Issues
Participation In Petroleum Development …Towards Sustainable Community Development in the Niger Delta
Continued from last Monday May 17, 2010.
The book “Participation in Petroleum Development, Towards Sustainable community Development in the Niger Delta” by Alabor Dr. Edward Bristol-Alagbariya is essential for key oil industry experts, administrators, scholars and students who wants to gain further insight on how the Niger Delta can benefit from oil exploration and exploitation. The Tide, beginning from this edition, run excerpts of the book. Enjoy it.
In Part E, comprising
Chapters 8 and 9, discusses CI in the IA of oil and gas development projects in the Bonny kingdom. One significant finding of this part is that through IA, the poor and marginalised petroleum resources-producing communities of the Delta region are able to derive IA benefits from the MNOCs. Thus, as in other areas of the Delta region, due to the lack of GSR in Bonny kingdom, the EIA mitigation measures of oil and gas development projects are directed by the MNOCs more towards providing social investments which are lacking in the kingdom. Emphasis on the provision of social investments thus tends to undermine the environmental stewardship of the MNOCs which is crucial in the effort towards SD in the Delta region.
Among other things, Part F (Chapter 10) concludes the book by recommending the need for interactive CI in petroleum resources development in the oil-producing areas, fostered by GSR, and improved CSR and Community Social Responsibility (ie, social responsibility of the communities – SRCs), in the course of the resources development in these areas. The chapter recommends the need for improvement in PI in decision-making processes in Nigeria, so as to achieve greater accountability, transparency and responsibility in governance, towards achieving SD vis-à-vis the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, in the interest of the citizens and humanity at large.
Foreword
Company-community conflict has come to define natural resources development in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In particular, the vast oil and gas Delta region in southern Nigeria, one of the largest petroleum-exporting areas in the world, is an extreme example of this human, environmental, and economic tragedy. For over half a century, petroleum development has been occurring in this ethnic minority region – despite protests, demands for participation, and resistance by the affected local people. Mind-numbing charges proliferate of human rights violations, assassinations, kidnappings, arrests, forced relocations, property destruction, central government corruption, corporate force, failed efforts at compromise, and grave environmental and public health crises.
This book is a fresh voice with impeccable credentials and compelling solutions. Dr. Edward T. Bristol-Alagbariya is the paramount chief of the Bristol-Alagbarigha royal house of Grand Bonny kingdom – one of the most impacted oil-producing areas in the Niger Delta. Dr. Bristol-Alagbariya is a blood-descendant of King Perekule, and Priest-King Alagbariya (founder of Grand Bonny and one of the four founding fathers and premier-kings of Grand Bonny kingdom). Dr. Bristol-Alagbariya discusses Grand Bonny kingdom as occupying a significant place in the political economy of Nigeria, from the pre-colonial era. He describes the coast of Grand Bonny as one of Nigeria’s most strategic seaports from the period of the Atlantic trade between Western Europe and West Africa. He discusses Grand Bonny as the first seat of the government of Rivers State when the state was created in May 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War. He demonstrates Grand Bonny Island city as playing host to Nigeria’s premier crude oil export terminal as well as Nigeria’s premier LNG plant located at Finima, along the Island city. The perspective of this book is reinforced by case studies on Grand Bonny kingdom.
Dr. Bristol-Alagbariya is a member of the Historical Society of Nigeria, the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association, including the International Association for Public Participation, International Association for Impact Assessment, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and Friends of the Earth Scotland. He is also a member of the Social Impact Assessment Center, New York, and an associate of the Calabash project (of Southern African region) on citizens’ participation in environmental assessment. He has served on significant government committees in Nigeria. This book is the outgrowth of his PhD Thesis (which I assessed as external examiner) at the world-famous Centre for Energy, Petroleum & Mineral Law & Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee. He is, therefore, not only an academic and legal expert of note on the issues discussed in this book, but also a genuine stakeholder’ of the Niger Delta – the book’s area of focus.
