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FEDERATED NIGER DELTA IJAW
COMMUNITIES (FNDIC)
NO. 1, PERE QUARTERS, OPOROZA TOWN,
GBARAMATU
CLAN,
Motto: "WATER FOR FIRE"
August 27, 2003.
"OPERATION
RESTORE HOPE" AN ACT OF FURTHER, MILITARISATION OF THE
NIGER-DELTA.
The Ijaw under FNDIC are agitating:
1.
To be part of democratic governance of the federation, local, state and central
controlling 60% share of the SPDC / Government Oil Joint Venture of
Nigeria.
2. To be part of the government making policies on the environment
in which SPDC / Oil Companies operate devastatingly mostly in Warri South
West.
Non-delimitation of electoral constituencies in Warri South-West by
INEC was a political problem and the subsequent Justice Alhassan Idoko
Commission of Inquiry set up on the Warri Crisis was a political resolution of
the political problem within the context of Rule of Law.
For peace in
Warri and its environs, the Justice Idoko recommendations be considered and are
duly applied.
Unlike the Idoko commission of inquiry a Joint Security
Task Force comprises the Army, Navy and the State Security Service (SSS) headed
by Major General Elias Zamani code-named Operation Restore Hope (for the
Itsekiri) was on 21st August 2003 in Warri said to be launched:
"To check
the incessant ethnic crises in Delta State and disruption of oil operations in
the region in general". (Vanguard Issue of August 22, 2003 front
page).
"Operation Restore Hope" (for the Itsekiri) like Operation Hakuri
II remains discriminatory and is bound to fail. It is one act of militarisation
too many because hitherto are Operation Hakuri II and the Itsekiri / Ijaw
conflict both resulting to militarisation of Warri South West and it environs.
Our experience with Operation Hakuri II is that it seeks, not only to militarise
the Niger Delta but it has caused Ijaw emotionally - devastating extra-judicial
executions. Our psyche is hence naturally averse to
militarisation.
Illegal Oil Bunkering And The
Warri Crisis Who Truly Is The Illegal Bunkerer In The Niger
Delta?
According to reports by the National Revenue Commission
in Nigeria, as at the year 2000, "there were 20 oil wells being secretly
operated by some multi-national oil firms" (the punch editorial issue of January
8, 2001 page 8).
On 12th March, 2003 about 0200 hours, men of the
Nigerian Navy under the then commanding officer (Co) of Umalokun (now Warri)
Naval Base, Warri Navy Capt Titus Awoyemi were accosted while carrying out
illegal bunkering in the areas of SPDC Jones Creek Oil fields.
The vessel
(Tug) with barge involved in the illegal bunkering was carrying enabling "sea
fairer" documents from SPDC.
On 13th March 2003 with the Itsekiri
providing their communities as launching pads, a combined Military team of
Nigerian soldiers and Naval men launched a pre-emptive and premeditated attack
on the Ijaw in the Escravos River. This, in part, was the genesis of the renewed
Warri Crisis 2003.
The Navy cannot be the bunkerers and equally be the
anti-bunker crusaders, otherwise there shall be miscarriage of
justice.
The military cannot be the ones to start hostilities in the
current Warri Crisis and again be the right ones to stop the crisis arising from
their hostilities. The Ijaw have their genuine fears. Political resolution could
be enough, not military solution.
SOME OILY FACTS TO
NOTE:
Since the Ijaw youths brought pressure to bear on the Nigerian
state over their yearnings for majority rule and true democracy in Warri South
West, the response of the government and trans-national oil and gas companies
has been the visitation of genocide on our people. Several cases abound. It is a
spree of extra-judicial executions/killings (terror). WE will mention but just a
few hereunder:
-UNDER MILITARY RULE-
1. As
at January 2, 1999 heavily armed soldiers aided and abetted by Chevron Nigeria
Limited had already raided and sacked Ikeremor Zion, Opia and Ikenya communities
belonging to the Ijaw people. In most cases soldiers in Chevron Helicopters and
Sea trucks carried out the invasions. The communities were burnt down leaving
several persons dead and injured.
2. January 30, 1999 at Ogulagha by SPDC
Forcados Oil Terminal, peaceful youths demanding for employment in recognition
of the historic kaiama Declaration were shot at and nineteen deaths were
recorded and several others were injured.
3. May 17, 1999 soldiers escorting
a Shell Barge around Kokodiagbene killed another two Ijaw youths.
-UNDER CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION-
4. July 27, 1999;
Soldiers on patrol along the Benin River arrested ten-man Ijaw delegation, who
were returning home from a meeting where SPDC Oil spill in Egbema was to be
discussed.
5. On Saturday 14th August 1999 at Ogbe-Ijoh market waterside
in Warri, Capt. Aweri Seiwei was shot dead and his money looted by soldiers
under the wrongful pretext that he was identified to be among other Ijaw youths
who were out to enforce the popular Kaiama Declaration relating to resource
control and fiscal federalism.
6. Mr. Wilson Oyibo an Ijaw Youth was
murdered by other youths who were armed and militarised by SPDC for
security/surveillance jobs as host community watch at Jones Creek Flow station
around where 20,000 barrels of oil spill occurred on 26th March, 1998 which was
undisputedly caused by pipeline failure and has been without compensation for
fishing right infringed upon.
7. In the spree of extra-judicial killings
of Ijaw Youths, on 11th December, 2002 MR. LOFE UMAGBA was murdered in cold
blood at Ukpoko/Opumami oil field area by men of the Nigerian Army.
From
the above oily facts, the Military / Navy have not been able to justify
Operation Hakuri II.
They do not therefore deserve "Operation Restore
Hope" more so when in effect their neutrality is presently
questionable.
The Ijaw entertain fears over Operation Restore Hope (for
the Itsekiri) because it lacks links to the "US/UK voluntary principles on
security and Human Rights, bringing company policy in line with the principles,
and supporting legislation for universal and compulsory
principles.."
Fears are because Operation Restore Hope (for the Itsekiri)
does not envisage the clarion call by Organizations of Conscience of the world
to oil companies, to wit: "We believe that no responsible oil company can
operate behind the terror of armed soldiers. We therefore ask the companies to
cease their activities in the region until all military and paramilitary units
are removed, all activities released from prison and the situation is peacefully
resolved".
Thank you and God
bless.
_____________________________
HON. CHIEF (DR) BELLO
OBOKO
PRESIDENT FNDIC
_______________________
_______________________
HON. GEORGE TIMINIMI KINGSLEY OTUARO
(Esq)
SPOKESMAN FNDIC SECRETARY FNDIC
_______________________
_____________________________
DAN EKPEBIDE CHIEF GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO
CHIEF ADVISER FNDIC MOBILIZATION OFFICER
FNDIC
_____________________________ ____________________________
CHIEF
GODSPOWER GBENEKAMA CHIEF NELSON OGELEGBANWEI
ADVISER FNDIC ADVISER
FNDIC
FEDERATED NIGER DELTA IJAW
COMMUNITIES {FNDIC}
{NO.1 PERE QUARTERS, OPOROZA TOWN,
GBARAMATU CLAN}
EMAIL:bellooboko@yahoo.com
19th March, 2003
The President,
Federal Republic of
Nigeria
Abuja.
Your Excellency,
MATTERS OF URGENT STATE
ATTENTION
Let there be legitimate Electoral Ward delimitation in Warri
south - west Local Government Council before the April 19, 2003 general
elections. It is unfortunate that Warri South-West Council is fast retuning on
the pathway to renewed hostilities BECAUSE:
” INEC is far gone on the
path of bringing disaster to our beloved Country, that it is very doubtful it
can turn back “ - Gani (NCP). The Ijaw believe the veracity of this statement
too well BECAUSE:
“ In the Federation, the exercise (of electoral ward
delimitation) did not hold in about 31 wards that cut across Ilaje LGA in Ondo
state, Takun LGA in Taraba state, Warri south -west LGA in Delta state and Toto
L. G. A in Nassarawa state …” (Derivable From INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL
COMMISSION (INEC) REPORT OF ACTIVITIES AUGUST 1998-DECEMBER 1999 Page 34
Paragraph 5).
In Warri South-West, elections, bye-elections, Voters
Registration and Make-up Voters Registration Exercises have been fraudulently
carried out by INEC/DSIEC without lawful electoral ward delimitation since 1998
and these exercises are apparently being relied upon in the conduct of the forth
coming general elections come April 19, 2003.
The Ijaw comprising 63% of
the total 1991 population census of Warri South-West Council remain only
excluded from participating in the democratic governance of the federation
Local, State and central Govt which exercise total control over the Resources
and Revenue most of which derivation impact negatively by proxy on the Ijaw more
than any other neighbouring ethnic Nationality as in the instances of Jones
creek oil spills, Odidi spills, Idoho spills etc.
