CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
|
Nigeria |
POLITICS
In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed several clashes.
Some of them have
been between ethnic groups or between one ethnic group and the government,
with the groups claiming they are marginalized. Some are threatening to
leave the Federation
South-western States: The threat of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) must be taken seriously. There are threats, actual killings and injuring of innocent citizens living in these predominantly Yoruba states, coupled with OPC demands for a separate Yoruba nation.
Niger Delta: There’s an abundance of stories of killings, kidnappings and ultimatums to quit the area. The Ijaws of the Delta are calling for the implementation of the Kaima Declaration which among its demands calls for the withdrawal of all oil companies from the Niger Delta until the Federal Government sorts out the issue of ownership and control of natural resources.
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) though rather quiet at the moment, is still pursuing some of the ideals for which their leader, Kenule Benson Saro-Wiwa was killed. They want autonomy and full control of the resources in their area.
The recent massacre of twelve policemen in Odi, Bayelsa State, and the subsequent military action by the Federal Government, which led to the wiping out of the entire Odi community has also led to questions like, why inflict such force on Odi when the OPC had done much worse in Lagos and Shagamu?
South East: From the Igbos of the South East comes the call for the revival of the Republic of Biafra. The original idea of such a republic led to the civil war. Led by the Ikemba Nnewi, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, «Biafra» came about as a result of the need to redress what was taken to be imbalance, injustice and marginalization of the Igbos in the Federation.
More than 27 years later, the call has re-surfaced and is being championed by a group calling itself the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). In line with their aims, MASSOB is reported to have petitioned the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Anan, asking that Biafra be welcomed at the world body as «an unrepresented nation». MASSOB alleged «state conspiracy, murder and annihilation of our tribe by the Nigerian states».
The above means that all is not well with the Federation of Nigeria and it therefore needs substantial re-structuring. But of what type?
Sovereign National Conference
The Houses of Assemblies in the South Western states, all controlled by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) acting in tandem with the Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, have all passed resolutions calling for the convening of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC). Personalities such as the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, have at one time or another, joined their voices with those calling for a SNC.
The reasoning is, that a SNC will bring together all Nigeria’s ethnic groups in a forum where they can sit together to talk about and work out the Federation’s future. But, already speculation is rife that some northern leaders who oppose the call for an SNC, are making a series of approaches to some South Eastern leaders, to convince them of the futility of such a conference. Also, some Yoruba groups from the South West are said to be teeming up with the Ijaws of the Niger Delta to ensure that the present government is kept on its toes, a move they hope will force them to the discussion table by way of a SNC.
Constitutional experts say such a conference is unlikely since if permitted, would supersede Nigeria’s democratic structures. And since the current political structures were voted in by the people, a SNC is not legally possible.
Dr Kola Salami, formerly the Social Democratic Party’s presidential aspirant, feels that such a conference should not be held as it could lead to the country’s disintegration. And disintegration could result in worse problems for the people.
Chief Omon Aibangbe, an activist, vehemently opposes the idea of a SNC, saying that it’s legally inappropriate «because we already have a National Assembly. It would amount to a duplication of functions. I don’t think that the various ethnic groups want to leave the Nigerian Federation — rather, they are seeking some form of confederal arrangement».
Maybe there is still hope for a restructured, United Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 21st century.
ENGLISH CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 2000 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement