, that the only stages of identifying the causes of conflict is through Community’s Negotiation and Resolution Engagement (CNRE). Even though it was used before Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Many others, in my several papers and publication, it is evident that P3 and CNRE when appropriately applied will produce far yielding results in conflict management. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is pious with several proposals by scholars on peace and conflict management, yet in addition to this, it can make use of numerous academic yet empirical landmarks. While it is impossible to avail ourselves with general situation of a conflict, we end up losing our hold on reality and reflecting on solution. This is certainly because we have not reflected back ward on the root cause of the conflicts or Schism; we have only dwell in daydream of short-term solution.
In other online articles and papers on the P3 and CNRE it was made clear that Africa union (AU) is only playing the gimmick, and consequent on the fact that the initial goals of the AU in its outlined articles is on two major agenda:-
o Promoting Africa’s peace/unity and
o Economic development in its entire ramification.
It is imperative to note that the AU is yet to fulfill its pristine objectives; and it has also failed to copy the progress made by ECOWAS in reaching an Africancentric Peace Process (APP). I therefore wonder if the AU has brokered any peace process so far, since its inception.
RECONSTITUTING VIABLE SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT
In the just concluded economic summit in calabar, organized by the south-south governors and the federal government in lieu of looking into some major MDG plans. From the scheme of things, in a paper delivered to the Institute of Conflict resolution and community development; a theme formulate as an approach to curb the rhetoric family with sabotage, by engaging the youths and the economically challenge. It is in this conception that The “Nigerian Youth Initiative forum” was born. Although still in its sketch-board, yet with proper implementations in line with the sustainable development target; any government can sue for peace and development in host communities, both in the Niger-Delta oil and gas sabotaged zones, and the religiously aggrieved people. In my theories as articulated, it will go a long way in answering questions of utmost economic viability. With regard to the master plan, the application of the theory will only see the light of the day if its mission statement is respected.
However, as I advanced in the NYIF mission statement towards corporate implementation and the preliminary interpretation of the 7+2 point Agenda, it is imperative that the Nigerian youth initiative forum (NYIF) if properly galvanized by the right power politics will not only nearly 76% youth converted and motivated crisis, but the sum-total of peace in the region. The NYIF has designed a model for the proper execution of the 7+2 point agenda of the Yar ‘Adua/Jonathan administration in the rural levels. As a non-profit establishment, its goal therefore should be, to collaborate with other donors, such as the NDDC, NAPEEP & state/local government in reaching its maximum goals as entertained in this administration’s mission statement.
This organization is a major citadel in my master plan and efforts to address some of the seven point Agenda which hinders the youth and the general capacity to major players in the economic development of the marginalized Niger-Delta and the religiously troubled Northern Nigeria.
In the NYIF mission statement, I have laid out in clear and concrete terms the NYIF vision of providing opportunities for the youths of Niger-Delta to access economic fortunes through micro-finance, cooperative ventures, business and commercial activities. The mission of the NYIF will be to create the enabling environment and provide the necessary support to a large percentage of the Niger-Delta of our population, especially the youths and women groups, to be engaged in productive economic activities for the good of all. This is in line with stake holder’s drive towards addressing the marginalization and economic, socio-political and psychological disparity over time; both in the insurgent and economically deprived oil rich Niger-Delta.
The following are some of the objectives of the NYIF is properly implemented and given the necessary attention, which is needed in any developing society of today. And these objectives and visions as I have articulated towards the successes of NYIF, and they includes but not limited to:
– The economic emancipation and the empowerment of our youth, women (especially the widow) and the economically challenged groups through skill acquisition for various trades and ventures.
– The establishment of an ICT (information technology centre) to improve the ICT knowledge of rural and urban dwellers, towards accessory opportunities locally and internationally.
– The creation of a business environment and economic culture which will address the absence of entrepreneurial know-how among the youths
– To stimulate the creative imaginations, talent and curiosity of our youth in the pursuit for development and excellence.
– To promote self-reliance, particularly among our youth and women, thereby eliminating idleness with its attendant vices.
– To enhance the socio-economic status of our local people.
Recently, from my intelligent report Niger-Delta states, urban centres, and local governments have been engendered by the resource which has been lavishly kept in the dark for too long, with explosive mobilization of NYIF peace process and the proliferation of sustainable development paradigm. The group or any other groups for that matter must have to come up with articulate models; which should be of economic and political values, and the network coverage area cannot be undermined – it is part of the success stories that state governments and the FGN may adopt in their political card’s scoring techniques. It is based primarily on the premise that the already processed model will for the first time be experimented in line with the rational behind the statistical work ability of the model.