The oil companies
continue to operate behind the terror of soldiers enforcing Operation Hakuri 11
and by proxy carrying out extra- judicial killings and executions to perpetuate
minority rule in Warri South - West which is largely oil
producing.
Government lacks the willingness and courage to consider
outcomes of dialogue, and perform in order to protect and promote the Warri
peace process already put in place.
The Itsekiri comprising 37%
population census continue to dishonour the peace process already put in place
by Competent Commissions And Committees of enquiry on the Warri crisis. They
constitute an affront subversive to the existing Warri peace
process.
Until there is majority rule under Democracy in Warri South West
all anti-democratic forces must watch out for an Ijaw Mass Action.
PRE-EMPTIVE ATTACK ON THE IJAW OF WARRI
SOUTH WEST BY THE
MILITARY/SAVE OUR SOUL (SOS)
Mass Action is legitimate hence the Ijaw envisaged it to
secure Majority Rule under Democracy in Warri South West Council at the
expiration of a seven (7) day ultimatum issued by FNDIC on 3rd March,
2003.
At the expiration of the ultimatum on 10th March 2003 FNDIC stamped
down her desire to embark on the Mass Action. This was due to an intervention,
call for calm and promise to resolving the issues giving rise to the ultimatum,
by the Ijaw foremost leader Chief Dr E.K. Clark and the Executive Governor of
Delta State Chief James Onanefe Ibori as brokered by the chairman Transition
Committee Warri South -West Council Chief David Pere.
While waiting for
Governor James Ibori to take definite position on the need for legitimate
delineation of electoral Wards in Warri South-West Council, the Ijaw never had
any cause to blockade the Escravos River nor any other water ways. There was
peace and nobody had any cause to fuse until the pre-emptive strike and excesses
by the combined Military team of the Army and Navy.
Apparently, in
response to the invitation of the Itsekiri as in an open letter to Mr. President
Chief Olusegun Obasenjo (GCON) published in the Vanguard issue of February, 23,
2003 pages 10 and 11 and implementing operation Hakuri II, the Army and Navy
launched a pre-emptive and premeditated attack on the Ijaw of Warri South-West
like they allegedly did to the Urhobo of Warri South. The Navy is particularly
vindictive of a court case brought by the ljaw against them for an extra
Judicial naval invasion of Okerenkoko community 1st November 2002, and an
illegal bunkering by some naval Men on 12th March, 2003 allegedly disrupted by
some Ijaw at Jones Creeks.
At about 1230 hours On 13th March, 2003 as was
the case on 1st November, 2002 the Naval Men blocked the Warri Water ways
commandeering transport boats, beating and molesting persons and shooting guns
indiscriminately. Subsequently, rendering services to SPDC under Operation
Hakuri II, along the Escravos River, Military Men carried out the pre-emptive
strike on the Ijaw leaving Five (5) Ijaw Men dead on the first day. As at
16/03/2003, the dead toll of the 13th March pre-emptive attack increased to
seven (7) as two (2) more Ijaw persons who secured serious bullet and burn
wounds from the Military Machine Gun and Bazooka Gunshots gave up the
ghosts.
Before the Naval Men barricaded and condoned of the Warri River
and the Military launched their pre-emptive attack on the Ijaw and threw
confusion into the Waterways, the Escravos River was free and Navigable.
Vessels and Boats from the Itsekeri axis plied the Waterways freely, un-molested
and un-perturbed. This fact is public knowledge as it may be confirmed from
logbooks and Escravos Passengers on- board boats up till 13th March
2003.
If the Ijaw blocked the Rivers, how came the second vessel arrived
the scene of aggression freely and towed away the gun-boat?.
Up till date
the Warri River ways are still being blockaded from Public use by the Army and
Navy, chasing and shooting sporadic gunshots at boats thereby holding all Users
of the Waterways to ransom. This cannot be equally said of the
Ijaws.
Wrongfully parading herself as the worst casualty of the
pre-emptive Military Action, SPDC like the Itsekiri, is right now into
propaganda of war providing preludes to further Military strikes on the
Ijaw.
It is as if SPDC must be settled first before the Waterways shall
be re-opened to public use. This is in the same discriminatory manner of
preferring Operation Hakuri 11 to the onshore / Offshore Dichotomy Abrogation
Bill as already passed by the National Assembly.
It should be clear to
all articulating and discerning Minds that the Navy and the Army are the
Aggressors in this case. The Ijaw are merely into acts of
Self-Defence.
There is therefore no business in advising the Ijaw to
vacate the Escravos Waterways when infact, the Ijaw are not pre-occupying them.
Boats and vessels are free to ply the Escravos River and all other waterways
provided safety of the Ijaw is guaranteed.
It should be of note that in
event when finally the electoral wards of Warri South -West are not lawfully
delineated by DSIEC according to INEC report 1998/1999, and in response to the
peace process engendered by Competent Commissions and Committees of enquiry on
Warri Crises, perhaps the Ijaw are willing, ready and prepared to embark on the
proposed Mass. Action. The Ijaw comprising 63% of the total 1991 population
census of Warri South - West Council cannot afford to be disenfranchised from
the Nigeria Democracy for Eight (8) Consecutive years. Under Democracy, the
Army and Navy cannot afford to conduct themselves as Agents or Perpetrators of
Minority Rule.
Thanks
Yours faithfully.
HON. BELLO
OBOKO HON. GEORGE TIMIINIMI
PRESIDENT FNDIC
SPOKESMAN FNDIC
KINGSLEY OTUARO (Esq) DAN
EKPEBIDE
SECRETARY FNDIC ADVISER
FNDIC
CHIEF GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO
MOBILIZATION OFFICER
FNDIC
FEDERATED NIGER DELTA IJAW COMMUNITIES
(FNDIC)
NO. 1, PERE QUARTERS,
OPOROZA TOWN,
GBARAMATU
CLAN,
Motto: “WATER FOR
FIRE”
24th April, 2004
The Senate
President,
National Assembly,
Abuja.
Sir,
RENEWED HOSTILITY IN WARRI APRIL 2004
In the portion of the Warri River which ought to
be right under effective control of members of the Joint Task Force [JTF]
“Operation Restore Hope” at the Nigeria Naval Base, Warri and before our very
eyes on Tuesday April 20,2004 at about 1700 hours, three [3] fast boats carrying
heavily armed fighters ambushed and without challenge attacked a passenger boat
from Warri to Burutu, an Ijaw homogenous LGA in DELTA STATE.
On April 21, 2004 at least, five
[5] corpses drifting along the Warri River were recovered and several wounded
victims not less than 14 persons spotted in various clinics in Warri Township
and environs. The invaders in military apparels did not remove any property from
the boat nor from the victims to suggest PIRACY. As usual, the Itsekiri openly
and lavishly thanked men of the JTF apparently for allowing their attacks
against the Ijaw. JTF could not even afford to confirm the casualty list [for
Pressmen].
Similarly, in a report earlier
sent to the Delta State Security Council in Warri as at June 24,2003, about
fifteen [15] Ijaw passengers most of whom BURUTU bound from Ogbe Ijoh in Warri
South West LGA, “were attacked [and killed] by a boat whose occupants were
dressed in military fatigue”.
In March, 2004 along Warri River
at the turn to Ode Itsekiri which is the ancestral headquarters of the Itsekiri
kingdom, some killers at about 0200 hours ambushed and attacked a boat coming to
Warri carrying some able bodied Ijaw youths who had to chase the attackers that
retreated to Ode Itsekiri
On March 9,2004 men of the Joint
Task Force [JTF] “Operation Restore Hope” attacked the Ijaw in Fenegbene and
Awor area killing several tens and wounding scores of Ijaw persons. Not less
than 40 buildings were reportedly torched.
From the above, at least, the
Delta State government cannot rightly claim to have cleared the Itsekiri and
their military accomplice of having carried out the cowardly April 20, 2004
attack against a passenger boat which destination was the Ijaw area of Burutu
L.G.A.
The Itsekiri and men of the joint
Task Force (JTF) “Operation Restore Hope” are the suspect aggressors, the Ijaw
must know as much as the US knows it must take only Osama Bin Laden in
Afghanistan to launch the September 11, 2001 terror attack against the US.
That foreign Nationals were
killed alongside America citizens in the terrorist attack on the US September
11, 2001 could not remove the obvious fact that terrorists from Afghanistan
targeted their attacks on the US.
More so, that the Biblical King
Herod of the Jews ordered the killing of all the children below two years did
not obscure the immutable fact that King Herod just wanted to murder Jesus
Christ, the Redeemer.
Whether or not non-Ijaw were
killed in the cowardly April 20, attack, the Delta State Government’s Statement
in defence of the Itsekiri cannot remove the obvious fact that the aggression
was all aimed and targeted at the Ijaw and that the most likely attackers are
the Itsekiri and their military accomplice.
