Isaac Boro:   A Challenge to Youth Leaders Today

By Priye Torulagha

Isaac Boro was a leader in the true sense of the word. He was a man of the people, hence, was willing to sacrifice his life for the good of the people. To him, money was simply an instrument for advancing the cause of the people and not as a means for self enrichment and gratification. If getting rich were his ambition, he would not have left the Nigerian Police Force. In fact, he would have transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department or the Traffic Department. Instead, he left the force and castigated it for being too corrupt.

Isaac Boro tamed his ego. He knew that ego was a negative energy and could not be beneficial to the peoples struggle. Hence, he mingled with everyone, educated and uneducated, urbanized and traditionalized, sophisticated and unsophisticated. He could trek, eat, and sleep in the forest without complaining, even though he was an urbanite.  Therefore, Boro was a bridge that binds everyone together, regardless of education, wealth, and social class.

Isaac Boro was an action man, hence, he acted swiftly when the need arose. But do not be misled, Isaac was also a political genius, hence, a superb diplomat of the first order. That was why he was able to become the student government leader at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, established political contacts with the national powers-that-be, and sued them when he did not like what was going on. In association with Samuel Owunari and Nothingham Dick, he established the Niger Delta Volunteer Force. The force was divided into three commands, namely, Eastern, Western, and Central to reflect and embrace the entirety of the ethnic geography.

He was a combination of action and diplomacy, hence, he listened to the people while he fought. For instance, after declaring the Niger Delta Republic and engaging Nigeria’s security forces in an effort to enforce the new republic, he surrendered, not because he was captured or defeated, but  because he listened to the people, particularly, the elders who negotiated  a settlement. As a result of the diplomatic negotiations, the surrender was prearranged.  The surrender is particularly emphasized here to bring home the fact that he was not arrogant, was not interested in money or self glory, and did not want to become a super star that everyone had to kowtow to. He surrendered for the sake of the people.

In short, Isaac Boro was very multidimensional in his approach to the issues. Even while at the war front, he would come to Lagos and put pressure on the Federal Government to hire more citizens of Rivers State and the Ijaws into the armed forces.  Thus, he contributed immensely to the recruitment of Rivers and Ijaw youths into the Navy and the Airforce, apart from the Army. He was a full-fledged general in a major’s rank

These extraordinary qualities of Boro are brought to bear here in order to challenge the intellectual and political orientation of contemporary youth leaders. While many Ijaw contemporary youth leaders have demonstrated an unquestionable loyalty to the cause of the Niger Delta, some have fallen by the way side by joining the other side due to money and self glory. In recent times, some youth leaders, suddenly empowered with the possession of guns, have turned the guns against their own communities, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters in an effort to enhance their narrow self-interests. Some have openly become the hired hands of nefarious politicians and enemies of the Niger Delta by killing or willing to do the killings of selected individuals in the region.  Some have too much ego and find it difficult to serve under the authority of others.  Some have turned to crime and create serious insecurity for their own people.  Some talk too much when they should be listening and strategizing. Some have very simplistic and one dimensional view of the entire struggle and believe that political and diplomatic efforts should be terminated to allow for a total armed struggle.

One Dimensional Approach

Of all these developments, the view that political and diplomatic efforts should be shed or terminated to allow for full military confrontation is the biggest concern here. The Ijaw people cannot and should not put all their eggs in one strategic military basket.  A multidimensional approach should always guide the struggle.  These are the reasons:

1.  It is suicidal to go for an all out military confrontation since many of the youth groups are undisciplined.

2. Some fighters are there for the money. This means that they are like mercenaries and can easily be bought over to do the biddings of the detractors. Such individuals would in most likelihood betray the dedicated ones and foil any attempt to achieve tangible victory.

