Three or four phases can be identifies in the evolution of the Niger delta crisis: the first is the period of colonosation when the object was a different kind of oil; palm oil. The desire to control that trade and the production and extraction of that oil made the niger delta a contested terrain and a zone of conflicts.
The second phase is the discovery of crude oil and gas, and the subdequent inhuman and unconscionable exploration and production processes.
The third is the environmental degradation occassioned by oil and gas exploration activities, which destroyed the livelihoods of the peoples of the Niger delta and thus exacerbated the crisis.
The fourth is the emergence of the Niger delta resistance in its modern form. Ofcourse even in period of oil palm the peoples of the delta resisted the military expeditions to conquer them. The modern resistance can also be traced back to the 12 days revolution of Isaac Adaka Boro in 1966.
All the recent expressions of that resistance since the 1980’s have derived inspiration from that bold attempt.
It is important to note that to resolve the Niger delta crisis requires a comprehensive and integrated approach which combines economic, environmental, livelihoods, social and political initiatives.
Without an end to environmental degrading processes, without the restoration of the health of the environment through its rehabilitation; without pursuit of a process which focuses on livelihoods restoration and enhancement; without a massive publics works program which focuses on rebuilding and making available basic infrastructures and services in the Delta, targetting environmental rehabilitation, provision of affordable housing, roads, transportation, education, health services, and using direct labour of youths; without putting in place a political structure and process which deliberates encourages and ensures the adequate representation of the peoples of the delta in local and national governance; there can be no resolution of the crisis.
What this means is that the military approach will not help, it will further compound the crisis. What is called for is the development approach, the restructured state becoming leading directly the devlopment process and directly provisioning the basic needs of the people through accessible social services provision.
To achieve this requires mass organising and mobilising of a scale greater than it was in the last 2 decades of the last century.
This requires a pan niger delta organisation which will drive a pan niger delta movement for social transformation.
This pan niger delta movement should work towards establishing a pan niger delta assembly which will negotiate with the Nigerian state.
All of these calls for the Reconstitution and reformation of the Pan Niger Delta Resistsnce Movement - CHIKOKO.
This is the time to act. Once again we need to scientific, organised, conscious and massive return to the streets and creeks.
Let us mobilise the masses into the streets and let us silence the guns and reverse the militarization of the Niger Delta.
A coordinated campaign which daily expresses itself on the streets of the Niger delta, simultaneously across the region, with eachj state and ethnic nationality establishing its own assemblies for the coordination of the protests, and with each of these sending delegates to a pan niger delta assembly will win the battle for us.
I CHALLENGE EVERYONE INTERESTED IN WINNING THE BATTLE FOR RESOURCE CONTROL AND SELF DETERMINATION IN THE NIGER DELTA TO HEED THIS CALL, TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

YES WE CAN!

Encyclopedia2008