GOVERNMENT
PARTISANSHIP
It is most unfortunate the Delta
State Government stated; “It was purely an operation carried out by sea pirates
as some of the victims of the attack had been identified as indigenes from
outside the state”. [Vanguard, April 23, 2004, page 7].
It is most partisan that the
Government in each case refuses to identify the true identity of these obvious
killers, whose armed aggression is permanently aimed and targeted at the Ijaw.
The State Government wrongfully perceives of the Ijaw killers as pirates to make
them evasive. This amounts to an insult on the sensibility of the Ijaw and
psyche of humanity.
The Ijaw and all well-meaning
citizens of the World Community know too well from facts on ground that the
attackers (terrorists) directing aggression against the Ijaw are the Itsekiri
who are already placed on vantage position over the Ijaw by the appointment of a
fighting Itsekiri Dr. Roland Oritsejafor as minister of Defence for State.
KILLINGS OF
CHEVRON OIL WORKERS IN THE ITSEKIRI AREA
Whereas, the Itsekiri would hold
the Ijaw accountable for any Itsekiri calamity, the Ijaw have not decided to
equally hold the Itsekiri responsible for the aggression and harm suffered by
the Ijaw.
In a subtle
declaration of war against the Ijaw, the Itsekiri stated: “all Itsekiri in exile
would begin a process of returning home [April 22, 2004]. First, we shall move
into Benin River axis from Koko and straight to Ogheye and Orere…They would hold
the Ijaws absolutely responsible for any harm any Itsekiri might suffer in the
home coming process”. [Vanguard, April 22, 2004, page 7].
In the
alleged Itsekiri home returning process, on April 23, 2004 i.e. about 24 hours
after the declaration of war by the Itsekiri while none of the Itsekiri
traversing Ijaw area has suffered any harm from the Ijaw, reports are that in
the Alero Chevron Oil Field area belonging to the Itsekiri, at least seven [7]
Oil workers [2 Americans, 2 Navy Officers and 3 Nigerians including an Ijaw boat
Driver], have been killed in cold blood in a manner that the Delta State
Government would possibly wish away and describe as an act of Piracy.
UNFORTUNATE.
Since
20/04/04 and particularly since the commencement of the said Itsekiri home
returning process, security men, Ijaw men, Ishan men, Urhobo men, Ibo men etc
excepting Itsekiri persons, have been reportedly killed in the riverine area
between the Warri River and Benin River. Be they sea pirates or assassins, the
present raging killers in Warri and its environs are the Itsekiri. They are
making Warri a super high-risk place.
Security men who allowed an Ijaw
boat Driver to carry Oil workers to the Alero Oil Field have been killed along
with the Ijaw and his foreign passengers, in the Itsekiri area. The killing of
Americans at Alero could only be a bye product of the Itsekiri home returning
programme. To be able to kill the singular Ijaw boat Driver like the Biblical
king Herod of the Jews, the desperate Itsekiri could not afford to spare the
lives of the innocent AMERICANS and the Naval men.
The emerging scenario is as
follows: Security men who fail to kill any protesting Ijaw on sight and/or would
allow an Ijaw stray into Itsekiri stronghold [area] risk immediate dismissal
from the Security Services under Dr. Roland Oritsejafor or face summary
execution in the Itsekiri land.
- Would the Nigerian Military intelligence claim ignorance of the fact that
prior to the 23rd dastardly attack, that the Itsekiri warned the resumption or
continuation of oil exploring or servicing activities in their lands except they
are first of all resettled?
- Would the Nigerian Military intelligence claim ignorance of who was
responsible for the said attack when there are military survivors of the attack?
- Would the Nigerian Military intelligence and the Delta State Government
claim ignorance of the fact that less than 24 hrs to the time of the attack,
over 20 armed Itsekiri militant speedboats left Koko and its environs to
allegedly occupy their towns and villages?
- Thank God there is said to be an America survivor, said to be in coma, we
know in the fullness of his resuscitation, he would not for silver and gold
claim ignorance of the fact that the Itsekiri militias perpetrated the dastardly
crime wherein our Ijaw speed-boat driver also lost his life.
ROAD MAP TO
PEACE
FNDIC and the Ijaw of Warri
believe in the Governor James Onanefe Ibori Road Map to Peace. Since the
inception of this peace initiative, the Ijaw of Warri and FNDIC have continued
to maintain the peace.
FNDIC is a signatory to a
Voluntary Peace Agreement brokered on 15/04/04 in VISA KARINA HOTEL PORT
HARCOURT by the International Foundation for Education and SELF HELP [IFESH]
between the Itsekiri and the Ijaw of Warri who agreed to use collaboration to
actualize among other things the Right to vote and be voted for, for all
eligible voters be they Itsekiri or Ijaw equally, and resettle all internally
displaced persons in the three Warri LGAs.
DISSOCIATING
FNDIC AND THE IJAW OF WARRI FROM THE BRUTAL KILLING OF TWO AMERICANS AND FIVE
OTHERS IN ITSEKIRI AREA.
Neither reneging nor withdrawing
her signature from the great Voluntary Peace Agreement, FNDIC irrevocably
remains committed to Peace in Warri and the World all over. The Ijaw refused to
be tempted to renege the most wonderful Peace Agreement ever in Warri even as
the Itsekiri Road Map to Resettlement ran foul of terms of the great Peace
Agreement including COLLABORATION AND MUTUAL ENDEAVOURS.
At this juncture, let it be
declared and it is hereby and now declared unequivocally that FNDIC and the
Ijaw, in their legitimate struggle for Democracy proper, have no business
participating in the gruesome act of killing the two Americans, two Navy
Officers and three Nigerians including an Ijaw boat Driver between Alero and
Dibi Chevron Oil Flow stations on April 23,2004
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE
FNDIC and the Ijaw of Warri
condole with President GEORGE W. BUSH and the great peoples of the US for the
irreparable loss of the two US nationals at the Alero Chevron Oil field. We also
condole President OLUSEGUN OBASANJO and the well-meaning Nigerians for the
shocking death of the five [5] Nigerians at the unfortunate Alero episode. May
God Almighty grant these great Presidents and their bereaved citizens the
fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Amen. FNDIC and the Ijaw of Warri
condemn this dastardly act of killing in its entirety.
Thank you and GODBLESS.
Yours faithfully,
HON.
CHIEF (DR.) BELLO OBOKO, President
DANIEL EKPEBIDE (COMRADE) Chief
Advise
KINGSLEY OTUARO (ESQ) Secretary General
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FEDERATED NIGER DELTA IJAW COMMUNITIES (FNDIC)
NO. 1, PERE QUARTERS, OPOROZA TOWN,
GBARAMATU CLAN.
Motto: "WATER FOR FIRE"
7th August, 2003.
BEING FNDIC ARTICULATED IJAW CHARTER OF
DEMANDS ON THE OIL COMPANIES AS SPDC SEEKS TO RESUME OPERATIONS IN WARRI SOUTH
WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL AND ITS ENVIRONS.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Warri crisis 2003 came to be largely due to activities and
conducts of SPDC and all other Oil Companies in Warri South-West Local
Government Council Area. It was in response to the demand for comfort and
confidence by SPDC and other Oil Companies under Operation Hakuri II that the
Army and Navy on March 13, 2003 launched a pre-emptive and premeditated attack
on the Ijaw of Warri South-West like they did to the Urhobo of Warri earlier.
The Navy seem to be angry with the Ijaw further because an illegal bunkering
traceable to the former navy Commanding Officer of Warri Naval Base, Warri,
Capt. Titus Awoyemi on 12th March, 2003 was obstructed and disrupted by some
Ijaw Youths at Jones Creek where SPDC operates. The vessel (tug) with barge
involved in the illegal bunkering was carrying enabling "sea fairer" documents
from SPDC. The Navy are particularly vindictive of a court case already brought
by the Ijaw against them for an extra-judicial naval invasion on Okerenkoko
Community 1st Nov. 2002.
In the waterways outside their Oil Fields, and Oil
Installations, the Oil Companies particularly SPDC puts to un-lawful use the
military particularly the Navy resulting to a Missing Service Rifle Syndrome and
the subsequent raiding and torching of Ijaw Communities. The heavily militarised
Oil Fields and Oil Installations are fast becoming launching pads for incessant
military attacks on the Ijaw and their settlements.
Wrongfully parading herself as the worst casualty of the
pre-emptive military Action, SPDC was into massive propaganda of War providing
preludes to further military strikes on the Ijaw.
It is as if SPDC must be settled first before the waterways
shall be re-opened to public use. Since SPDC never resumes operations, the Warri
Waterways remain shut down by the navy. Before the very eyes of the Navy, in the
water ways, the Ijaw have been kidnapped and murdered by assailants in military
uniforms, in a manner that passes for act of war.
THE SPDC/FNDIC MEETING TO CHART A WAY
FORWARD FROM THE WARRI CRISIS 2003.
A meeting between SPDC and FNDIC held in Hotel Omega Hilton in
Refinery Road, Uvwie/Warri on 29th July, 2003.
The meeting received reports on Militarisation characterising
SPDC re-entry bid into its Jones Creek Oil Field. The meeting also sought to
handle any other matter raised as a pre-entry condition for SPDC.
During the intensive discussion and deliberations of the
aforementioned cases in issue, FNDIC took exception to some expository
statements by SPDC to the following effects:
1. That SPDC disrupted oil operations according to its own
operative guidelines, rules and regulations obtainable from a threshold.
2. That SPDC abandoned its oil operations, for precautionary
reasons not because of activities of FNDIC.
3. That SPDC is apolitical.
4. That SPDC was not part of the bunkering activity that gave
rise to the Warri Crisis 2003.
5. That militarisation was not the making of SPDC.
6. That the militarisation was due to Government Calls.
7. That the militarisation provides SPDC workers/personnel
comfort and confidence.
8. That SPDC is into an integrated surveillance programme,
which is based on community, "community by reason of the fact that you are in
that location".
9. That SPDC fears that FNDIC’s intended Charter of Demands
shall run foul of its integrated programme for impact communities
CAUTION
The veracity of these statements is further discernable from a
collation of FNDIC correspondences and other related works on the renewed
hostilities in Warri South-West and its environs. Henceforth, the huge colossal
economic loss by the Nigerian Nation due to the SPDC self induced disruption of
oil operations be blamed squarely on SPDC but never again on FNDIC and the
Ijaw.
THE IJAW FEARS ARE:
EITHER , behind the terror of Soldiers, SPDC intends to
resume operations without recourse to resolving the Warri Crisis, which came to
be as a result of the Ijaw under FNDIC agitating:
- To be part of democratic governance of the federation, local, state and
central controlling 60% share of the SPDC/Government Oil Joint Venture of
Nigeria
- To be part of the government making policies on the environment in which
SPDC operates devastatingly mostly in Warri South West.
OR, SPDC would want to resume operations by implementing an
integrated surveillance programme based on communities such that under Divide
and Rule the favoured communities are to be isolated from and pitched against
the general Ijaw struggle. Either is the devil’s option capable of undermining
the Warri peace process already in place.
At this juncture , FNDIC can readily remember that one
Wilson Oyibo of Okerenkoko community was murdered in an SPDC Communal
Surveillance activity about 1999.
It ought to be noted that FNDIC and the Ijaw Communities
hitherto complement one another in the collective Ijaw Struggle for Majority
Rule and True Democracy in Warri South-West and its environs.
THE WAY FORWARD
For the way forward FNDIC expects of SPDC to consider and treat
the Ijaw Charter of Demands on SPDC and all other oil companies under immediate
resolutions, short term resolutions and long term resolutions. The Ijaw Charter
of Demands, on all oil companies particularly SPDC includes but not restricted
to the followings:
1. Publicly support the U.S./U.K. Voluntary Principles on
Security and Human Rights, bring company policy in line with the principles, and
support legislation for universal and compulsory principles in this direction.
What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
2. Invest more in the local economy of the Niger Delta to
improve the living conditions of the people.
3. Take all reasonable care to ensure that the environment is
not damaged in the course of their operations and that oil spills are cleaned up
quickly irrespective of the perceived cause of the spill.
4. Review the practice of awarding surveillance contracts and
standby payments to individuals.
5. In line with the international "Publish What You Pay"
campaign, publicly disclose, in a disaggregated, regular and timely manner, all
net taxes, fees, royalties and other payments made to the federal government,
state governments of the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC) and local communities.
6. Conduct a "conflict impact assessment" for each project or
facility. Such assessments should investigate overlapping claims or opinions
that could lead to violent conflict and develop plans to mitigate any identified
risks. If such an assessment concludes that the facility or project could lead
to violence then the companies should consider whether it is feasible to
continue maintaining those facilities or projects under such circumstances.
7. Conduct "relations review" of all conflicted areas of
operations to determine the extent to which company policy is implicated in such
conflicts, and make necessary changes.
8. Replace the "host communities" approach to community
development with the more inclusive and conciliatory "whole community" approach.
This will mean that rather than designating one community as host community,
benefits can be extended to a much wider belt of communities that may be
impacted socially, environmentally and economically.
9. It is advisable all oil companies/SPDC put under control and
stop extra judicial executions (killings, genocide, terror etc) on the Ijaw by
Soldiers and Naval personnel who are carrying out operation Hakuri II, behind
the oil operations (delimitarisation).
10. SPDC in its advocacy needs to work to ensure that the Ijaw
like all other Nigerians equally participate in the governance of the federation
at the local, state and central levels which are responsible for making policies
to protect the environment devastated by oil and gas operations that are by
proxy impacting most on the Ijaw.
11. SPDC needs to replace all her pipelines and oil
installations that are outdated to avoid further explosions such as the Jones
Creek explosion 26th March, 1998, spilling well over 20,000 barrels of crude oil
into the environment.
12. SPDC needs to ensure the return of the passport 19 outboard
speed boat offered the Gbaramatu Traditional Ruler by Chevron/Texaco Nig. Ltd.
which was forcefully taken away by a combined team of Nigeria Military in the
service of the oil companies on 19th March, 2003 along the Escravos River.
13. SPDC needs to provide refugees/displaced ones (both Ijaw
and Itsekiri) with relief materials as was done in the case of the Lagos (Ikeja)
bomb explosion. Nobody loves violence, it is circumstantial.
14. Stop the campaign of calumny against the people. Calling
people whose land provides billions of dollars to you in profit "hoodlums" and
"criminals" is just following a familiar script of corporate domination and
control. The people of the Niger Delta are very familiar with such rhetoric’s
which are known to be precursors to genocidal actions.
15. Stop favoring one ethnic group against the other or
dividing communities by collaborating with few individuals to the detriment of
the generality of the people.
16. Support activities aimed at rebuilding communal governance
institutions destroyed by oil and gas activities and presence.
17. Stop undermining and eroding governance and survival
strategies of local communities, fishing, farming and trading and local
piloting.
18. Provide indigenes of the impact communities with
employment, empowerment and development
19. Compensate the people for losses incurred as a result of
oil and gas activities.
20. Stop the unilateral and unchallenged assessment of
compensation claims. You cannot be the arbiter in a matter that you are more
than a significant party.
21. The SPDC should revisit the March 1998 Jones Creek Oil
Spill and consider compensating the Ijaw on their Fishing Right infringed
upon.
CONCLUSION
The Operators of all seismic, explorative and exploitative
activities and particularly the multinational oil corporations regardless of
any, should feel obliged to comply with the call of the World Watch 1999 to the
effect:
"We believe that no responsible oil company can operate behind
the tenor of armed soldiers. We therefore ask the companies to cease their
activities in the region until all military and paramilitary units are removed,
all activists released from prison and the situation is peacefully
resolved."
And until such a period the Nigerian State deems it necessary
to ensure equitable participation of the Ijaw of Warri South –West in the
political and economic utilisation of the oil resources and protect the oil
impacted environment, the oil multinationals should, on their own, do well cease
their operations in Warri South-West Local Government Council Areas.
BACKGROUND TO THE CONDITIONALITIES
The FNDIC’s conditionalities to be in rapport and working
relationship with the oil companies/SPDC are informed largely by the
followings.
- The World Watch Report 1999 on Nigeria
- Center for strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Washington DC, Report
in the Africa Program May, 2003.
- A working paper titled "Community conflicts in the Niger Delta, petro-weapon
or policy future?" By Dimeari Von Kemedi in the Institute of International
Studies University of California, Berkeley.
- Ijaw Council on Human Rights (ICHR) Report – "Wars of War: Silence and
Inaction" (Izon-link Newspaper Issue of May 18, 2003 page 16).
- Collation of FNDIC correspondences and other related write-ups on the
renewed Warri Crisis 2003.
Considering how INEC had to disenfranchise the Ijaw by
conducting elections behind extra-judicial killings and terror of soldiers, and
considering how SPDC seeks to continue to operate behind the terror of the
military in Warri South-West, FNDIC cannot but take solace in the popular
suggestions available to the International Community on the Niger Delta, in
particular and on Nigeria, in general as evident in 1 – 5 above.
SOME OILY FACTS TO NOTE:
Since the Ijaw youths brought pressure to bear on the Nigerian
state over their yearnings for majority rule and true democracy in Warri South
West, the response of the government and trans-national oil and gas companies
has been the visitation of genocide on our people. Several cases abound. It is a
spree of extra-judicial executions/killings (terror). WE will mention but just a
few here-under:
-UNDER MILITARY RULE-
Thank you and God bless.
