Post Amnesty Programme And National Integration And Development In Nigeria:
A Case Study Of The Niger Delta Region
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background Of The Study:
The notion of amnesty, national integration and development capture what could be called essential character of the age. As a nation, there is need to reconcile all citizens and regions who were at odds with the others, over abuse and misuse of state power, especially those of the Niger Delta region.
As policies adopted by each civilian government and each military intervention created a “them” and “us” proposition, new classes of victims who were nursing various types of hurts produce bitterness and negative feelings, that can be passed on from generation to generation, and thus have the capacity to undermine national cohesion and the eventual stability of the state. However, government has produced sporadic efforts to establish a mechanism of some kind to address the relevant issues.
The need to have and maintain national cohesion has been identified as a prerequisite to national stability and a condition precedent to any development effort. According to Mensa-Bonsu (2010), the need to address factors that produce disaffection within the body politic has been further strengthened by certain obvious realities: that every country depends upon certain attitudes such as, the feeling of being well-protected, the sense of belonging, the trust that the state would afford assistance in times of distress and difficulty, in short, a sense of “home”, to secure the commitment of the citizens to its preservation.
Ozioko (1998), asserted that national cohesion entails a feeling of belonging to a state and thus facilitate patriotism. Patriotism here forms the building blocks of the polity and determines the psychological toughness and resilience of the body politic to withstand external threats and shocks.
However, there is no denying, the fact that no country can hope to enjoy any of these necessary sentiments of nationhood, if many of its citizens are unwilling or unable to peaceably co-exist on account of grudges that they bear towards it, and towards one another by reason of injury and oppression suffered at the hands of those who were acting in its name at particular points in its history. These are fanciful projections, a sobering fact and a common characteristic of Nigeria in her failure to develop commitment and attachment to its citizen’s coexistence and preservation in the Niger Delta region.
Prior to the declaration of amnesty the Niger Delta which comprises nine states; Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Abia and Ondo States for, which over 90% (ninety percent) of Nigeria’s revenue is derived, the citizens of the area lived in abject poverty and deprivation, environmental hazards and threat to source of their livelihood. It was as a result of these challenges that the citizens of the area began to protest to attract government attention to their plight (DSM, 2009).
It is no longer news that late Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni eight paid the supreme sacrifice for the liberation of their people.
Legislative Digest (2010) accounted that it was with late Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro that the Niger Delta crises started in 1966. As an undergraduate student of Chemistry and Student Union leader at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he left school to lead an armed protest under the aegis of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force against exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta region which benefited mainly the federal government of Nigeria. He was motivated by what he described as inadequate attention of government to the plight of the Niger Delta people (Legislative Digest 2010:22).
The agitation assumed a new dimension after the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995 and worsened during the last decade, following the December 11, 1998 Kaiama Declaration. The declaration witnessed the historic coming together of representatives organizations and over 40 communities that constitute the Ijaw nation to deliberate on ways of ensuring the continues survival of the Ijaw people. Highlight of the Declaration included:
a) The ownership of land and natural resources within the territory as the basis of their survival;
b) Refusal to recognize all undemocratic decrees (for instance, Land Use Decree and Petroleum Decree etc) Considered to have robbed the people’s right to ownership of their lives and resources;
c) Demand oil companies to stop exploration and exploitation activities in the region;
d) Demand for the immediate withdrawal of all military forces of occupation and repression from Ijaw land by the Nigerian State; and
e) Their decision to remain a constituent of the Nigerian State but demand for resource control (Legislative Digest, 2010).
Following the Declaration, the young men took to the Creeks and constituted themselves into militia forces against the federal government in the guise of agitation for resource control. The agitation assumed a completely violent dimension between the period of 2000 and 2008 with kidnappings, bombing of oil installations and armed banditry becoming the new modus operandi of Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Thus, there was need to embrace peace and embark on comprehensive development including strategies for employment in the area.
However, it was not until the emergence of late Musa Yar’Adua as the President of Nigeria that serious attempt was made to restore peace in the area through the Declaration of Amnesty. This pronouncement was in line with the integration and development goals set by the president.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
The Niger Delta is Nigeria’s oil and gas belt as it hosts almost all of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources. The region account for over 90% of government revenue, 95% of export receipts and 90% of foreign exchange earnings (Imobighe, 2004; World Bank, 2002).
These resources constitute a major challenge to the region. Its swamps though rich in biodiversity present a huge physical challenge to development, its oil and gas destroy the environment and its basis for the regions livelihood and gets less by way of development (World Bank, 2002:1).
The Niger Delta is Nigeria oil and gas belt as it hosts almost all of Nigeria`s oil and gas resources. The Niger Data region account for over 90% of foreign exchange earnings (1 mobighe, 2004; world bank 2002). These resources constitution a major challenge to the region. Its swamps, through rich in biodiversity, present a huge physical challenge to development its oil and gas destroy the environment and make life difficult for the people in the region by way of development (World Bank, 2002:1).
It is against the above background that this researcher will critically examine the problems of the post amnesty programme in achieving national development and integration. This research will seek to find answers to the following problem question: what effects does amnesty programme has on national integration and development? ; What problems faced post amnesty programmes? ; How can the problems of post amnesty programme be solve?
The contradictions are several. First, while being the bread basket of the nation, the level the region has received only a trickle of oil-based revenue particularly since 1981. Second, while providing the revenues for development of a new capital city and development of other parts of the nation, the region has not experienced much of these developments and the region is reputed to be one of the least developed and poorest in the country. Third, while providing the basis of prosperity to other regions and the nation ruling class and political elite, the prosperity generated has not touched the lives of the ordinary citizens in the region. Fourth, while being the home of the nation’s oil and gas resources and oil infrastructure, the region participates little in their control and management. These conditions created numerous crises. In addition, poverty and misery has produced mass discontent, resentment, alienation, hostility and a generation of angry citizens (Tell Magazine,
2007).