3.   The groups are too scattered and are not consolidated.  It seems that every locality or clan or town or village has it own group. The lack of consolidation will lead to disaster in the event of a major confrontation. Without ethnic-wide consolidation, many youth groups cannot reinforce their positions in the event of a major military confrontation. For example, the Odi and Odiama Boys could not reinforce militarily to counterattack, hence, the innocent citizens of their communities paid with their lives and properties. One would have expected them to retreat as guerillas, reinforce, and counterattack to dislodge the security forces. Instead, they disappeared from the theater of operation to save themselves.Nembeland is troubled by the conflict involving Odiama, Bassambiri, and Obioku.  Ogbolomabiri and Bassambiri had their own wars within Nembe Town.  Odiama was victimized by the intra-Nembe conflicts. The Kalabari and Okrika Boys still find it difficult to work together in a way that can lead to trust and cooperative intergroup reinforcement. Moreover, in both areas, the competition for power among various armed elements make them easy targets since Nigeria can play one group against another. This accounted for the destructive turf wars in Tombia, Bagana, Buguma, Abuloma, and Okrika Town. The exception was the Warri front in which the youths fought under a consolidated command structure that enabled them to reinforce and counterattack successfully.

4.  A one dimensional approach will actually play into the strategic and tactical advantage of Nigeria, the oil companies, and the international oil consuming nations. First, they would seize the opportunity to sponsor elements within the society who are hungry for money to carry out tactical killing of Ijaw people and then blame the killings on the Ijaws in order to sow distrust and civil war among members of the ethnic group. Second, they would intentionally send people ( special forces, fifth columnists etc.) to terrorize other ethnic groups in the region and blame it on Ijaw fighters, thereby,  pitting other groups against the Ijaws. Third, they would simply characterize Ijaw youth groups as terrorist organizations and tarnish the entire struggle, even at the United Nations and the African Union. Fourth, the Ijaws will loss credibility. Fifth, a one dimensional approach could turn the entire Niger Delta, especially Ijawland, into Darfur in Sudan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda or Sierra Leone etc. It should be noted that conflicts involving the control of natural resources often become very complicated and unnecessarily prolonged due to the many forces and interests that get involved.

5.  A one dimensional approach is most likely to result in a situation similar to the Nigerian civil war, thereby, making it easy for Nigeria to identify its target, institute embargo on food and other essential resources through naval blockade.  It would be a gargantuan mistake to apply the civil war model on the current resource control battle.

Multiple Strategic Option:

Ijaw youths, Isaac Boro’s Day should be a day for serious reflection on the potential implications of various actions and inactions. Thus, instead of going haywire on militarism, a three dimensional approach should be the guiding orientation of the Ijaws at all times. Instead of putting all the eggs in one basket filled with holes, the Ijaws should go for a combination of political, legal, and military options. These are the benefits of adopting a multiple option:

1.  Although the Ijaw ethnic group is the fourth largest ethnic group in the country, not much is known about the Ijaws.  Others basically relate to the Ijaws in a stereotypical fashion. It is the responsibility of the Ijaws to consciously inform others through political intermingling and negotiations. One way to do so is to be fully engaged, in every activity that involves the gathering of Nigeria’s ethnic groups and educate them about the situation in the Niger Delta. 

2.  Ijaws have spent most of their time engaged in protest politics.   Protest politics  imply negativity and weakness.  It is a reactive tactic and does not allow for imaginative and creative options.  It is a tactics frequently associated with those who are not familiar with the art of politics.   The Ijaws have to demonstrate that they are sophisticated political players, at any level, at all times.   The only way to demonstrate political sophistication is to be politically engaged with others by being engaged, regardless of the slow pace of the process,   Sometimes, symbolism is as important as tangible results.

When others become less frightened of Ijaw power, they will be more willing to give in to Ijaw propositions. Since the Ijaws have been outsiders in the national corridors of power, the Hausa, Fulani, and the Yorubas, in particular, are afraid that giving too much power to the Niger Delta groups through resource control could lead to economic disaster for them. The Ijaws can solve the problem by being engaged through diplomacy. Chief Albert Horsefall, in a recent media interview, showed a great mastery of diplomatic capability. Others, including Chief Dappa Biriye, Oronto Douglas, Kimse Koko, E. K. Clark, Ogon Patterson, Nengi James, etc, also have this rare skill. The Ijaws must use this skill and not fear negotiations.