Dr. Bristol-Alagbariya brings to the protracted conflict in the Nigerian Delta region a commendably positive, solution-oriented perspective, seeing both the cause and the cure in the weakness of environmental democracy’ in the region. As to cause, he presents impressive empirical and scholarly research on the historical, ethnological, and political realities of the oil-rich region and nation and finds that the crises are caused by inadequate public participation or community involvement on two levels – both in the regional development process and in national government decision-making processes.
Public participation is now widely viewed as one of the fundamental prerequisites for the achievement of successful sustainable development. It is recognised as a critical component in numerous international legal authorities and studies, including Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration, Rio’s Agenda 21, the 1998 Aarhus Convention, and other sources, which the author analyses in depth. Public participation is not just limited to Western liberal democracies, as the author carefully shows by documenting the centrality of citizen participation in the Delta communities’ historical and social framework. However, as he illustrates in various case studies, public participation has followed a failure model in the course of petroleum development in the Niger Delta, ranging from nonexistent to superficial ‘consult-then-ignore’.
The solution, Dr. Bristol-Alagbariya concludes, is that change is needed in how both the companies and the central government engage in public participation with the affected communities. Mere consultation’ without implementation’ is not sufficient. He persuasively details the reforms needed both in corporate social responsibility and in government social responsibility to resolve the crises and to proceed with sustainable development of the resource in a way that protects the environmental, social, and public health values of the Niger Delta communities.
This is an extraordinary book which can and should be read by statesmen, government regulators, resource development interest groups, policymakers, and academics. Its groundbreaking approach constitutes a path for constructive engagement and sustainable development not only for the Niger Delta but also a potential blueprint for all resource-rich developing nations.
George (Rock) Pring
(Professor of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Denver, Colorado, USA, & Principal, Global Environmental Outcomes LLC, Consultant on Environment, Natural Resources, and Access to Justice), June 2009.
Introduction
It was my privilege and my pleasure to be the principal supervisor of the PhD thesis which has been revised and transformed into this book. While supervising this thesis at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum & Mineral Law & Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee, I realised that it had the potential to be published in the interests of a wider public outside the immediate academic community. I am therefore delighted that it has, in the course of the author’s post-doctoral studies, emerged as a highly-accessible contribution to the study of the sustainable development of the oil-producing communities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially the communities of the oil-rich Delta ethnic minority region of the federation.
To be continued.
This is an open letter to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Your Excellency,
Sir, ordinarily, I would not be writing an open letter to you, but like a wise man once said, “Silence would be Treason.” So I prefer to stay alive than face the consequences of silence in the face of crime. With each passing day, and as the socio-political tides continue to turn, it has become more pertinent that more people speak up in a concerted MANNER to prevent the death of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as we appear to be, in the words of W. B. Yeats, “turning and turning in the widening gyre” heading for an end where the falcon will no longer hear the falconer
It is unfortunate that since losing control of the Federal Government, with the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan at the poll in 2015, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has continued on a downward spiral. It is much more painful, that where it is expected that leaders within the party should rise to the challenge and put an end to this decline of our great party, some have instead taken up roles as its undertaker.
It will be hypocritical to claim aloofness to what I believe is your grouse with the PDP and I am not a hypocrite. It will be uncharitable on my part to discountenance the role you have played in strengthening the PDP from 2015 up until the last Presidential primaries of the party. It is my belief that your grouse against certain members of the party who you perceived worked against the party and abandoned it in 2015 and then came around much later to take control of the party, is justified. Also know that your decision to remain in the Party and stifle its progress on the other hand, as a sort of payback, stands condemned. For a man of your pedigree and stature, it is a dishonorable act, highly dishonorable and stands as testimony against all you claim to stand for.
