By Omen Bassey
Nigeria as a nation is not known for justice, equity and fairness.That
is why it's not also known for peace, prosperity and stability.If human
beings avoid the temptation of dominating others because of numerical
and other advantages, this Country would be far better than it is today.
The minorities in Nigeria are treated like tenants in another person's
house.In fact, in the case of the Niger Delta Region, the situation is
worse because no tenant is expected to feed his landlord.
As a
people, we have collectively fought this monster of injustice,
marginalization and deprivation for years believing, albeit erroneously
that we were one.
We rued the fact that proceeds from the sale of crude
oil explored from our soil were used to develop other parts of the
country while we wallowed in squalor.
Each time we thought about this
level injustice, our adrenaline shot up.It was, and still is okay to be
angry about the wrongs done us by Nigeria. But a taboo to complain of
worse happenings back home.
We believed we were brothers fighting
a common enemy until oil bounties started trickling in.A worse evil
than the one we fought against from a far now resides in our bedroom.
At least, Nigeria has never denied that its crude oil is found in the
Niger Delta Region even when it was unwilling to release the benefits.
It now concedes to the Niger Delta Region,a partial right to its
inheritance.It respects our voices although it hates the deployment of
violence in pressing home our demands.
In addition to giving us
the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Ministry of Niger Delta
Affairs, it has given us 13% of the money derived from the sale of our
crude oil.
The East West Road and other key projects came in recognition
of our contributions to the national coffers.
As designed by the Creator, like Nigeria, oil bearing communities of Akwa Ibom State are in the numerical minorities.
Has Akwa Ibom State treated the oil bearing communities better than Nigeria? Or is it worse?
Unlike Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State pretends that its oil belongs to
everybody and nobody.Is it really a coincidence that some parts of the
State which don't produce oil fare better than the oil producing areas
just the same way it happened in Nigeria in the past? Did we feel good
when the Niger Delta suffered the same fate in Nigeria? Why do they
expect minorities in the State to feel good where they felt bad?Is this
not the height of hypocrisy?
It took Nigeria, through the House
Representatives and Office of the Secretary to Government of the
Federation to direct Akwa Ibom State to recognize its part called Oro as
oil producing.
Till date, Akwa Ibom State has avoided every discussion
on that Resolution and Circular. Would the situation have been the same
if it involved our bigger brothers?
What percentage of its own
share of the 13% Derivation Fund does Akwa Ibom State spend on its oil
producing communities? Why can't our State take a cue from other Niger
Delta States by establishing an interventionist agency for oil producing
communities after the fashion of the NDDC?
No! It cannot happen because we are not sincere enough to face the issue of who is oil producing and who is not.
They want us to pretend all is well despite their ill treatment. Only a
self deluded person believes there's peace in the absence of justice
and fairness.
Oro rightly belongs to Akwa Ibom State.It
contributes significantly to the coffers of the State.Without Oro's
resource contributions, the achievements they brag about will never be
possible.
Yet, they want us to believe that it's a privilege for them to
respond to our greetings.If they do more than that, they expect us to
genuflect or even prostrate while greeting our children.
The
level of injustice arising from ethnic segregation brewing in Akwa Ibom
State is assuming a frightening dimension.If not checked, what the
Blacks of South Africa experienced in the era of apartheid and racism
which literally reduced Black Americans to filthy rags will be a
child's play.
They feel obliged to develop other parts of the
State but they only try to give us a token because they will need our
votes(even if they are few)during elections.
Which Oro man feels
loved in this State today?Who feels a sense of pride and belonging as a
citizen?
Among those who supported and those who opposed Oro
Governorship 2015; those who are in and out of government; the educated
and the illiterates; the rich and the poor. The feeling of rejection and
alienation is pervasive and deep seated.
Some may pretend.Others
may smile in the face of humiliation.But a generation is arising which
will never submit to modern slavery in a State which is supposed to be
theirs.
Is it not a serious contradiction that our Governor wants
Mobil and other Oil Companies to relocate their
Headquarters to Akwa
Ibom State when he cannot extend similar benefits within his power to
core oil producing communities?
On what moral ground do we stand
to make such demands when we attempt to deny the oil producing status of
certain minority oil producing communities in our State?
The
kind of peace we seek which excludes justice and fairness can only be
peace of the graveyard. Genuine peace is anchored on love, fairness,
justice and shared respect.
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