Residents of Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State are yet to come to terms with the tragedy that occurred in the community on December 19 when a Unit Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Onana Osua, ran amok and shot some members of RTEAN dead at their offices.
Osua, who is the RTEAN Unit II chairman in Uromi, killed three persons and severely injured three others. He was also killed by the police at Ubiaja in Esan South-East Local Government.
Spokesman for the Edo Police Command, DSP Osifo Abiodun, said the police acted in self-defence after the late Osua fired at his men.
Members of RTEAN now live in fear of possible reprisals by Osua’s boys who appear peeved that that their boss was murdered by rival RTEAN members in connivance with the police.
Feeding the fear is the fact that members of RTEAN in Uromi are yet to ascertain why Osua took to killing his members at RTEAN offices and their family members in cases where he missed his target. There are also fears of possible reprisals by his boys who seemed to believe that Osua was deliberately killed by the police in connivance with other RTEAN members.
Those shot dead were the Booking Clerk at RTEAN headquarters at Uromi, Mr. Sunday
As the Nigerian Government grapples with a horrific Islamist insurgency in the North East, an International conflict prevention group has warned that if the Muhammadu Buhari administration fails to urgently address the “long-simmering grievances” and deprivation in the oil rich Niger Delta, the region could soon erupt in violence again.
President Buhari
In its latest report issued September 29, the International Crisis Group warned that increasing complaints over chronic poverty and oil pollution as the Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-militants reaches its twilight, may fuel a renewed rebellion in the region.
The group observed that since the defeat of Goodluck Jonathan, who is a native of the region in March, some activists have resumed their “agitation for greater resource control and self-determination” while some ex-militants have threatened to return to the creeks to resume the armed struggle that characterised the region prior to the amnesty programme.
At its peak in 2009, the insurgency in the Niger Delta cut Nigeria’s oil output by over 50 per cent and was costing the government close to four billion naira (nearly $19 million) per day in counter-insurgency operations, according to the International Crisis Group
An amnesty programme put in place by the government in 2009 helped in reducing violence in the region.
The report however said the programme failed woefully to address the inherent causes of violence in the region such as poverty, youth unemployment and environmental pollution caused primarily by oil spills.
“The government has largely failed to carry out other recommendations that addressed the insurgency’s root causes, including inadequate infrastructure, environmental pollution, local demands for a bigger share of oil revenues, widespread poverty and youth unemployment,” the report observed.
According to the report, the original arrangement where militants in the amnesty programme were paid through their leaders helped in making fighters dependent on their leaders as well as solidify the bond between them in such a way that makes it easy for the militant leaders to rally their fighters to cause trouble.
The report stated that because the stipend paid to ex-militants ( N65,000) is way more than the national minimum wage of N18,000 many ex-militants have become indolent and instead of seeking paid employment, rely on the stipend.
It however said stopping the payment of the stipend may create serious security challenges.
“There is a serious mismatch between the training the former militants receive and the job market. At the end of March 2015, reportedly only 151 of the 15,451 graduates from the training programs had found jobs with credible organisations in the country.
“Many currently being trained have high expectations of positions in oil, gas and aviation companies, but industry sources insist there presently is limited room to absorb many job-seeker. Frustrated graduates may be tempted to return to militancy or violent crime, only now better educated and more likely capable of extracting new concessions from the federal government,” it noted.
The report also pointed out that the cancellation of the pipeline protection contracts of some ex-militant leaders by President Muhammadu Buhari is likely to push some these militant leaders to resume their arms campaign against the government.
It added many militants leaders have become stupendously wealthy and politically influential following years of government patronage during the Goodluck Jonathan administration thereby increasing their capacities to cause mayhem or make higher demands from government.
The organisation slammed former President Jonathan administration for paying “less commitment to the crucial tasks of improving infrastructure, restoring the environment and enhancing livelihoods. In spite of promises and substantial appropriations, little progress has been made”.
Ineffective Ministry and agencies
The report stated that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and other agencies created to address Niger Delta related issues such as oil spills and environmental degradation have woefully failed to meet the expectations of the people.
The report noted that the NDDC for instance, has only completed 37 per cent (2,328 out of 6,349) of projects launched since 2000. In fact, Mr Jonathan lamented in December 2013 that the NDDC has little on ground to justify the huge appropriations it gets.
The report observed that corruption is the main cancer plaguing the commission as it may have become a conduit through which funds are “pumped into the pockets of politically connected individuals than a vehicle for the region’s development.”
“Some politicians, especially in the federal legislative committees on Niger Delta development, and also in the Delta states assemblies, are alleged to view and manipulate it as their cash cow.”