3.   A multiple approach provides a fail/safe mechanism for the Ijaws. Basically, if the political option does not yield fruit, the legal option provides another weapon to continue the same struggle.  If the legal option does not bear fruit, the political option can open doors. On the other hand, if neither the political nor the legal option works, the military option is always there to put teeth into Ijaw threats.  In other words, the military option should be a tool to enhance the political and legal options. The military option should always be a last resort option, since it is necessary to exhaust the political and legal options. Moreover, it is impossible to gain international support for the struggle by relying on the military option as the first option. Of course, the political and legal routes can be agonizingly slow since it involves a give and take process. 

4.  A multiple option allow for the effective utilization of human resources. The elders and the youths can automatically get involved in the process. This further means that the elders, elected public officials, bureaucrats, traditional leaders, professionals, students, non-governmental public officials, villagers, teachers, etc can be part of the struggle. A military option tends to exclude all those who are not involved in the armed resistance. It creates a “we vs. them” syndrome among the armed elements and the civilian population, leading to the “bloody civilian” complex that is a source of frequent friction between civilians and soldiers in Nigeria.  

5. A solely military option tends to create the feeling of  ‘we are the patriots and you not a patriot’ syndrome also.  For instance, when some youth leaders recently criticized Ijaw leaders for participating in the National Political Reform Conference, it automatically divided the ethnic nation into the patriots versus the non-patriots political fault-lines.  In both Nigeria and Biafra, there was also this feeling, hence, the characterization of Nigerian civilians as the “Bloody civilians” and policemen as “women” by soldiers because they were not fighting.

6.   A multiple option allows for the democratization of the struggle since leaders must listen to the generality of Ijaw and Niger Delta public opinion before taking action. It allows for input from different sources.  On the other hand, a military option tends to incline toward authoritarianism since military leaders always tend to dictate rather than negotiate options. 

7.  A multiple option allows for a regional approach since other ethnic groups must be consulted in order to form a common alliance. A military option might not do so, especially if youths from other ethnic groups are not willing to adopt a military option at the same time as the Ijaw youths.

The Need for Unity:

Ijaw youths, it is very clear that the Niger Delta struggle requires a multiple approach since the situation is very delicate.  The struggle requires an indepth analysis of the possibilities. The struggle requires youth leaders who are capable of serious contemplation of various implications and potentials. Serious contemplation is needed so that the ethnic group and the entire region are not trapped in an un-winnable situation. 

Already, there is a semblance of the multiple approach at work.  The Ijaw National Congress is more efficient at diplomatic dealings while the Ijaw Youth Council is more suitable at the actualization of practical actions and results.  The armed youths tend to threaten physical action.  This approach should be nourished and maintained without one element openly accusing the others of selling out or not being proactive.

Isaac Boro knew this, hence, he was contemplative and combined action with diplomacy. He took physical action but was also keenly aware of the political implications.

To celebrate his honor, it is necessary to shun egotism, self-glorification and agrandizement, oversimplification of the struggle, and incessant desire for money. It is necessary to open the mouth or talk at the most appropriate time.  Remain quiet while being attentive and active at other times. There is room for political negotiations, legal actions, and militancy.  In short, the political, legal, and military options are complementary to one another and should not be viewed as mutually exclusive or incompatible. Open your eyes and ears and think very deeply before acting out.

 The challenges for today’s youth leaders are:

1.  Look at the total picture, not only at the partial scene, before acting or speaking.

2.  Recognize the fact that other options are as important as militancy.

3.  Shun unnecessary threats and egoistical statements.

4.  Avoid get-rich schemes because the detractors are always coming with bags of money to turn you into Judases.

5.  Control self-glorification and gratification.

6.  Do not engage in criminal activities.

7.  Do not be a threat to your own communities

8.  Be selfless and dedicate yourself to the struggle.

 Remember, united we stand and divided we fall.