HON. BELLO OBOKO
HON. GEORGE TIMIINIMI
PRESIDENT FNDIC
SPOKESMAN FNDIC
KINGSLEY OTUARO (Esq) DAN EKPEBIDE
SECRETARY FNDIC ADVISER FNDIC
CHIEF
GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO
MOBILIZATION OFFICER FNDIC
|
FEDERATED NIGER DELTA IJAW COMMUNITIES (FNDIC)
NO. 1, PERE QUARTERS, OPOROZA TOWN,
GBARAMATU CLAN,
Motto: “WATER FOR FIRE”
17th July, 2003
His
Excellency,
The
Executive Governor,
Chief James
Onanefe Ibori,
Delta
State,
Asaba.
Your
Excellency,
IN LIEU OF GENUINE PEACE INITIATIVE IN WARRI SOUTH-WEST AND ITS
ENVIRONS
In
continuation of his peace initiative embarked upon “to reconcile warring
factions in Warri and its riverine environs as well as create an enabling
atmosphere for oil companies to go back to the fields”, Governor James Onanefe
Ibori has been in contact with FNDIC which notably constitutes the Ijaw warring
faction that remains to be reconciled by the State.
The recent
appointment of Local Government Transition Committee in Delta State could not be
said of reconciling truly warring factions that are fundamental in Warri
South-West and its environs as FNDIC’s shared interest was not considered in any
way. To some Ijaw, it was an exercise in perpetuation of Itsekiri minority rule
in Warri South-West.
In
reconciling Warri South-West and its environs there might be needs to identify
the truly warring factions. Equally there might be needs to distinguish between
Rights and Privileges. While democracy is a Right, democracy dividends are
Privileges. Peace built on Greek-gifts shall not last. It is peace built on
Rights guaranteed by Law and protected by the State that can last and
linger.
The existing
peace is fragile. It is mostly at the expense of the Ijaw who remain
disenfranchised in Warri South-West and its environs since 1998.
Fears are
that the Ijaw Rights to democracy are not likely to be guaranteed and protected
by outcomes of the Danjuma led Presidential Committee on Warri crisis 2003, the
Presidential Committee on Local Government Reforms and the Governor Ibori’s
current efforts.
ON OGHARA WE (THE IJAW)
STAND
As a follow up to
the meeting Governor James Onanefe Ibori had with Warri Ijaw leaders in his home
town Oghara on Sunday 22nd June, 2003, the Ijaws of Warri held a meeting in
Kiagbodo the Country-home Residence of the Foremost Ijaw National Leader Chief
(Dr.) E.K. Clark on 23rd June, 2003. Among other things, the Kiagbodo meeting
presided over by no mean a personality than Chief (Dr.) E.K. Clark unanimously
agreed that this time around for purposes of Political inclusion and
reconciliation, the Gbaramatu Kingdom should produce the chairman. The meeting
therefore agreed that Hon. George U. Timinimi should be considered for the
position of Chairman of the Transition Committee.
Without regards to
the above peace-process, the Delta State House of Assembly adopted a list of
nominees from the Delta State Executive and Mr. David Tonwe an Itsekiri was
appointed chairman of Warri South-West by the Government in her ingenuity.
Political gerrymandering unfortunately continues.
IN
PERPETUATING EXCLUSION OF THE IJAW FROM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
There was no lawful
delimitation of electoral constituencies in Warri South-West yet INEC claimed to
conduct elections and against opinion of the International Community, Winners
were fraudulently declared as follows:
S/NO
|
WARD/CONSTITUENCY
|
INEC WINNER
|
NATIONALITY
|
|
1.
|
Warri
Federal Constituency
|
Hon. Miss.
Temi Harriman (now member House Committee on National
Security)
|
Itsekiri
|
|
2.
|
Warri North
State House Constituency
|
Barr. Misan
Okubenyinje
|
Itsekiri
|
|
3.
|
Warri South
State House Constituency I
|
Mrs. Omowumi
Udo
|
Itsekiri
|
|
4.
|
Warri South
State House Constituency II
|
Dennis
Omovre
|
Urhobo
|
|
5.
|
Warri South
West State House Constituency
|
Daniel
Mayoku
|
Itsekiri
|
HOW INEC DISENFRANCHISEMENT TAKES ITS TOLL ON
THE IJAW
The
aforementioned Winners none of whom is an Ijaw, by act of state legislature,
passed a list of names for appointment and accordingly announcement was made in
effect of the followings.
S/NO
|
POSITION/LG.A.
|
APPOINTEE
|
NATIONALITY
|
|
1.
|
Chairman
Transition Committee Warri North
Vice
Chairman Transition Committee Warri North
Secretary
Transition Committee Warri North
|
Michael
Diden
Dio
Tanga
Tukutu
Igbikiri Mercy
Six (6)
members
Four (4)
members
|
Itsekiri
Ijaw
Itsekiri
Itsekiri
Ijaw
|
|
2.
|
Chairman
Transition Committee Warri South
Vice
Chairman Transition Committee Warri South
Secretary
Transition Committee Warri South
|
Arthur
Diden
Omimi
Esquire
Gabriel
Okongiri
Six (6)
members
Six (6)
members
|
Itsekiri
Itsekiri
Ishan
Itsekiri
Urhobo
|
|
3.
|
Chairman
Transition Committee Warri South West
Vice Chairman Transition
Committee Warri South West
Secretary
Transition Committee Warri South West
|
David
Tonwe
Dan
Akada
Arthur
Akpoduakaye
Six (6)
members
Four (4)
members
|
Itsekiri
Ijaw
Ijaw
Itsekiri
Ijaw
|
Whither
zoning?
FURTHER BRIEFS ON THE STATE OF THE WARRI CRISIS
2003
So far, the peace process in Warri
South-West and its environs already put in place by Governor James Onanefe Ibori
and President Olusegun Obasanjo, respectively, has been displaying Characters
and Colours constituting more of Abuses and Mis-Uses of opportunity rather than
effective Uses of Same. Below are some of the Characters and Colours dominating
the Warri peace process.
a.
DANIEL (DAN) AKADA: The Appointment of Daniel Akada an Ijaw of Gbaramatu as Vice
Chairman, Warri South-West was not done in the spirit of reconciliation of the
current Warri crisis. Akada appointment is perceived as a reward for Daniel
Akada for being an Itsekiri apologist. Daniel Akada was a running mate to Dr.
Indian Asule (Itsekiri) of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). To perpetuate
Itsekiri minority rule in Warri South-West, on 13th September, 2002, Daniel
Akada diverted away to Meccro Hotel, Osubi in far away Okpe L.G.A., Voters
Registration materials hardly equivalent to the 64 Registration Units imposed
on the 63% Ijaw population thereby irrationally abandoning Registration
materials equivalent to 167 Registration Units for the 37% Itsekiri population.
The Ijaw resisted this and there was police arrest and there are therefore
public records to this effect.
b.
DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN: By his appointment as Secretary to Delta State
Government, Emmanuel (an Itsekiri) has become a relatively permanent member of
the Delta State Security Council. Already, Hon. Miss. Temi Harriman is a member
House of Representative Committee on National Security
The
total effect is that the State-Might has come largely into the hands of the
Itsekiri. At the whims and caprices of the Itsekiri, the military shall no
longer lack official decisions ordering them to launch attacks on the
Ijaw.
Fears
are that the Ijaw civil resistance activism has been wrongfully described as an
act of war against the State following which the Itsekiri war against the Ijaw
is being institutionalised by the State.
c.
DANJUMA COMMITTEE: The Ijaw have their genuine fears that the Ijaw Rights to
democracy shall never be guaranteed and protected by outcomes of the Danjuma led
Presidential Committee on Warri crisis 2003.
The
Ijaw fear of miscarriage of justice. This is because Gen. Theophilous Danjuma
who as the then Minister of Defence was an interested party to the Warri crisis
which in March 13, 2003 came to be as a result of pre-emptive attacks on the
Ijaw by military men under his Command carrying out operation Hakuri II for Oil
Companies.
At the
onslaught of the renewed Warri hostilities in 2003 the Gen. Danjuma led
Presidential Committee on ethnic crisis in Warri and its environs was put in
place to work out a plan to ensure that all citizens participate in the general
elections. This Danjuma failed to achieve in Warri South-West. The Danjuma
Presidential Committee did not put in place any arrangement to enable the
eligible Ijaw citizens vote and be voted for before all the past general
elections.
NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES OF MEN IN MILITARY
UNIFORMS
As in a
report already sent to the Delta State Secretary Council in Warri on June 24,
2003, about fifteen (15) Ijaw passengers most of them Burutu bound from
Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South-West Local Government Council Area, “were attacked (and
killed) by a boat whose occupants were dressed in Military
fatigue”.