Similarly, the report stated that the Ministry of Niger Delta has let little impact in the region.
“Many of its projects are incomplete or long abandoned. Its flagship effort, the 338km east-west highway that initially ran from Warri in Delta state to Oron in Akwa Ibom state and is being extended to Calabar in Cross River state is significantly over budget and still under construction, despite repeated assurances of imminent completion.”
“Public confidence has diminished. In April 2013, Ondo state oil-producing communities demanded it be disbanded. In March 2014, Senator James Manager, chairman of the Senate committee on the Niger Delta, observed that it had “failed to commission a single project since its creation.”
It stated that people of the region as lost confidence in the ability of the Ministry in addressing the issues that plague them. It added that the effectiveness of the Ministry is further hampered by cascading budgetary allocations and lack of patronage from donors.
“Donors have failed to finance a proposed $10 billion multi-stakeholder trust fund for a ten-year Niger Delta Development Action Plan, unveiled in 2013.
“Performance is hampered in several ways, beginning with dwindling budgets. Of the 456 billion naira (about $2.8 billion) the ministry received over six years, 2009-2014, 349 billion naira ($2.1 billion) went to the east-west highway. Like the NDDC, it has not received all its appropriations.”
Just like the NDDC, deep-seated corruption has also contributed to the ministry’s ineffectiveness, the report noted.
Recommendations
Though the report admitted that there are no indications that these disgruntled militant groups will actually mobilise against the government, the report recommended a series of measures to prevent the eruption of violence in the region:
It advised Mr Buhari to visit the Niger Delta as soon as possible “to underscore his commitment to the region and lay out a comprehensive plan for its security and development.”
It also suggested that the amnesty programme should be wound down gradually so to ensure registered ex-militants to complete their training.
It also called on the government to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta and to initiate a holistic reform of the NDDC to “make it a more accountable and effective agency.”
The report called on the government to take steps to prevent environmental degradation by empowering and making the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project independent from the petroleum ministry.
It added that government should work closely with the House of Assembly to accelerate the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill and called on major oil companies such as Shell and Eni to prevent oil spills and create jobs for local youth.
President of the United States, Barack Obama, has called on the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to warn their supporters against committing any violent act in the coming polls.
Obama also did not fail to call for the safe rescue of the more than 200 kidnapped Chibok girls by Boko Haram.
In a video posted on Monday on the White House official website, President Obama conveyed the message to the Nigerian people to highlight the opportunity that the upcoming elections presents for them to stand together in rejecting violence and extremism and instead show their support for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future.
“So I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections—and that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during, or after the votes are counted. I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence. And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins,” Obama said.
In his message, the US President made it clear that his message was for Nigerians who will be voting in the March 28 and April 11 elections, urging them to safeguard the democratic process by performing their civic responsibility peacefully.
Obama said, “Today, I want to speak directly to you—the people of Nigeria. Successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent challenges you face today.
“Boko Haram—a brutal terrorist group that kills innocent men, women and children—must be stopped. Hundreds of kidnapped children deserve to be returned to their families. Nigerians who have been forced to flee deserve to return to their homes. Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress.”
Obama also urged all Nigerians to put their ethnic and religious backgrounds behind them ahead of the polls, saying that the task ahead of the country requires the people to be united.
“I’m told that there is a saying in your country: ‘to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.’ Today, I urge all Nigerians—from all religions, all ethnic groups, and all regions—to come together and keep Nigeria one. And in this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America,” he added.
The general elections are still six weeks away, but The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says at least 58 people have already been killed in violence fueled by political differences in 22 states from Dec. 3, 2014 to date.
Emenike Kingsley, APC ward leader, Port Harcourt
Chairman, Governing Council of the Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, revealed on Friday in Abuja while representing a report entitled; ‘’Pre-election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections’’.
According to him, within 50 days from Dec. 3, 2014, the commission had confirmed 61 incidences of election violence with the majority of the cases recorded in three key economic and politically significant states.
“In Lagos, we have tracked at least 11 incidences producing 22 dead people for each incident, an average of 2 people killed over a span of just 52 days,” he said.
“In Kaduna State, we have three incidents and nine killings; Rivers has six incidents, including the detonation of explosives and attacks on courts.”
“This degree of pre-election violence is unacceptable, we have seen too much blood and this must be stopped,” Odinkalu said.
He noted that if this continues, it will lead the country into more trouble. He describes the release as more than a report, but an advisory because it calls on all the leaders to rise to the challenge.
He said the political leaders must send a message to their supporters that the forthcoming election was not a call to battle but a contest between brothers and sisters.