In the pursuit of the above objectives, the NYIF has established a ‘Targeted Economic empowerment and Sustainability framework,’ under which the overall objectives will be realizable. This was created in view of streamlining all activities designed for implementation under the programmer. The targeted economic empowerment and sustainability framework (TEESF) is structured into three operational branch of the NYIF, namely,
Bureau for skills acquisition, Bureau on business development, Bureau for Small and Medium scale; and they have been so named “Bureau” for convenient usage.
BUREAU FOR SKILLS ACQUISITION
The framework for the realization and implementation of the proposed bureau in the social term will be dialogued in the context of the overall NYIF communities’ sustainable development agenda. However this bureau shall be responsible for the training of various categories of unskilled and semi-skilled youths and women for self-employment, as well as retooling and educating them for specific needs of the manpower market.
Studies carried out in this model indicated that business often located or expanded wear cluster (similar business, input supplies, customer base, etc) vertically increase economic growth, this is impossible without overall empowerment process. From previous studies it has shown that a targeted economic development often lead to more effective use of scarce local and community resources. These facts present a targeted approach to local economic growth index, leading to efforts of several potential data/information sources. An economy is composed of all the households and businesses within the community space and their numerous functions, interactions, and change through time, as expressed in the holistic psyche of any existing society, Niger-Delta state inclusive.
In view of this bureau, the group will be able to work/partner with other NGOs to implement the proper sensitization of the frame work within the ambit of the group master plan. There is already a cooked prerequisite model above board, while there is need to also work with government’s existing models is already in place, as group must concurs with the philosophy of the seven point Agenda of the present administration.
BUREAU ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
If sustainable development truly evolved from a specific planning of today and tomorrow in order to meet the required challenges, goals and the benefit of social economic and political awareness. Then with the concretization agenda of the bureau, a balance will be reached between people with various economic states and in all level of the society in the utilization of the amenities and scarce resources. From previous studies it was discovered that such dimension centers on the ecological and cultural trends of the people. For any development to be called sustainable it must contain the perspective transformation of the general solution of Ecology, culture and local natures; this is incomplete without the participation of all stakeholders in the process.
In practice, the bureau will sever as the storehouse for business ideas. It will offer guidance and consultancy services for business development. In essence, this bureau will teach our women and youths the arts of starting and succeeding in business.
BUREAU ON SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
The Niger-Delta labour market is at the moment undergoing a shift towards a pattern that reflects a more contingent employment economy. Vocational rehabilitation service providers are gradually reconsidering their current practices and strategies which are in tune with emerging trends. Consequently, most global economies of today are marked by an interrelated environmental and developmental crisis in their overall economic trends, as such; Niger-Delta states government, philanthropist and stakeholders should articulate models to deal with community issues. Some of these crises are rooted in the structural dynamics of an economic model which is centered on profit rather than the promotion of the welfare of communities.
In line with the above enumerated discourse, the bureau will provide a platform for accessing capital to promising business and commercial initiatives to establish small and medium scale ventures. It is envisaged however that micro finance banks, committees on loans (philanthropy), corporate civic responsibility by multi-national companies and private/corporate/NGO bodies shall play a crucial role in the realization of the objectives of the NYIF as they shall be confronted for partnership. Various models of developments are particularly manifested in local content to considerably alleviate poverty; this is also a condition for the NYIF’S community development paradigms.
POVERTY STRICKEN DYNAMICS
Due to the long periods of marginalization in the derivation formula, the states of Niger Delta are comprises of civil servants, and medium scale enterprises in scarce levels and location of business. The situation has developed over time without solution to community ills, such as community people oriented policies and programs. The better part of the work of the various bureaus that has been structured by the Executive of the NYIF in line with the Niger Delta Agenda (NDA) is to curb poverty, illiteracy and social ignorance. In the past, the above is resultant and often led to destructive consequences, poverty, diseases, and deforestation. Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, and Cross-River states are a reflection of the aforesaid consequences, as seen in the use of citizens are house boys and girls and other forms of economic deprivation of its citizens.
At the moment, there is a great disparity in wealth, which must be balanced at all cost through sustainable development in various local governments and communities across the states of the country, of which emergency situation on the Niger-Delta region, the core western and eastern (Erosion driven) and the north central of Nigeria, should urgently be put into consideration. So far, the social, cultural, political and economic injustice as a result of corruption of public offices office holders, politically elected representatives, is eating deep into the viable sustainable development pattern especially in the deprived and aggrieved Niger-Delta State, which has indeed forced her youth to idleness and militancy.
By comparison, more than 62% of the funds allocated to the state are consumed by 38% of the population, vis-à-vis while 62% of local environmental degradation is created by the same 38%, at which point the power and resources is also increasing the concentration of wealth within richest 38%, which amounts to a handful of civil servants and public offer holders. The recurrent imbalances also give rise to the Niger-Delta communities. Two communities in Akwa-Ibom was used by the group, is a case study for the realization of the models already developed so far.
On partnership with both states, local governments, etc in private individuals, NGOs, multi-national/indigenous companies etc in carryout these land able model. We intend to commence by introduce by establishing an economic empowerment programme immediately, which shall flag-off a series of skills sensitization workshops, semi-skilled and economically challenge youths across the approval by donor bodies and agencies, mainly of artisans, primary and secondary school leavers and the physically challenged, whose creativity and productive potentials to be harnessed and upgraded. Likewise, the refugees from Somali etc. that litters the streets of major towns across the regions will not be left out.
DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
The NYIF on sustainable development has with in the time frame developed a characterized effect of emergency procedural effect of developing the Niger-Delta region and timed youths and women respectively, the specialized process can delay the creation of a community economic development plan.
With the evolving of the NYIF into the scheme of things, a structured analysis is necessary for communities to realize their useful economic potentials. Such analysis is useful for examining the economic make up of area and how those areas respond to internal and extends trends. Community development is reliant on competent internal leaders in the accomplishment of set objectives and how it can minimize obstacles poised by external bureaucratic agencies. The NYIF is ready to engage community leaders, heads and chiefs in the overall actualization of our set goals. We are also aware of the facts that effective and articulate leadership structure will encourage community members to identify with recurrent local sustainable development agenda, and hence take necessary steps in ameliorating their situation. NYIF through its bureau help in training youth in certain leadership courses bodies, NGOs, multinational companies etc in community leadership structure.
Therefore through this orientation and leadership training exercise, an economic analysis of Niger-Delta communities, coupled with strategies development plants providing the framework to combat common local issues such as are enshrined in the orbit of the community development framework (CDF).
DEVELOPMENTS STAGES
As a bid to answer some of the militating economic issues, the group in future partnership with NGOs, government bodies have, with clear hopes underscore some of the vital steps to be followed in solving the ills of sustainable development.
SUSTAINABLE CONTINUTY
With the urgency to transform the youth of the Niger-delta communities under the aegis of The National Youth Initiative Forum (NYIF) – a youth enterprenurerial organization, through it ideologies has suggested the need for groups to make initial decision in revamping our national federal pledges, so as to secure the nation’s hero’s past. Among the agenda is to build a community strategy and help to galvanize the awareness necessary for youth centered sustainable growth. At this point, the communities will have to decide if benefits of such process are worth the effort before implementation. NGOs, as well as NAPEP could be contracted to partner in their advisory and technical capacity of the project.
ENGAGEMENT RULE MODEL
Plans are not if a handful of individuals are involved. Broad community support is critical, and wider the range of participation, the greater the talent pool available. Such may, plus or minus involve the public sector group- civil society, private sector representation, volunteer organization etc, should be encouraged to participate. Such models, was first introduced in macrocosm by the group through the sharing of eye-glasses area of Akwa-Ibom, an LGA in the Niger Delta region.
PROVISION OF INCENTIVE TO PARTICIPATING YOUTH AND WOMEN
Participation in any event either for personal or collective development is of consideration, people tends to participate in event that more rewarding, both in principal and in practice than those of little significant which are usually long-term Kurt lumen (1980). In support of this view, the government and NYIF through a committee should also approve the payment of stipends to all participations during the training exercise.
This will cause ten major trends which includes.
– Create increased participation in the exercise by youths and women across the region thereby reducing to it’s barest minimum, idleness, youth militancy, prostitution and empowerment initiatives.
– Help launder the success stories across the nation and globally, thereby increasing investment and economic development of the regions by indigenous and non-indigenous investors.
– It enhances peace and unity in the region.
– It will enhance rural-urban transformation and lead, to successive urban decoration.
– It creates and generates even distribution of wealth and the use of scarce resources.
– It boosts the entrepreneurial viability of the youths and women towards self-reliance and independence.
– It helps in the building up of new cultural and ecological development, as perception of participants towards marginalization, conflicts, militancy, deprivation would have be reduce to the lowest degeneration of the word. Youth and women beneficiary at the end of the day, haven successfully graduated from the institute, will be equipped with vast entrepreneurial skills, sent-off grants and the use of micro-finance loans will enable them engage in meaning employment.
– It reduces government work load and enhances the number of fax payers, hence a booming economy as everybody will be a co-participant in the government of the day.
– It reduces poverty as well as creates wealth and self-reliance.
– It boosts the overall standard of living.
– On successful completion of the training programme, participants will be assisted with take -off grants and would be encouraged to access loans form selected state micro-finances.