The renewed militant activity in the Niger
Delta is an indication of hopelessness and
desperation. It is a sign of rejection of whatever
remediation agenda is on ground now. The
militants are not unaware of the good intentions
of the Buhari’s government to ‘mend fences’
particularly the President’s willingness to forge
ahead with the UNEP Report decisions and
recommendations to clean up the devastation
caused by years of environmental neglect from
petroleum extraction in Ogoniland. But, they are
desperate for more. They want to be involved in
decisions of matters that affect them. They are
indigenous people, and they have rights.
The agitations of the indigenous people of the
Niger Delta region seem genuine with violent
proclamation as the last option for their self-
determination. Suffice it to say that, the
government should diligently manage the
clamour for self-determination and protection of
the rights of the indigenous peoples as being
done in other parts of the world, and more so, as
being encouraged by the African Commission on
Human and Peoples Rights.
The desire for self-determination is a right. The
right to self-determination has nothing to do with
territorial integrity or secession. It could be said
that, self-determination grant a people numerous
options such as, association, way of life,
ownership of land and natural resources,
development and healthy biodiversity. Presently
in Nigeria, this right could be tapped from the
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (art. 1(1)) and the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art. 1(1))
both derived from the Charter of the United
Nations principle of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples. Apart from this, the
indigenous people of the Niger Delta, and indeed
Nigeria, are struggling for recognition and
protection as vulnerable, marginalised and
forgotten people. Added to self-determination is
the right to land and natural resources, that is,
claim of traditional ownership of their land and
communities. The free, prior and informed
consent of the indigenous people is essential for
any development of these resources.
However, the delay and political unwillingness of
the government of Nigerian to attend to this
matter might not be unconnected with the lack of
cohesion among the indigenous peoples
themselves. They have not harmonised their
agenda. They have not availed themselves with
the plethora of legal options being proffered by
international and regional laws.
The the people must come together. They must
harness all their potentials and present a
formidable national representation to fight the
good course. Their ‘identity’ as ‘indigenous
people’ must be promoted and propagated.
Awareness of this identity must be publicised
locally and internationally. Dialogue along the
path of peace yields more meaningful gain than
violence and war. Those elements add up to the
environmental issues causing devastation in the
region.
Ebun Abolarin,
Lagos.