“On March 28 and April 11, Nigeria will for the 5th time in 16 years and the 8th time since independence in 1960, undertake the closest and most competitive election in its 54-year history.
“This is an advisory addressed to Nigeria’s leaders, politicians, communities, citizens and friends. It explains why the country must turn the page on a long and worsening history of election violence,’’ the NHRC’s governing council chairman said.
Having received 10 petitions for adjudication in relation to election-related violence, Odinkalu said that the commission had established an Election Violence incidence Centre (EVIC) to enable it collate information on election violence and seek intervention where necessary or ensure accountability.
He said the commission will not hesitate to mention the names of anybody found instigating or perpetrating electoral violence.
In a bid to avoid being caught up in violence that may erupt after the February 2015 general elections, politicians, many chief executive officers/ chairmen of companies, top businessmen and wealthy Nigerians have started moving their families out of Nigeria.
Election violence
Over 800 persons, including 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps were reportedly killed in the North during the violence that trailed the 2011 general elections.
Investigations by Saturday PUNCHshowed that some apprehensive politicians and top members of the business community started relocating members of their families abroad late last year.
Many, it was learnt, are still moving their families out of the country.
According to findings, medical check-ups, short vacation, among others, are being cited by wealthy Nigerians as reasons for their trips.
Aviation experts told one of our correspondents that passenger traffic in Nigeria is usually low between January and March but that is not the case this year.
The CEO of a travel agency, who identified himself as Damian and did not want further details about himself or his company in print, said many of his clients had made bookings to travel abroad for fear of being caught up in violence.
Damian said, “It is true that there is an increase in the number of transactions we receive; many people are making bookings to leave the country.
“People are afraid; they fear that there may be violence after the election. Those making travel plans are mostly businessmen. I am also running away. I will leave before the election and return after the person who emerges as the president of the country has been sworn in.”
Similarly, a popular travel agency on Lagos Island told one of our correspondents that many managing directors/chairmen of some companies in Nigeria had booked their flight tickets in anticipation of leaving the country before the general elections.
One of the senior workers with the company, who simply identified himself as Thaddeus, said aside politicians who thronged the firm to buy tickets, many companies’ MDs and businessmen had bought tickets from the firm between November 27, 2014 and January 14, 2015.
Thaddeus named the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirate as the most preferred destinations of the MDs.
He said, “Some politicians made arrangement to travel out of the country after the election, while many of the MDs chose to leave the country with their families a week before the poll.
“Before the political parties’ primaries held late year, we procured tickets for the families of some politicians and we believe that they must have left the country by now. The politicians started procuring their tickets from the first week of this month.”
The development, according to some travel agents who spoke with our correspondents, boosted their businesses.
In the South-East, some prominent Igbo politicians and businessmen have also decided to go for “vacation abroad.”
An aide of one of the members of the executive committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo – the apex Igbo socio-political organisation – said his boss was among those planning to leave the country.
The aide who pleaded anonymity said, “I am aware that some politicians have already concluded arrangements to travel abroad after the election; some of them relocated their families out of the country many months ago.”
A travel agent, Mr. Nwaoka Iwe, who told one of our correspondents that he represents an Abuja-based travel agency in Enugu, also spoke of arrangements being made by politicians and businessmen to travel out of the country.
Iwe said, “The period after elections is when most of our big clients travel out of the country just like 2011, but we expect more businesses this year because of the fear by politicians that there may be trouble next month.”
Also in Kwara State, many politicians have booked their flights in advance.
An aide of one of the governorship aspirants confirmed to Saturday PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, that his boss would not wait for one day in Nigeria if there should be violence after the election.
Aides of five prominent politicians in Kwara State, who pleaded not to be named, also said their principals have asked to book their flights.
Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer, Gadeshire Travels & Tours, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, confirmed that there had been an increase in ticket bookings in recent times.
Adebayo said, “Some wealthy Nigerians moved their families during Christmas holidays and we are not expecting them back home until after the elections.
“Their decision not to come back may be as a result of their anticipation of crisis or post-election violence, based on the experience of the last election.”
In the same vein, a worker with the travel agency in Surulere, who identified himself as Yunus, said the rush for tickets had led to slight increase in price.
Politicians, others speak
Though the National Chairman of Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu, said the election would be violent-free, he asked Nigerians to rise and stop whoever foments trouble from fleeing the country.
Nwanyanwu, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone, said, “Nobody can cause problem for the people and run away. All politicians must remain in the country and address any challenge that may trail the election.
“Nigeria belongs to all; a few group of people should not be allowed to make the country hellish for the masses. So, we will stop whoever causes problem for Nigeria from fleeing the country.”