At least, it can be argued that those who you hold this grudge against, abandoned the party completely and did not sit back while actively working to destroy it from within. But what then can be the argument on your own part, seeing that those you are currently working with against your party are the same people who set in motion, and executed surgically, the plans that not only ended our Party’s leadership at the centre, but ended up dislodging the first Niger Deltan to occupy Aso Rock as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Is this not akin to “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face?” That will be worse than folly. Let us not throw away the baby with the bath water because we do not like the soap used in bathing the baby. It will be a grave mistake.
Honourable Minister, sir, it is rather unfortunate that of all people, you have also decided to play the role of an undertaker not only for our party, but for our dear Rivers State.
I will like to take you down memory lane a little. Let me remind you of your emergence as Guber candidate of the PDP in Rivers State, against all fairness and justice in 2014. You will remember that despite the reality being that you as an Ikwerre man was poised to replace a fellow Ikwerre man in Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in our multiethnic state, Rivers people overwhelmingly stood by you and pushed for your emergence as Executive Governor of Rivers State in 2015. I dare say that your popularity in the entire Niger Delta region was at an all-time high at this point.
I want you to understand why you were loved across board leading to your eventual emergence as Governor of Rivers State in 2015; it was because when it looked like all were against the second term ambitions of the first Niger Delta man to emerge as President of Nigeria, you became not just a pillar but a beacon of resistance by standing for Goodluck Jonathan. Rivers people, as grateful and rewarding as they can be, paid you back by ensuring your electoral victory against the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) led by your predecessor. On your emergence, where there were second term Governors in the region, you, a first term Governor, was seen by the people as not just the leader of the PDP, but the leader of the entire Niger Delta region. You earned it, and no one could dispute it.
In 2019, when your re-election bid was being challenged ferociously, Rivers people once again stood solidly behind you. Many were killed in the process of defending your votes. Do you remember Dr. Ferry Gberegbe that was shot and killed while trying to protect your votes in Khana Local Government Area? There are many more unnamed and unrecognised sons and daughters of Rivers State who sacrificed their lives so that you could emerge as a second term Governor of Rivers State.
In 2022/23, Honourable Minister, you oversaw a party primary across board that saw some candidates imprisoned and internal party democracy jettisoned for your wishes, leading to the emergence of flag bearers of our party all singlehandedly picked by you. You have on more than one occasion publicly stated that you paid for all their forms. Even those shortchanged in this process licked their wounds and continued to play their roles as party members to ensure the success of the party at all levels. In what will go down as one of the most keenly contested elections in recent Rivers history, with formidable candidates like Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the vibrant youth driven Labour Party (LP), PDP emerged victorious across board except for Phalga Constituency 1 that was lost to the Labour Party. (Not that you did not loose in some other LGA’s but let’s stick to the official figures declared by INEC).
It begs the question, why then do you want to burn down Rivers State, when everyone who now holds political office emerged through a process designed and endorsed by you? Is it that you do not care about Rivers people and you are all about yourself? If so, I am forced to believe that those around you are not telling you the truth. The truth being that in a state where your words were law; where houses and businesses could be demolished or closed down without any recourse to legalities, where Executive Orders could be deployed to stifle the opposition, that your popularity is now at an all-time low. Probably because they are afraid of you, or of losing the benefits they gain from you, they fail to tell you that what you might perceive as a battle against your successor, has slowly but gradually degenerating into a battle against Rivers State and Rivers people. You know, there is a popular saying that, a man can cook for the community and the community will finish the food, but when a community decides to cook for one man, the reverse is the case.
LEAVE FUBARA ALONE
You have gone on and on about being betrayed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. You point fingers forgetting that some of those same fingers quick to spot betrayals point straight back at you. It is not Governor Fubara that has betrayed the PDP by working against it in the just concluded General Election, and working with the opposition at the State and Federal level to destabilise the party. It is you, Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that betrayed Rivers people by instigating a political crisis with propensity to escalate ethnic tensions in Rivers State. It is you Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that has declared himself God over all in Rivers State and has no qualms with burning the state to the ground to prove a point. It is you Honourable Minister. It is you Honourable Minister who told the world that the APC was a cancer and you can never support a cancerous party. It is you Honourable Minister who ended up facilitating the emergence of the same “cancerous” APC that has accelerated the economic decline of this country and further impoverished our people with no remorse. All so you can be a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory? The lack of self awareness is gobsmacking.
Some days back I came across a video where you talked about death and how you do not cry when you hear about the death of some people because you have no idea what might have caused it considering many a politician swear “over dead bodies” and still go back on their words. Those words made me think, and I could see the reason behind them. You see, in chosing to be God in the affairs of Rivers people, you have closed your eyes and ears to reason; you see nothing and hear nothing that can cause you to rethink on the path you have chosen. In your quest to “show Fubara” you have unwittingly united a vast majority of Rivers people behind him, so much that even those who despised him because of you, now like or love him, because of you too. In your scheming, I will advise you not to forget that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”.
Note that the war which you have or are waging against Governor Fubara, has gone beyond being merely political as you might see in your minds eye. It is now one that, fortunately for some and unfortunately for others, has evolved into a war against Rivers people. It is good to point out that no one has taken a stand against Rivers people and won. No one has gone against God and won. In your defiant characteristic manner, it will be unfortunate if you believe your own hubris and that of those around you on the possibility of you being the first to successfully go against Rivers people. It will be a needless gamble; one where if you win you create more enemies for yourself than you can withstand on your political journey, and if you lose, your legacy becomes an inglorious and irredeemable one in Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria at large. For your sake as regards posterity, it is my greatest wish that you have a moment of sobriety and a deep reflection and introspection on this path you have chosen.
Honourable Minister, sir, what is left of your legacy is on the brink of being completely desecrated and relegated to the dustbin of our political history, and it will be a sad end to what I will say has been a wonderful political career that many can only dream of. The ball is in your court, and may God Almighty have mercy on us all and forgive us for our shortcomings.
Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson
Dr Pidomson is former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and former member, Rivers State House of Assembly.
In 2015, I made a conscious decision to invest my financial resources, my time, and energy into supporting Nyesom Wike’s gubernatorial campaign. I poured my heart and soul into ensuring Nyesom Wike emerged victorious even at the risk of my personal safety.
Again in 2019, I doubled down on my commitment. I invested a significant amount of money to procure campaign outfits for all twenty-three Local Governments Areas of Rivers State. I spared no expense in supplementing Wike’s election efforts in my own local government, and once again putting myself at great risk to safeguard the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
However, despite my unwavering loyalty and sacrifices, I found myself abandoned and forgotten by Wike. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he failed to acknowledge my contributions or fulfill his promises and agreements. Even as a former Deputy Governor, Wike denied me my severance benefit.
My investment in Wike’s governorship was not just financial – it was a commitment of passion, dedication, and belief in a better future for Rivers State. Yet, his leadership style of dishonesty, greed, drunkenness and rash abuse of senior citizens brought me nothing but disappointment, misery and losses.
By the grace of God, today I speak not as a victim, but as a hero. I have accepted my losses, and I have moved on. And as I reflect on my experience, I cannot help but urge Wike to do the same and allow peace and development to reign in Rivers State.
Nyesom Wike, when you speak of investing in Governor Sim Fubara’s election, remember those like me who also invested in you. Remember the sacrifices I made, the risks I took, and the promises and agreements you left unfulfilled.
It is time for you, Wike, to let go of the past and allow Governor Sim Fubara the breathing space he needs to lead Rivers State forward. Allow him to focus on the challenges of good governance and the aspirations of the people. Spare him these unwarranted and ill-conceived political manoeuvrings founded on personal agenda and not for general good of Rivers State and her people.
I may have lost my investment on Wike, but I have not lost hope in the future of Rivers State. And together, we will continue to strive for a brighter tomorrow.
Long Live the Governor to Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara!
Long Live the Good People of Rivers State!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Engr Ikuru is former Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
Tele Ikuru