On 25th
July, 2003 Mangorogbene an Ijaw Community in Warri North L.G.A. was torched and
not less than eight (8) Ijaw were murdered in cold blood by aggressors in
military uniforms.
THE RECENT
IJAW REPRISALS IN WARRI NORTH L.G.A.
Four (4)
Rafter-men drifting timber logs in the Benin River on their way to Sapele were
attacked by aggressors in military uniforms. While two (2) swam ashore into
safety, the rest two were kidnapped and taken away in the direction of
Abi-Gborodo.
Though
accosted with serious gun-fire in the creeks, an Ijaw Search Party for the
missing Rafter-men insisted and chased the uniformed men till they got to
Abi-Gborodo from where more gun-fire was opened on them. Known that they were
already in for trouble they disembarked into Abi-Gborodo and put up resistance
for survival.
THE WAY FORWARD
Mass Action
is it. It is unfortunate that present developments further make the Ijaw
intended Mass Action inevitable. However, it is the studied position of FNDIC
that the amiable Governor James Onanefe Ibori needs be provided with some little
more space and time to enable him take further decisions and make public
statements on all the data he has been collating during his reconciliatory
tour. Perhaps, His Excellency Governor James Onanefe Ibori can make the
difference.
Until the
rotten tooth is pulled out, the mouth must continue to chew with caution. It is
not yet Uhuru in Warri South-West. Alluta Continua, Victoria
Acerta.
Thanks.
Yours
faithfully,
HON. CHIEF (DR.) BELLO OBOKO
PRESIDENT FNDIC
|
FEDERATED NIGER
DELTA IJAW COMMUNITIES (FNDIC)
NO. 1, PERE QUARTERS, OPOROZA TOWN,
GBARAMATU CLAN,
Phone: 08035526469
E-Mail -
abcvivimemwebafrica.com
Motto: "WATER FOR FIRE"
1st December, 2003
His Excellency
Chief James
Onanefe Ibori
Executive Governor
Delta State
Asaba.
Your
Excellency,
RE- "APPROACH TO INDIGENOUS LOCAL TRADITIONAL COMMITTEE
SERVICES: ITSEKIRI RE-ACTION" (Vanguard Nov. 3, 2003 pages 46 and 47 and
continued in the next day Vanguard issue).
The aforementioned Advertorial
publication signed, after widespread consultation in the Itsekiri Nation, by
most of the foremost Itsekiri Leaders, justifies FNDIC fears and upholds the
Warri Ijaw's concerns about Itsekiri diversionary antics with property and/or
instrumentality of colonialism such as changing Olu of Itsekiri (Crowned) to Olu
of Warri (appointed), Warri Divisional Council to Itsekiri homeland, framing
land ownership from fraudulent land leases and colonial court judgements
etc.
The Advertorial also goes to demonstrate the fundamental threat
Itsekiri Nationality poses to the hard-earned Nigeria independence and
Democracy. It further confirms how the Itsekiri facilitated colonialism and how
today, they are into internal neo-colonialism . It seems the Itsekiri abhore
peace. The Itsekiri are on it again, creating yet another "Lacuna" against
resolving the Warri crisis. How?
CAUSES AND EFFECTS
Without
considering causes of the Warri crisis the article deals extravagantly on the
effects of Warri crisis on the Itsekiri perse. It places/pleads Itsekiri
undeserving demands for consideration and compensation on the Presidency of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
INDEPENDENCE
On the Advertorial
the Itsekiri in the spirit of internal neo-colonialism attempt to perpetuate
administrative structure of colonialism in our Republican Independent Nigerian
State by recommending and perpetrating an alleged pre-independence
domination/over-lordship of the minority Itsekiri over the majority
Ijaw.
DEMOCRACY
Being anti-democratic, the monarchical Itsekiri
oppose electoral ward/constituency delimitation that is a pre-requisite exercise
for constitutional elections.
PEACE
Opposing Governor James
Ibori's "Road Map to Peace", the Itsekiri are again antagonizing proposals for
new LGA Creation. Creating L.G.A. has been a recommended resolution to the Warri
crisis by several competent panels. It is not the problem in itself. The
Itsekiri are again formulating problems out of the solution-attempt.
In the
Warri crisis the problem in the main, is the non-practice of democracy in Warri
South - West i.e. non-delimitation of constituencies, non-registration of
eligible voters and no elections i.e. the Ijaw neither to vote nor be voted
for.
THE ITSEKIRI AND THIER ELECTION FRAUD, ILLEGALITY AND
UN-CONSTITUTIONALITY
There was non-delimitation of electoral
wards/constituencies in Warri South-West since 1998. The eligible Ijaw voters
were not registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The
non-registered Ijaw lack the right to vote and be voted for wherever they are,
be they in Itsekiri Communities or Ijaw Communities.
Given the above
background, how came the non-registered Ijaw allegedly occupied Itsekiri
Communities and produced massive votes thereby returning refugee Itsekiri
members into both the National Assembly and the Delta State House of Assembly in
the past general elections since 1998?
Where is the list of Itsekiri
Communities allegedly occupied by the Ijaw? When was each Itsekiri Community
occupied by the Ijaw? When were the elections held in the Itsekiri communities
allegedly occupied by the Ijaw? How came the wonderfully large votes from the
Itsekiri communities said to be occupied by the Ijaw who are non-registered
voters? Are the Itsekiri truly refugees? Can refugees be voters? Can you
register in Delta State and vote in Sokoto State?
If the Ijaw without
voting right are occupying the Itsekiri Communities, then the elections of the
Itsekiri remain a monumental fraud. Of truth, the Ijaw are only in the Ijaw
Communities disenfranchised and did not vote, yet election results were declared
upon them; which again is a monumental fraud.
The Itsekiri's penchant for
illegality and un-constitutionality is quite evident in their attacks and gutter
words on Senator Chief (Dr.) E.K. Clark. They accuse him of having misadvised
the Ijaw of Warri South-West not to register and vote 2003 when infact, INEC had
accepted her failure to lawfully delineate electoral wards and constituencies
which form the basis of any registration and voting,
constitutionally.
Besides being fraudulent, illegal and
un-constitutional, the Itsekiri blackmailed, killed and massacred Ijaw to
acquire their political powers and they are again blackmailing and killing Ijaw
to exercise same powers of authority. The Itsekiri do have at their beck doing
their biddings a combined Military Task Force captioned "Operation Restore Hope"
which has been into extra-judicial executions and is ready to launch terror
attacks on the Ijaw, anytime
This was evident in their aerial shooting
assistance given the Itsekiri militia when they attacked/invaded Ijaw
communities along the Benin River in Egbema Kingdom recently
THE
ITSEKIRI ACTING IN FURTHERANCE OF DORE NUMA'S RULE UNDER COLONIALISM IN THE
REPUBLICAN INDEPENDENCE, NIGERIA.
"He (Dore) is Olu or King of Warri.
So way back in 1921 (this was a time in the interregnum in Itsekiri land) the
colonial court acknowledged the title of Olu of Warri". (A history of Warri by
J.O.S. Ayomike, page 84). The Olu and the Itsekiri had better belong to
colonialism.
In furtherance of Dore Numa's ignominious roles as an
un-crowned Olu (gofune) and to maintain the statusquo of an alleged Olu!s
superiority, the Itsekiri Leaders, on the Advertorial, have equally
stated:
"The search for traditional, indigenous local mode of governance
in the country is not new, it began under the colonial rule after Nigeria was
formed (Underlining is ours).
The Itsekiri also stated:
"….. the local
councils were subordinate to and not independent of, the Warri Divisional
Council. In all the local councils including the Warri Urban District Council
and the Divisional Council, the traditional members were all subordinate chiefs
of the Olu of Warri who was president of both the Divisional Council and the
Warri Urban District Council"[The Itsekiri never fought any war against the Ijaw
conquered them before the advent of colonial rule and the Olu!s presidency]
It should be realised that all the chiefs and the then un-crowned Olu
(gofune) of Warri were all warranted and classified by the Colonial Imperial
Masters. The un-crowned Olu (gofune) was the president perhaps, because unlike
the Ijaw, the Itsekiri cap in hand sought, applied and begged for colonial
protection as evident in their treaty with the British who instead, sought and
applied to offer the Ijaw protection in Warri. The Itsekiri were facilitators
and indeed agents of colonial administration in Nigeria. Today, the Itsekiri are
neo-colonialists contradicting in essence, the Africa Struggle for
Reparation.
From the Advertorial Publication, the followings are also
notable and deducible:
1. During the 88 year interregnum in Itsekiri
Kingship (1848 - 1936) and under the colonial rule up till 1960, the chiefs and
Olu of Warri otherwise called Governors-In-Council, were all appointees of the
Colonial Masters pursuant to the British Indirect Rule System that was then
operational.
2. Itsekiri Local Councils and Ijaw Local Councils, were all
created and made equally subordinate to Warri Divisional Council which was an
instrument of colonialism. This was in order "To bring local government close to
the Communities, be Ijaw or Itsekiri, which were remote from the main Divisional
Headquarters, in Warri"
3. Against necessities of the 43 year old
Nigerian Independence and well against the nascent Nigeria Democracy, the
Itsekiri, in defect, are still positing "the Itsekiri will resist any action of
government". Consequently, in Warri the Itsekiri are fighting against lawful and
constitutional delimitation of electoral wards/constituencies, creation of Local
Government Councils, mini-councils or even Development Committee or
Authority.
NOTE: Acting in furtherance of Dore Numa!s Rule during
the British Indirect Rule System under Colonialism, the Itsekiri are presently
into Internal Neo-Colonialism in the Republican Independence,
Nigeria.
THE WARRI HOMELAND QUESTION AND THE EXCLUSION
CLAUSE
The Ijaw local councils and their warrant chiefs could and or
could not be made subordinate to the prescribed authority exercised over Warri
Division that was ruled indirectly by the British Colonial Masters. The
subordination was subjective. At least, it was subject to exclusion. In the
advertorial words of the Itsekiri:
"In recognition of the fact that
Itsekiri traditions and customs are different from Ijaw ones the Chiefs Law, Cap
19 excluded Egbema, Gbaramatu and Ogbe-Ijaw Local Councils from the spheres of
authority of the Olu of Warri as a prescribed Authority for Warri Division".
From the aforementioned, it followed, local councils were tied to
traditions and customs. Between the Itsekiri Local Councils and the Ijaw Local
Councils the traditions and customs that obtain are different; Itsekiri on the
one hand and Ijaw on the other hand. There was exclusion. Accordingly, Itsekiri
homeland was on the basis of the Itsekiri traditions and customs already
identified to the Itsekiri Local Councils alone. Itsekiri homeland cannot
therefore extend to areas where Itsekiri traditions and customs do not
obtain.
Observably, the said prescribed authority of the interregnum Olu
of the colonial fame, was not a traditional or monarchical authority of the
Itsekiri. The Olu (gofune) of Warri was not crowned by the Itsekiri. The
prescribed authority was radically similar to the authority vested on Col.
Ewerikumo Yeri who an Ijaw was in 1990/1991 appointed as the Military
Administrator of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria comprising Ijaw, Itsekiri,
Urhobo, Bini (Edo), Esan, Isoko, Ukwani, Ibo, and a host of other ethnic
Nationalities.
The State authority then exercised by the
Governor-in-council (Olu) and the Military Governor (Administrator) could not
have genuinely transformed any area of state authority into homeland of the
Governor's ethnic nationality, Itsekiri or Ijaw.
LOCATING THE
ORIGIN OF WARRI CRISIS: THE ITSEKIRI SAGACITY
Was it even the place of
the Colonial Masters to create homeland for any indigenes?
Warri crisis
seemed to have started when irrespective of the Ijaw traditions and customs
recognised of the Ijaw Local Councils, the Itsekiri in error, still claimed
Warri Divisional Council as exclusive Itsekiri homeland and or Itsekiri ethnic
based Council as follows:
"Divisional Boundaries settlement vide WRLN
176 of 1955 (i.e. Western Region Local Government Law, 1952; No. 1 of 1953)
created the Warri Divisional Council for Itsekiri and meticulously marked out
the administrative Divisions on the basis of Homelands, bearing clearly the
implication that each ethnic nationality was tied to its land in legal,
historical, political, economic, social, spiritual/religious terms." (Underling
is ours).
From the aforementioned, it followed that Warri Divisional
Council was meant to be a colonial administrative Division
Having
acknowledged and duly recognised Ijaw local councils to the Ijaw traditions and
customs in the Warri Division, to again consider Warri Divisional Council as
Itsekiri homeland and or Itsekiri ethnic based Divisional Council, was most
unthinkable.
The Itsekiri in their vaulting ambition would unfortunately
want their post-interregnum Olu to assume, exercise and wield powers and
authority of the interregnum un-crowned Olu (gofune) of the colonial fame.This
could be responsible for the wrongful change of title from Olu of Itsekiri to
Olu of Warri (interregnum, un-crowned and colonial gofune) and hence, the Warri
crisis.
The Ijaw case from the original Warri Crisis has been that any
post 1952 Olu such as the present Olu cannot go by the title, power and
authority of the interregnum, un-crowned and colonial "gofune" Olus such as
Diarre, Chanomi, Nanna Olomu and Dore Numa who un-doubtedly, were all Itsekiri
agents of colonialism.
OBSERVATIONS AND DEDUCTIONS BASED ON ITSEKIRI
PERCEPTIONS OF THE HOMELAND-QUESTION
A cursory study of the above Itsekiri
Advertorial in effect would readily show the
followings:
OBSERVATIONS
A. That homeland was tied to ethnic
nationality (Homogeneity)
B. That Ethnic Nationality was tied to land, in
legal, historical, political, economic, social, spiritual/religious terms
C.
That local council was tied to traditions and customs
[Homogeneity]
DEDUCTIONS
Since Homeland relates to ethnic
Nationality in terms of elements of traditions and customs and since Ethnic
Nationality relates to local councils in terms of traditions and customs then
Homeland must relate to local councils in terms of traditions, customs and their
elements. In order words,
(a) The indices of ethnic nationality in legal,
historical, political, economic, social, spiritual/religious terms are mere
elements of traditions and customs which ultimately form the basis of creation
of the local councils.
(b) The Local Councils were "to bring local governance
(of the Administrative Division) close to the communities, be they Ijaw or
Itsekiri, which were remote from the main Divisional Headquarters in Warri" of
the Warri Divisional Council.
(c) Ethnicity was a criterion for the creation
of the Warri Local Councils. There could be such other criteria as population
strength, contiguity, viability etc.
WRONG PERCEPTIONS
Note:
When ethnicity and Warri Local Councils both in common depended on traditions,
customs and their elements, it could not be correct and or right for the
Itsekiri to state that "ethnicity was not the criterion for the creation of
these Local Councils"
Considering the existing different (Ijaw and
Itsekiri) traditions and customs, which determined the creation of the Local
Councils composing the Warri Divisional Council, it is equally a wrongful
perception to consider Warri Divisional Council as Itsekiri homeland in
exclusion. It is also wrong to perceive of Warri South-West, Warri North and
Warri South as having been created based on Itsekiri ethnicity relating to only
Itsekiri homeland. Not only wrong, it is also double-standard to think there can
be Itsekiri ethnic based Warri LGAs and turns around to think there cannot be
Ijaw ethnic based Warri LGAs which meet all pre-requisite constitutional
requirements This must be an expansionist tendency of a people i.e. the
Itsekiri.
RIGHT PERCEPTIONS
Where the federating units i.e.
local councils were of diverse ethnic bases then the federation, which in this
case was the Warri Divisional Council, could only be of multi-ethnic
basis.
That the Independent Nigeria was originally handed over to Dr.
Nnamdi Azikwe as president did not make Nigeria become homeland of the Ibos
alone. Similarly, that a Divisional Council created by the Colonial Masters and
was allegedly handed over to the Itsekiri to administer, could not have made
Warri Divisional Council become homeland and property of the Itsekiri in
exclusion.
WARRI DIVISION: THE ORIGINAL STATUTORY RECORDS AND
WARRI IJAW HOMELANDS
Warri Divisional Council comprised of both Itsekiri
and Ijaw homelands as per Western Region Law of Nigeria (W.R.L.N) 176 of 1955.
W.R.L.N 176 of 1955 an Act of State law during the colonial rule recognised
Itsekiri Local Councils, hence the Itsekiri homeland. W.R.L.N 176 of 1955 and
other original statutory records on Warri Divisional Council equally recognised
exclusive Ijaw Local Councils, hence inevitably the Warri Ijaw homeland.
Itsekiri local councils as well as Ijaw local councils none superior to the
others were all equally subordinate to Warri Division, which was an instrument
of colonialism. Single Ethnicity was not the criterion for the creation of the
larger Warri Divisional Council.
WARRI DIVISION AND THE EXCLUSION
CLAUSE
"As per W.R.L.N. 176 of 1955", Warri Divisional Council comprised
of seven (7) Local Councils out of which three (3) in exclusion belonged to the
Ijaw, four (4) to the Itsekiri namely: Gbaramatu Local Council, Ogbe - Ijoh
Local Council, Egbema Local Council (Ijaw), Gborodo (Sic Ugborodo) Local
Council, Benin River Local Council, Ode- Itsekiri Local Council and Koko Local
Council (Iteskiri).