In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere Renewal Group, a pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Mr. Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, condemned politicians for sending their families abroad and making travel plans in anticipation of post-election violence.
Famoriyo described such politicians as the corrupt ones who have stolen the country blind and are afraid of a backlash.
He said, “Such politicians will run away if they know that they have looted the country’s resources and that their hands are not clean. They know that they have skeletons in their cupboards and are afraid of the nemesis.
“It is condemnable because if they know their hands are clean, they should be with their people no matter what. It is the rich that will run away; I’m not running away. I can’t say that I will run away because there may be violence. A General stays with his soldiers at the battlefront. We should stay and build this country together. Most of our politicians don’t have any milk of humanity in them so they will run away.
“Can a poor farmer planting his cassava peacefully run away? Can a bus driver run away? Where will he run to? It is the rich and those who have milked the country that will be planning to run away.”
A human rights activist, Jiti Ogunye, said it is necessary that politicians refrain from manipulating the electorate and election results to avoid violence after the elections..
Ogunye said, “The first condition for credible election is the activation of electoral justice. Politicians should learn not just to preach peace but to do justice. If they manipulate the election results, there could be reaction of violence. So I advise that they play by the rules so that we can enjoy peace in this period. They should not rob the electorate of their decisions.”
Non-indigenes flee northern states
Besides plans by politicians, businessmen and others to seek temporary refuge outside the country, Saturday PUNCH also learnt that several non-indigenes plan to relocate from the North during the elections.
One of such people, Ebenezer Adegoke, who works with a telecommunication company in Katsina State, said he had rented an apartment in Ibadan ahead of the election.
Adegoke said, “You cannot predict what will happen after this election. I heard many stories of people getting killed in previous post-election violence. That will not happen to me.
“I will relocate my family to Ibadan a week prior to the election. We will not go back to Katsina until after the polls. At least in Ibadan, I will be closer to home.”
Also an Akure indigene, Idowu Omolagba, who resides in Kano, told Saturday PUNCH that he had relocated his family to Akure.
Omolagba, who is a commercial motorist in the Northern commercial city, said, “I won’t return to Kano until after the election.”
Similarly, Abuja-based Chinyere Uche returned to her home town in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, a few days after Christmas, but she has no intention of returning to her base.
The thirty-year-old mother of three said she would stay back in her village until after the general elections.
She said, “I did not come back home to vote; in fact I did not register in my village. I only decided to return home because of threat that violence may trail the next general elections.”
A Gombe-based businessman, Mr. Christian Utta, also brought his family from Gombe to his Mbaise home, Imo State.
Utta said, “I don’t want to be caught napping. By then, we may not even get transportation to come home. I am not praying for violence but it is better to be late than be late.”
Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Youth Council, has called for the establishment of special polling booths for Igbos who are displaced from their places of residence in the North by Boko Haram .
OYC said since the Independent National Electoral Commission had concluded plans to set up special polling units for internally displaced persons in the North-East, “equity and justice demand that similar gesture be extended to other victims of Boko Haram forced to return to their home states in the South-East.”
National President of OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who made the call in Umuahia, said the failure of INEC to oblige the request would “convince OYC that the allegation that the electoral commission wanted to rig the forthcoming presidential poll is true.”
Isiguzoro contended that there has been mass exodus of Ndigbo residents in the North who have continued to flee the region because of escalating activities of insurgents.
The group therefore, gave the Chairman of INEC a seven- day ultimatum to correct the imbalance or resign his job.
President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to Nigerian youths to shun violence during the general elections in February.
President Goodluck Jonathan
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youths, Mr Jude Imagwe, during a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwom Jos, Buba Gyang, in Jos on Thursday, the president urged the youth to be peaceful during the elections.
He also appealed to the youth to passionately come out and demonstrate their love for the country by casting their votes in a peaceful manner.
The president urged them not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs.
“My attention will be centred on youths, wealth creation and infrastructural development come 2015, “ he declared.
The president commended traditional rulers for their efforts in ensuring the sustenance of peace on the Plateau.
According to the president, Plateau remains a state where violence has become history due to the presence of royal fathers who stand side by side in joining hands to build a peaceful Nigeria.
Gbong Gwom Jos, Buba Gyang, expressed gratitude to the president for the visit and for carrying youths along in his programmes.
Gyang advised the youth to develop analytical minds to take charge of some responsibility and focus on the realities of life.
The traditional ruler warned the youths against being misled by politicians who would desire to use them for violence.
ABUJA–The agreement to make the 2015 general elections coming up next month credible and violent-free was formerly sealed Wednesday in Abuja by the 14 presidential candidates squaring up for the contest.
Jonathan and Buhari
Eminent among the contestants that featured at the signing were President Goodluck Jonathan who is flying the flag of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and General Mohammadu Buhari who is also the presidential flag bearer of the nation’s leading opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Others who made appearances included Tunde Anifowose Kelani of Action Alliance (AA) Dr. Rafiu Salau of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Ganiyu Galadima of Alliance Congress (AC), Alh. Mani Ibrahim Ahemad of ADC, Chief Sam Eke of Citizens Popular Party (CPP) Ambros Albert Oworu of Hope Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya of KOWA party and Chief Chekwas Okorie of Unity Progressive Party (UPP).
The Letters and the spirit of the undertaking otherwise called “Abuja Accord” by the organizers of the event tilted “2015 General Elections: Sensitization workshop on Non-Violence” essentially barred the contestants in the election from making incisive speeches that could cause the eruption of violence of whatever guise before, during and after the elections.
The accord reads thus: “We the undersigned Presidential candidates of the under-listed political parties contesting in the General Elections of 2015;
AOAV’s Nigerian partner, the National Working Group on Armed Violence (NWGAV), yesterday condemned the violence which is currently plaguing Nigeria.
The NWGAV, a network of Nigerian civil society organisations committed to disarmament and armed violence prevention and reduction, has representatives from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, and is coordinated by the Women’s Right to Education Programme (WREP).
The group expressed sadness over the lives of innocent Nigerians being killed in the regular attacks and considered it worrisome.
The statement reads: “Nigeria as a nation experienced again another sad atrocity of losing scores of its citizens through multiple bombing that exploded in Jos Market on 20th of May, 2014. This sad attack on innocent citizens is a worrisome reminder to Nigerians on the recent bombings in Kano (few days back) as well as the citizens sorrow over similar multiple bomb devastation in Nyanya as well as other bombings that has taken place in the Northeast, Northwest and North central parts of our dear country, Nigeria. In the depth of our pains on the rate at which our citizens are murdered through acts of armed violence the National Working Group on Armed Violence and Development in Nigeria wishes to unequivocally condemn this ugly development in the history of Nigeria.
”While we condemn this unfortunate emergence of bombing as a critical dimension of armed violence in Nigeria, we are appealing to the conscience of the perpetrators to desist from harming innocent Nigerians, who by no means are part of any factors that drive armed violence in Nigeria.
We wish to observe as follows:
The increase in bombing and other forms of armed violence will do no good to any citizen or resident either now or in the near future.
It will take Nigeria several years more than it will take to recover the country from the effects of these armed violence and bombing than the devastation caused by military rulein Nigeria.
The poverty rate in Nigeria, which is already one of the worst among oil producing nations, will hit an irreversible height, if this spat of bombing is not stemmed and the energy injected to building a safe nation for all.
Nigerians have no other country than Nigeria, thus no level of anger, agitation or provocation should warrant the kind of wanton destruction that is being visited on the country since 2009, where the poor have been the major causality.
Based on our observation above, we wish to demand as follows:
The federal government should quickly review all drivers of armed violence, particular sources of arms and explosives, tighter boarder control and improved activation of citizens’ patriotism to ensure the nation’s security.
Nigeria government should quickly set up victim assistance and rehabilitation centres to ameliorate the suffering of victims and their families.
Involve citizens more in intelligence gathering while providing mechanism to ensure protection of citizens involved in security intelligence.
All the tiers of government, especially at the local levels, should come together to find a lasting solution to this increasing level of insecurity to Nigeria citizens and residents.
”We are equally calling on Nigeria Government to quickly reorganize the nation’s security architecture so that lives and properties can be secured once again. We are equally calling on Nigerians and residents to unite against this new wave of armed violence in other to quickly eradicate it.
With heavy heart, the National Working Group on Armed violence wishes to extend its condolences to the families that have lost their beloved ones and those that have suffered injuries or disabilities in these spates of bombings in Nigeria.
The statement reads: “Nigeria as a nation experienced again another sad atrocity of losing scores of its citizens through multiple bombing that exploded in Jos Market on 20th of May, 2014. This sad attack on innocent citizens is a worrisome reminder to Nigerians on the recent bombings in Kano (few days back) as well as the citizens sorrow over similar multiple bomb devastation in Nyanya as well as other bombings that has taken place in the Northeast, Northwest and North central parts of our dear country, Nigeria. In the depth of our pains on the rate at which our citizens are murdered through acts of armed violence the National Working Group on Armed Violence and Development in Nigeria wishes to unequivocally condemn this ugly development in the history of Nigeria.