In consequence, the region has been immersed in agitation, protest, and struggles against perceived injustice, inequality, disinheritance, marginalization and neglect. The protests have been so broad and intense since the inception of militancy in 1966 and between 1998 and 2009, the region slipped into periodic insurrection and insurgency (Omotola, 2010).
However, in 2009, the federal government quite unusually embarked on an amnesty programme. The programme entailed a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of former militants and some promises of a post-amnesty programme for the resolution of conflicts (Adaramola, 2009). This move by the federal government under the late President Yar’Adua received commendations as well as criticisms, in terms of its objectives, contents, implementation, performance, problems and prospects, particularly against the background of what it held out in Niger Delta relation to the resolution of the conflict and peace building in region.
1.3 Objectives
To examine the effects of post amnesty programme on national integration and development.
To find out if amnesty programme can resolve the grievances, agitation and insurgency in the Niger Delta Region.
To identify the problems of post amnesty programmes
To suggest useful solutions in solving the problems of post amnesty programmes in achieving natural integration and development.
1.4 Significance Of Study
The study is significant in the sense that first, the outcome of the research work will help us to clearly understand the proclamation of amnesty vis-a-viz its contents, objectives and challenges.
Second, the research work will also create awareness on the efforts of government towards implementing post amnesty to the importance of that programme.
Lastly, the research work will not only add to existing literature on post amnesty programme and national integration and development in Nigeria, but will equally same as a reference development to other researchers as well as make invaluable contribution to relation studies in this regard.
1.5 Research Hypothesis
There is no significant relationship between amnesty proclamation and national development and integration.
1.6 Scope, Limitation And Organization Of The Study
The scope of the study is on the post amnesty programme and national integration and development in Nigeria with specific reference to the Niger delta region. The research covers the four (4) oil producing local government in Akwa Ibom State (Eket, Ibeno Ikot Abasi and Esit Eket).
The scope of the study is constraint by factors such as lack of enough funds, availability of date and time constraint.
1.7 Definition Of Concepts
This section of the research will provide a working and operational meaning to some terminologies as used by the researcher.
DEVELOPMENT
It refers to the process of transformation of the people’s life and structures of society over-time. It implies increased skill and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self-discipline, responsibility and material wellbeing. It implies an increasing capacity to regulate both internal and external relationship toward achievement of goals.
Militant(s)
Somebody or a group of people aggressively defending or supporting a cause, engaged in fighting or war and recently kidnapping.
Amnesty
This is the unconditional pardon or a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense. A period during which offenders are exempted from punishment. An act by the legislature or executive arm of government to restore those who may have been guilty of an offense. For the purpose of this research, amnesty refers to a proclamation of pardon to the Niger Delta citizens or group of individuals who did not follow a certain law with a view of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of such individuals or groups.
Post-amnesty
This embraces efforts and programmes aimed at institution building and integrated development strategies that should be undertaken to facilitate recovery of lost resources. New foundations for sustainable development has to be laid and communities and community members have to be help to rebuild livelihood, strengthen governance, improve incomes, and improve human development indicators or human capital.
National Integration
National integration means drawing together of all disparate elements that make up a country for the purpose of making them as one, with a common soul and with common aspirations, or simply put, a “nation”. For the purpose of this study, it implies conscious effort towards bringing together all disparate resources and people involve, because even when they co-exist within the same geographical space, they cannot be said to be a “nation”, nor can they forge ahead together, unless they have ties that bind them as one, and that mandate them to act within unity of purpose.
Rehabilitation
This addresses immediate needs and challenges. This often involves some form of short term assistance to accommodate immediate needs. This temporary relief or reinsertion assistance is most often undertaken through cash payment or allowances. The purpose of rehabilitation is to ease demobilization. Rehabilitation is the first stage of the process of transformation.
Disarmament
This involves the surrender of weapons by ex-combatants and the collection at specified centers or sites and destination, small arms, light and heavy weapons of combatant and civilian (U.N., 1999). The purpose of disarmament is to signify the end of fighting and more critically to guarantee security and prevent resumption of hostilities. Disarmament is essentially a military operation, designed to manage the instruments of violence (arms and ammunition) such that a secure and stable environment can be created for post-conflict transition and implementation of peace agreements.
Demobilization
This involves the immediate or first step of transition from combat and militarized life to civilian life. First, there is the dismantling of organized institutions of violence and military units such as the disbandment of non-state fighting forces and paramilitary forces. Second, it involves the discharge, transportation, assembly and quartering of ex-combatants. Third, it involves pre and post discharge orientations. Usually, ex-combatants are assembled, transferred to camps and engaged in orientation programmes. The assembly and quartering of excombatants in camps enables registration and administration of certain determined benefits.
Reintegration
This relates to the integration of ex-combatants into productive economic engagements, non-violent means of livelihoods and peaceful but civil roles in the society. The goal of reintegration is “economic independence and self employment”. This is usually done through programmes or interventions aimed at “full and self sustained social and economic integrations” that is sustainable even in long term. Reintegration addresses the specific needs of ex-combatants to facilitate engagement in the labour force, agriculture, private entrepreneurship, and the informal sector.
Resettlement
This refers to the creation of access to and acquisition of land, tools and credit to ex-fighters that require employment in agriculture such as farming and fishing.
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