NIGER DELTA CONFLICT DRIVERS

The historical legacy of military rule and repression of the people has not changed since 1999 and the supposed rise of democracy. There is still a standing army securing the oil infrastructure from the population and protecting the politicians failing to use the resources at their disposal for the good of the people.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controls over 95 per cent of seats at all tiers of government and in the core states of the Delta received in excess of 90 per cent of the eligible vote in 2003 and 2007 elections. This vote is obviously false and was secured by not only rigging the elections but also by empowering local youths with weaponry.

The armed mobilisation of the youth in the run up to the 2003 elections across the Delta States was a significant conflict escalator in the region. Many of the youths now leading the militant groups and agitating for change graduated in the use of violence in conflicts over political office, most significantly the 2003 Warri Crisis, which was fought over the positioning of a local government office. They did not surrender their arms after the 2003 elections and mostly remained active since then. An important lesson was learnt in 2003: a monopoly of firepower is needed to secure the elections. Violence escalated in the run up to the 2007 elections as politicians again mobilized to secure the victory at the polls.

Vast resources are available for politicians who have the political and personal will to deliver significant benefits to the lives of their fellow citizens. If based on bottom-up and locally owned initiatives this could be enough to prevent to the conflict from escalating.

Politics has continued to support patrimonial systems that relay on corruption and the monopoly of violence. This is the single most important issue that must be addressed in the long term if there is ever to be real peace in the Niger Delta. However, this will not be achieved through supporting top down reforms. There must be pressures from below to endorse the willing reforms and challenge those who oppose them.



The current conflict in the Niger Delta is driven by a powerful mixture of corruption, underdevelopment, poverty and violence.

Low intensity inter and intra-ethnic conflicts on a local scale have always been part of life in the Niger Delta. However, the vast wealth available to those who control the power structures of the state and the increasing polarisation of society has led to a significant shift in the underlying conflict dynamic.



This community of 3-4000 were terrorised by a powerful local family who wanted the land they live on.

Oil companies have been accused of increasing this conflict dynamics by favouring host communities over others and making direct payments to the most troublesome elements in society to maintain peace in the short term.

The failure by all stakeholders to address the underlying causes of the conflict and to opt for long term solutions has pushed the Niger Delta to the brink of an internationally important conflict.

The peaceful clamour for change and justice to be delivered to the population of the Niger Delta was led throughout the 1990 by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). Headed by Ken Saro Wiwa, the Ogoni struggle received international attention.


Ken Saro-Wiwa Junior speaks to people about his fathers non-violent struggle at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Centre in Port Harcourt.

When Ken Saro Wiwa was hanged, on the 10th November 1995, with eight other Ogoni activists, the world responded with collective condemnation.

This peaceful action for change continues to date in the Niger Delta but is perceived by many as having not delivered. Therefore violence seems to be a more attractive and acceptable option for many of todays disengaged youth.

The response to this mounting conflict to date has been buying off the leaders of violence at a local and regional level. This approach has failed and will continue to fail because for every individual that is bought off there are 20 others ready to take his place and commit a greater level of violence in order to justify their own pay off. This cannot continue if thousands of lives are not to be lost.

It is the identification, research and analysis of these conflict drivers that focuses SDN and her projects to encourage resolution to the systemic issues seen in the Niger Delta.

The increasing demand from the Niger Delta communities to achieve greater social, economic and political equality will assist to rebalance the asymmetry of negotiating power and to ensure that the communities within the Niger Delta get a better deal from the investments and operations that affect their lives, livelihoods and environment.