May Isaac Boro and all the heroes who paid the ultimate price rest in perfect peace.

A Press Statement on the Activities marking the 2005 Isaac Boro Memorial

By

Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari

Chairman, Niger Delta People’s Salvation Front (NDPSF)

___________________________________________

This year’s Isaac Boro Memorial was to be celebrated beginning from the 2nd to the 16th of May, with an already outlined programme for which we sought Police Permit in Rivers state. However, the State Police Command turned down our request to hold the Boro Memorial celebration in Rivers State.

The Niger Delta People’s Salvation Front (NDPSF), the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) in collaboration with other progressive and revolutionary organisations across the Niger Delta decided to move the planned activities to Bayelsa state, which to us as Ijaws, represents our cradle and homeland. However, these activities were again disrupted by the government of the so-called ‘Governor-General’ of the Ijaw nation, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Governor Alamieyeseigha had without the prompting of the Federal Government or any other person(s) or institution(s), decided to turn this year’s Isaac Boro Memorial into ‘Rivers of Blood’, the blood of the Ijaw people. He called up General Olusegun Obasanjo who was on a state visit to South Africa after his initial request for troop deployment from the Nigerian military was turned down because the military felt that an operation to stop the One-Million-Man-March of the Niger Delta People’s Salvation Front, The Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Front and other collaborating organisations will lead to loss of lives, and it was only the President of the Nigerian state, General Obasanjo (rtd.) who could give such an order.

Alamieyeseigha has clearly established a pattern of committing and supporting acts of genocide against his own people.  At the black market in Yenagoa in 1999, countless number of Ijaw people and youths who he had despicably used as political thugs in his bid to become governor at all cost were killed. In December 1999, he moved his murderous machine into Odi and totally erased the community from the map of the Ijaw nation, under the guise of looking for the killers of policemen! He justified this gruesome act of destruction, killing and maiming by saying that if he had not done so, a State of Emergency would have been declared by the General Obasanjo regime, in which case, he will cease to be governor.  For him, his remaining as Governor is more important than the lives and properties of the Ijaws.

Before we could remove the gory memory of Odi from our minds, Alamieyeseigha was again at Odiama, visiting death and destruction on that ancient community. Even the Amayanabo was not spared. ‘The Gateman of Katsina’ was at it again, leaving in his trail, death, pain and destruction. This time, he justified his action again by citing the brutal murder of councillors of Nembe Local Government Council by people suspected to have come from Odiama.

For a long time, we have overlooked sins of Governor Alamieyeseigha, who has been used as an example of the inability of the Ijaw people to govern themselves. Several other Ijaws have pointed to the huge amount of resources accruing to Bayelsa state with only eight (8) local governments, with no visible development commensurate with the amount of resources that have accrued to the state. Alamieyeseigha is known to be the most reckless, corrupt and inept political leaders in Nigeria. It is alleged that billions of naira of Bayelsa money was spent for him to become ‘The Gateman of Katsina’. The whole of Bayelsa state was shut down while private and chartered planes were contracted to ferry people to Katsina from every part of the country. Ninety percent of Bayelsa elites would have perished on that day, when these un-airworthy and near-dilapidated airplanes crash landed at Katsina airport. God was merciful to our people. The story would have been different now.

Alamieyeseigha’s madness became more manifest during the recent convocation ceremony of his daughter in the United States. The ‘whole’ of Bayelsa state was ferried to the US. Reports of this show of shame was published and hosted on all Ijaw websites all over the world. So many Ijaws all over the world, buried their heads in shame, as we could not explain to our friends from other nationalities why we allowed this megalomaniac and ‘Gateman of Katsina’ to oversee our affairs. The disgrace caused us and the damage done can not easily be repaired.

Why did Alamieyeseigha want to kill us?