"The laws of the Western Region of Nigeria, Chief law
of 1959 cap 19 and the laws of Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 cap 37 excluded the
three Ijaw clans / Councils of Ogbe - Ijoh and Isaba, Gbaramatu and Egbema from
the over-lordship or jurisdiction of the Olu" (report by Prof. V. F. Peretomode
in Appendix 1, Page 137 of the book titled Conflict and Instability in the Niger
Delta; The Warri Case by T. A. Imobighe, Celestine O. Bassey, Judith Burdin
Asuni).
The alleged Itsekiri homeland was by a State Act of Law which
then was an instrument under colonialism. By same instrument under colonialism
and by other State Acts of Law, the Ijaw were equally guaranteed exclusive Ijaw
Local Councils which must be Warri Ijaw homelands.
WARRI IJAW
HOMELANDS (HISTORICAL AND INTELLIGENCE REPORTS ON PRE-PRINCE GINUWA ERA OF THE
ITSEKIRI)
The Ijaw of Warri hail from the Warri Ijaw homelands of
Gbaramatu Clan kingdom, Ogbe-Ijoh Clan kingdom, Diebiri Clan kingdom, Isaba Clan
kingdom and Egbema Clan Kingdom. The Ijaw are aborigines, natives and indigenes
of the Warri Ijaw homelands and accordingly, are in full occupation and
possession of their homelands, at least to the extent of the
followings:
1. "There is a tantalizing hint that the Warri people were
originally Ijos' (A short history of West Africa book one by J. A. Osae and N.
Nwabara, 1968 page 148).
2. "Prior to the advent of Bini Prince Ginuwa,
the territory now known as the kingdom of Itsekiri or Iwere was inhabited by
three tribes namely; Ijaws, Sobos and Mahins…." (A history of Itsekiri by an
heir apparent to the throne of Olu, William A. Moore, 1970, page 13).
3.
In the Southern Nigeria Civil Service list and handbook of 1910 at page 128, the
following passage is stated: "The natives of Warri District (Warri Territory)
belong to Ijaw and Sobo (Urhobo) with small but influential settlement of the
Jekri (Itsekiri)".
4. The township of Warri, in marked contrast to the
village of OLD WARRI, is of recent growth. The original settlement, which in due
course became the nucleus around which the population settled, was known as Ogbe
- Ijoh and the name is still retained to define that portion of the town around
the present market. As the name indicated, OGBE - IJOH was originally an Ijaw
settlement…. The Ijaw fishermen, always more at home in their canoes than on
land, fished up and down the stretch of the water which now forms the Warri
anchorage and made use of the settlement to sell their catches. In the main,
purchases came from the old establishment Sobo hamlet of AGBASSA and the recent
Jekri Village of Okere (Intelligence Report by F. P. Lynch, the President of
Warri Province, 1928) (underlining is ours)
NOTES
We understand
Prince William Moore, Prof. Alan Ryder, F. P. Lynch, J. A. Osai, N. Nwabara and
a host of others as saying the Ijaw, Urhobo and Mahin were the original and
earlier occupants of the total land part of which later became known as the
kingdom of Itsekiri or Iwere.
It is a monumental fraud for the Itsekiri
to perceive of Warri Division in totality as their exclusive homeland based on
W.R.L.N.176,1955. Itsekriri's paid Advert in the Vanguard June 12, 2003 pages 14
& 15 refers:
"Warri Division… was later created as Itsekiri homeland
in 1952, as per W.R.L.N. 176 of 1955 during which Divisional Councils were
created for all ethnic nationalities in Western Nigeria" (Is this not funny?,
was Warri Division ever created as Itsekiri homeland?, Is this a deliberate
attempt to re-live colonialism in the present Republican Independent Nigerian
State?)
In their fraudulent perception of colonial instruments
aforementioned and such others as "Olu of Warri", Land Treaties and Court
Judgements originating mostly from Chief Dore Numa's era [CHARACTERISED BY
MIS-CARRIED JUSTICE] undermining the Nigerian Independence and Democracy, the
Itsekiri have stopped INEC from carrying out lawful delimitation of electoral
wards/constituencies in WARRI SOUTH WEST. Without delimitation of constituencies
the Itsekiri have been rewarded and appeased like election winners. To them it
is rewarding to oppose. They are again opposing a proposed creation of ethnic
based[homogenous,contiguous,and viable] L.G.As for the indigenes of Warri.
NON-VIOLENT RESOLUTION OF THE WARRI CRISIS 2003
In seeking for
peaceful resolution to the Warri Crisis, all Parties to the conflict need be
involved and or considered, each according to its level of commitment.
MATTERS OF URGENT STATE
ATTENTION
The Ijaw cannot afford to be disenfranchised and remain
excluded from the Nigeria Democracy for eight (8) consecutive years. In the
words of Ex-Senator Chief Dr. Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo (now of loving memory),
"we'll defend democracy with our blood" (Sunday Champion April 6, 2003, front
page). As already observed by President Olusegun Obasanjo Political inclusion /
accommodation is the case in issue.
Non-delimitation of electoral
constituencies in Warri South-West by INEC was a political problem and the
subsequent Justice Alhassan Idoko Commission of Enquiry set up on the Warri
Crisis with several others, was for political resolution of the political
problem within the context of Rule of Law.
For peace in Warri and the
Federation, the Justice Idoko recommendations be considered and duly applied by
the National/State Assemblies, at least to achieve inclusion and accommodation
as follows:
(a) Autonomous, homogenous, contiguous and viable ethnic
based L.G.As for the indigenes of Warri
(b) Over-lordship of Olu of Itsekiri
be restricted to areas of Itsekiri jurisdiction.
(c) All oil companies which
operations impact on the Ijaw, Itsekiri / Urhobo should treat them on relatively
equal basis - employment, empowerment, development etc.
THE WAY FORWARD: To be able to move forward meaningfully,
all hands must be on deck as follows:
(a) TO THE GOVERNMENT:
Outlaw operation Hakuri II, Operation Restore Hope, Special Marine Police
and Demilitarize the Ijaw Nation, in particular and the Niger Delta Region, in
general. Ensure that all citizens [Ijaw] participate in ALL general elections,
and Support Reparation and do-away with Internal Neo-colonialism
(b)
TO THE WARRI IJAW :
Actualization of majority democratic rule a MUST in
all parts of the Ijaw Nation particularly Warri South-West, Warri South and
Warri North.
(c) TO THE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES: Stop operating
behind the terror of Militarization of the Ijaw Area of Warri.
(D) TO
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, NATIONALAND STATE ASSEMBLIES:
· Institute
an International War Crime Tribunal to try and punish all those who in one way
or the other perpetrated the atrocity in Odi, Okerenkoko and the Ijaw
Nation.
· Speak out against the genocide on Odi, Okerenkoko and the Ijaw
Nation
· Prevent an identified person(s) or groups from enjoying
international goodwill such as visits to countries who do not support the type
of activities carried out in Odi, Okerenkoko and the Ijaw Nation.
·
Arrest any officer or personnel who took part in Odi, Okerenkoko and the Ijaw
Nation invasion whenever they visit any country that is signatory to the Geneva
Convention against Genocide and Torture.
CONCLUSION
It was the studied
position of FNDIC that the amiable Governor James Onanefe Ibori be provided with
some more space and time to enable him take further decisions and make public
statements on all the data he collated during his reconciliatory tour, thinking
His Excellency Governor James Onanefe Ibori could make the
difference.
Governor James Ibori has since come out with "Road Map to
Peace" and FNDIC and the Ijaw are in support pursuant to outcomes of the late
Justice Alhassan Idoko Commission of Enquiry into Warri Crisis. It is high time
Governor James Ibori sponsored a State Bill on the creation of new LGAs in Warri
and its environs, in the light of the "Road Map to Peace". Time is running
out.
Whatever be it in the colonial era, the situation of Warri must
change for better if nothing, but for the goodness of Nigeria Independence and
for sharing the dividends of Nigeria Democracy with one and all citizens as
co-equals.
Thank you and God bless.
SIGNED:
_________________________________ ____________________________
HON.
CHIEF (DR.) BELLO OBOKO KINGSLEY OTUARO (Esq.)
PRESIDENT FNDIC SECRETARY
FNDIC
__________________________ ___________________________________
DAN
EKPEBIDE CHIEF GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO
CHIEF ADVISER FNDIC MOBILIZATION OFFICER
FNDIC
____________________________ __________________________
CHIEF
GODSPOWER GBENEKAMA CHIEF NELSON OGELEGBANWEI
ADVISER FNDIC ADVISER
FNDIC
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Shell
and the Warri Crisis
Operation Restore
Hope
Renewed Hostility in Warri
Ibori and the Warri Crisis
FNDIC
letter to Ibori on Warri solution
Matters of
Urgent State Attention..
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