BY EDIDIONG UDOBIA
From the maiden outing of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND to the current incessant and misguided activities of some militant groups in the Niger Delta region, the overall aim has always been and still remains to seek genuine and lasting cure for the sick region. Yes, the region is sick.
Based on common sense and the simple understanding that a sick man cannot heal by attempting suicide, one can disagree with the unorthodox approach by which these militant groups have so far taken to seek healing for the region. After many years of bombings and other unwholesome attacks, the situation has only gone from worse to very worse.
Since the days of MEND, the activities of the militant groups have taken a serious toll on the region and the country at large. Apparently, this informed the decision of the President Umaru Yar’Adua led administration to give a serious attention to the Niger Delta situation. The government’s sincerity of purpose was first revealed by the appointment of Obong Ufot Ekaette as the first Minister of Niger Delta on 17 December 2008.
The federal government through the Ufot Ekaette led Niger Delta Ministry immediately commenced negotiations with the militant groups which had already gotten the attention of the world through their several deadly attacks. Other stakeholders of the region were engaged in the negotiation process. Little by little, the region started healing.
Call it historic, unprecedented or epochal and you will not be wrong. On July 24, 2009, Africa Confidential (vol. 50 no. 15) reports “On 15 July, the Minister for the Niger Delta, Ufot Ekaette, welcomed MEND’s offer of a sixty-day ceasefire...”. Another report states “Ufot Ekaette, minister for the delta region, told the BBC’s Focus on Africa he was confident that a lasting peace could be framed within the next 60 days. “That’s a good time for us to work with them [Mend], chat with them and come out with some conclusions,” he said”.
Considering the fact that the “model” American government is famous for not negotiating with terrorists, the then Nigerian government through the Niger Delta Ministry was faced with some uphill tasks; not giving the world an impression that MEND was a terrorist group and solving a problem that had no semblance in the history of the country. However, the the Ministry recorded a major success when the federal government granted amnesty to “repented” militants.
“I hereby grant amnesty and unconditional pardon to all persons who have directly or indirectly participated in the commission of offences associated with militant activities in the Niger Delta” said late former President Yar’Adua during his amnesty proclamation on June 25, 2009.
“The pardon shall take effect upon the surrender and handing over of all equipment, weapons, arms and ammunition and execution of the renunciation of Militancy Forms specified in the schedule hereto, by the affected persons at the nearest collection centre established for the purpose of Government in each of the Niger Delta States;
“The unconditional pardon granted pursuant to this proclamation shall extend to all persons presently being prosecuted for offences associated with militant activities and this proclamation shall cease to have effect from Sunday, 4th October 2009”. He further added.
V. Egwemi in his research work “From Militancy to Amnesty: Some Thoughts on President Yar’adua’s Apparoach to the Niger Delta Crisis” says “At the expiration of the amnesty period, it was adjudged a huge success by many to the extent that it led to a reversal of most of the problems that had plagued the Niger Delta. With the laying down of arms, by militants relative peace seems to have returned to the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general”.
Notable is the fact that the Niger Delta struggle dates back to the pre-colonial era, however, Yar’Adua’s approach to the situation was a complete departure from those of the previous administrations. For instance, while the Abacha regime ordered the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others in November 1995, former President Obasanjo ordered the “leveling of Odi” in 1999. It can be recalled that “before the leveling of Odi, the army had carried out similar attacks in the Niger Delta area. All these acts against the people made them lack a sense of belonging in the Nigerian federation”, writes Egwemi.
The breakthrough of the Yar’Adua led administration did not only bring relative peace to the region but through some of the amnesty programmes, many youths in the region were rehabilited and gainfully employed, while the region was constantly negotiating for her rights diplomatically. Following that breakthrough, the region was finally healing after decades of struggle.
However, it must be clearly stated that Obong Ufot Ekaette has not been given enough credit for his selfless efforts towards the success of the Yar’Adua led administration in the Niger Delta region. As the first Minister of Niger Delta, Obong Ufot Ekaette had no predecessor, in whose experience he would have learnt a thing or two. He obviously faced challenges that he had to originate the solutions. Also worthy of note is the fact that most militants banked on Obong Ufot Ekaette’s sincerity to accept the president’s amnesty.
Obong Ekaette, who joined the Federal Civil Service on 28 July 1964 and rose to the position of Director-General (Planning), Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning in 1990, has served the country effectively and efficiently in various capacities including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), a position he held from May 1999 till May 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. However, Obong Ekaette will be particularly very outstanding as the first Minister of Niger Delta. It was under his watch that the federal government finally broker peace with MEND.
While speaking on Ekaette, his former SGF, on why he retained and worked with Ekaette for eight years, Obasanjo said ‘’I make use of him because of his experience. He is industrious, hardworking and the typical public servant whose experience in the civil service assisted me a lot. He was never a novice in politics, remember he was a deputy governor in Akwa Ibom State. He did his job conscientiously. In the job of SGF, the older the better because of experience, if they talk to you, they have something to offer’’.
In the wake of the recent militant activities in the Niger Delta region, the federal government under President Buhari has showed its commitment towards finding lasting solution to the problem. To this end, the apex youth body in the region, Union of Niger Delta Youth Council, UNDYC has called on the federal government to ensure that the experience and wide knowledge of Obong Ufot Ekaette is once again brought to bear.
The group, which spoke through its national president, Barr. Godspower Nta, noted that Obong Ekaette was the brain behind the historic negotiations between the federal government and militants under former President Yar’Adua and successful implementation of the amnesty programme, urging President Buhari to ensure that the former SFG is well rewarded for his past efforts and fully carried along in the current plans of the government. This gesture, Barr. Godspower Nta believes would have the positive effect of building confidence between this Administration and the teeming Youths of the Niger Delta who have comfortably and gainfully worked with Obong Ekaette in the past.
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