There has been a long running conflict between the government of Nigeria and a rebel group known as Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta or “MEND” which has reduced oil output in the Niger Delta region by as much as 25% over the past year. Oil, by the way, that is controlled by a number of multinational oil companies, including Chevron, Shell Oil and Exxon Mobil. These companies have been accused of damaging the local environment. They have also been accused by human rights activists that they have been complicit in a number of human right abuses against the local population. A brief review of the nature and history of the conflict between the local populace in the Niger Delta and the Nigerian government and foreign oil companies can be read here.
Recently, the leader of the militants, Henry Okah was extradited from Angola to Nigeria where he presumably will face criminal charges. MEND is now seeking the help of George Bush in obtaining Okah’s unconditional release from Nigerian authorities and the removal of Nigerian troops from the Niger delta in exchange for negotiations:
In the open letter to President Bush, MEND said Nigeria was on the verge of entering its own mega-conflict which if allowed to erupt could have wider human and economic consequences. Commander Gafa confirmed the contents of the letter.
“I am speaking on behalf of the Joint Revolutionary Council. That letter was sent by the people in the creeks. I’m also a camp commander and as chairman of the Joint Revolutionary Council, we are not going to relent. We have told George Bush that he should advise the Nigerian president to withdraw its men from the streets of Niger Delta. We don’t need Nigerian army in our creeks. We have already a fine paramilitary team here,” Gafa said.
The letter to President Bush said the way forward toward lasting peace in the Niger Delta is the unconditional release of Henry Okah who was being held by Angolan authorities and believed to have been extradited to Nigeria. Gafa described Okah as MEND leader.
“That letter is correct. Henry Okah is not a criminal; Henry Okah is our brother. He’s a fighter, a freedom fighter. Nobody should call Henry Okah a criminal. He was arrested unlawfully in Angola, and we have told the Nigerian state to advise the Angolan government to release Henry Okah unconditionally,” he said.
Gafa said MEND is appealing to President Bush to pressure Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua and the Angolan government to release Okah.
“Bush should advise his counterpart in Nigeria. He should advise Umaru Yar’Adua; he should advise our leaders let them call the Angolan people to release Henry Okah and apologize to Doctor Ikeyor or else the sleeping dog will get up,” Gafa said.
I don’t know where they got the idea Our Dear Leader would ever agree to “diplomacy” since his usual gut response to any foreign policy issue is to send in the Marines (and the Army, Navy and Air Force, too). I suspect this group is merely availing itself of the opportunity to get some publicity for their cause, since Bush is touring Africa at the moment, though he has no plans to visit Nigeria. I imagine MEND leaders also assume that US forces are too stretched at the moment to respond to any heightened conflict in the region between MEND and Nigerian forces. So they must feel free to make this veiled threat to Bush to cut off further oil supplies from the Niger delta.
They may be right, but I would never misunderestimate our President when it comes to protecting the rights of major oil companies. And I imagine a President McCain would have a similar reaction. After all, he loves to sing about bombing Iran, so I doubt he would have any compunction about bombing impoverished Nigerians who are getting in the way of Oil company profits our freedoms.