To Alamieyeseigha, our rising profile is fast undermining his self-styled status of ‘Governor-General’ of the Ijaw nation. He has weakened and destroyed the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC). Most of the gullible leaders of these organisations do not know or pretend not to know that that Alamieyeseigha is deeply hand-in-glove with our enemies who seek to extinguish the flame of the Ijaw struggle.

What Alamieyeseigha did on the 16th of May clearly shows that he does not have any regard or respect for the unity of Ijaw people. He could not call his Commissioner of Police to order, a non-Ijaw, speaking his mind, said that an Ijaw man from Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Edo states do not have the right to come to Bayelsa state to celebrate the memory of Boro. This would have done irreparable damage to the unity of the Ijaw nation, but we will not be reduced to the level of this self-serving, self-styled Governor-General of Ijaw nation and ‘Gateman of Katsina’. We feel very sorry for him, for we know where history will place him.

General Obasanjo has broken our mutual agreement

The agreement we had with Gen Obasanjo at Abuja was that we will be guaranteed the constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of movement without let or hindrance, as long as we operate within the framework of the oppressive laws of the Nigerian State. We duly applied for Police Permits. Our applications were turned down. We were travelling on a Federal Highway without any intent to harm or cause injury to other persons. We were stopped, harassed, brutalized and detained. We did not react because we want the whole world to know that our path to freedom is very clear and we would not be stampeded to carrying out actions that are not in our overall interest. This clearly shows that General Obasanjo is not a man of honour, who keeps faith with agreements reached.

We have kept our own part of the agreement. We have totally disarmed and demobilized. If we had acted on May 16 the way they had predicted we would, the story would have been different for Nigeria, but we had collectively decided to give a last trial to the PRONACO Initiative for a Sovereign National Conference, believing that the outcome of the conference will be the only panacea for the peaceful co-existence and cooperation of the various nationalities, who were forcefully conscripted into the Nigerian enterprise. For Obasanjo, we will say that we will not be deterred and intimidated. Nor will we allow ourselves to abandon the struggle for the total liberation of our people. God is our witness.

The Arrest of Honourable Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku

Honourable Kingsley Kuku, Member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Collegiate Leader and Former Spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) was arrested on the 19th of May and detained by the Ondo State Police Command, after addressing the Boro’s Day rally at Obuama in the Kalabari Kingdom of the Ijaw Nation, on spurious charges of harbouring criminals at his residence in Akure. Items recovered from his house were his licensed cartridge pump action, Isaac Boro’s memorial posters, prepared speeches, a special ornamented Arabian sword and Egbesu insignias. Kingsley Kuku has been detained from the time of his arrest to the time of this press release, without any intention of granting him bail. If a lawmaker of Ondo State can be so humiliated, what about ordinary Ijaw people who do not have such protection under the laws of the Nigerian State. We demand for the immediate release of Comrade Kingsley Kuku, for his continuous incarceration will not be tolerated.

The veil has been removed

Governor Alamieyeseigha the ‘Gateman of Katsina’ should be seen by all Ijaws as our enemy number one and the chief pharaohic taskmaster of General Obasanjo, maximum ruler of the Nigerian state. Our people must be protected from the murderous machine of the ‘Gateman of Katsina’ for as he keeps watch over Katsina people, he kills, maims and destroys our people.

Security Situation in Rivers State

There has been a rising spate of killing, hijack, kidnapping and extortion in Rivers State. This has clearly shown the inability of the government and security agencies to protect the life and property of the ordinary citizen which was the situation in 2003 when life became unbearable and hellish for our people. We reacted against the massive killings, intimidation and extortion of our people. We were labelled cultists for standing on the side of the people. Now the events are re-enacting themselves. When we react again, we would be further labelled as fighting for bank robbery territory, drugs territory and bunkering territory. The people of Rivers State will not allow the re-enactment of the events of the past. We stand firmly with the people on this matter, and we call on the government to promptly equip their security agents to contain this senseless wasting of our people’s lives and properties.

For us, the struggle is unstoppable.

God bless the Ijaw Nation, God bless the Niger Delta

Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari