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Ebiegberi Alagoa, Nigerian History Professor Speaks on Niger-Delta (Part1)
Muti This
Professor Ebiegberi Alagoa is Emeritus Professor of History at the Univeristy of Port Harcourt and has published extensively on the Niger Delta. Sokari Ekine of Black Looks interviewed him about the changes that have taken place in the Niger Delta since the excecution of Ken Saro Wiwa in 1995, the rise of militancy in the region and the the governorship of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha - ex Governor of Bayelsa State.
The interview is in two parts. Part two will be broadcast in two weeks.
Take a listen:
Related articles on Niger-Delta, click http://www.blacklooks.org/category/niger_delta
Photo: Local children with water containers at the Shell gas flares at Umuebulu community near Port Harcourt, Niger Delta, March 2004. Climatelaw.org
These posts may have related contents:
- Ebiegberi Alagoa, Nigerian History Professor Speaks on Niger-Delta (Part1 & 2)
- Niger Delta: “A Nightmare to Nigeria”. Yar A’dua Lacks Leadership Vision [podcast]
- Nigeria: Update on Niger-Delta
- Podcast: Issues in the Niger Delta
- The Connection between Nigerian Government and the Niger-Delta Militia
- Private Oil Pipeline Found in Niger-Delta
- Nightfall in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- Nigeria: Niger Delta Militants Strike Again! [podcast]
- Nigeria: Wole Soyinka and Ed Kashi on Niger Delta [video]
- Nigeria: Flared Natural Gas is Enough to Power Half of Africa
Misi | Aug 11, 2007 | Reply
My question is: if Niger-Delta is given resource control will this stop the militancy? Personally I don’t think so because resource control is for community whilst the militant are after their selfish needs.
sokari | Aug 11, 2007 | Reply
Misi @ You need to look at the militancy in an historical context. The militancy has grown out of the continued failure of the Nigerian Government to address the needs of the Niger Delta dating back to Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni Bill of Rights. One of the problems is there is a tendency to look at the militants as if they just appeared on the scene out of no where. In the interview Professor Alagoa is clear that the militancy grew out of the failures to address the demands of the ND peoples from 15 years ago.
There are genuine grievances which are being admitted by more and more Nigerians and the militants have largely contributed to this new debate. Yes there are elements of bandits but there are also genuine militant groups such as MEND and one should try to separate the two. Another point is that since 1990 the region has for all intense purposes been under military control. The army and mobile police have raped and abused women and girls, men and youth have been beaten and towns attacked and put under siege. All of this has created an environment of chaos and law and order has been one of the causalities.
Misi | Aug 13, 2007 | Reply
I agree with you that the militancy grew out of the needs of Niger Delta but now it has gone beyond fighting for the needs of the Niger-Delta and has turned into an individual battle for self-enrichment. My point is even if the needs of Niger-Delta is met today, there will still be chaos since the militancy it is no longer under control of those organized groups like MEND etc.