Niger Delta's recurring controversies

Book: Friends and Enemies of  the Niger Delta

Author: Jeremiah Egbemo Ifie

Publisher: Designers Palace and Azuka Books Incorporation, Lagos

Book Reviewer: Adjekpagbon Blessed

Friends and Enemies of the Niger Delta, is a compilation of all the views of Comrade Joseph Angodeme Evah, Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group and former Publicity Secretary, Ijaw National Congress (INC). The book mirrors the Niger Delta problems, challenges and the way forward.

The book was edited by late Jeremiah Egbemo Ifie, who was a lecturer in the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan. The compilation was first published in 2005 and re-edited in 2006. All the issues raised in its content are still as fresh as ever as Joseph Evah, whose activities of quest for rights and betterment of life for the people of the oil producing region forms the musings in the book.

It contains 400 pages made up of 19 chapters. The briefs of Evah and the editor/author are stated in the pages before the contents page. The mission of the compilation, according to Ifie is: "The total emancipation of the Niger Delta from social, economic, political and educational bondage."

Ijaw and the Niger Delta in Nigerian History, is theme of discussed in Chapter One. It is a historical analysis of who the Ijaw people are, which is an adaptation from a paper delivered as a key note address at the 'Boro Day' celebration of the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas (INNA) at the Hilton, Woodbridge, New Jersey, on May 24, 2003.

The first publication signed by Evah on behalf of the Ijaw National Congress that led to his first detention by security agents during the Abacha regime is the concern of Chapter Two. Under the theme Ijaw Declare War on Oil Firm, Evah says: "Everything in this world comes and goes; the oil wealth cannot be an exception. When such moment comes, what do we tell our children? The future generation will never forgive us."

Ijaw Youths vow to resist River Niger Dredging is the topical issue of Chapter Three. Evah explains; "The dredging of the lower Niger Delta is a time bomb to our fragile ecosystem which we must resist with our last blood." He further discloses that, "Our youths are prepared along the water ways. We are not only going to line up along the dredging routes, but we are also going to use the oil companies workers as shield in terms of dredging ourselves." He is of the opinion that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is a smokescreen.

The exploit of Nigeria in the world beauty pageant won by Miss Agbani Darego, in 2001, which brought pride to the people of the entire black race is the meat of Chapter Four. Other issues raised in this chapter are under sub-themes such as Ijaw Seek Support For New Local Government in Warri; Ijaw Congratulates Clark, Dafinone; Ijaw Ready For Peace; Ijaw Students Should Embrace Peace; Group Applauds Ijaw Women Over Seizure of Oil Wells; Ijaw Condemns Biafra Map; Niger Delta Crisis; Ijaw Ready For Dialogue; Ijaw Mourn Brisibe; Marshal Harry: Ijaw Group Indicts Federal Government; and Ijaws Console NUJ Over Drowned Journalists, and others.

In Chapter Five with the thematic headline, Niger Delta Breeds Bread and Butter Politicians, Evah in his no nonsense manner, lampoons some sycophantic politicians of the Niger Delta region. He further points out that without a visionary leadership both at the federal and state government levels, no appreciable progress can be made by the NNDC or any other ministry set up to look into the problems and needs of the Niger Delta people. This section tackles the issue of the newly established Niger Delta Ministry. He expresses fear that it does not go the same way like NDDC and OMPADEC.

The social crusader expresses his joy over the day Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri mixed together freely to organise a boat regatta on Warri River, as a common source that binds them together. Hence, the people of the Niger Delta should cooperate to find a common ground to live and love one another as a people united by not only water, but also by blood through intermarriages over the years. He says it is symbolic for Warri, the engine room and heartbeat of the Niger Delta. The human rights activist is a man of peace, love and cooperation, judging from his general concern for the people of different ethnic nationalities in the oil producing region of the country. If such spirit of good neighbourliness can be inculcated and displayed by our communities, local and national leaders, discrimination about where you come from and the religion you practice will no longer act as clog in the wheel of our national harmony and development.

From Chapter Six to 15, different topical issues that are very engaging are highlighted with eloquent sagacity. Such issues include, Leadership Problem of Niger Delta; On the Destruction of Odi; and Finding A Lasting Solution to Niger Delta Youths Restiveness, and so on.

Chapters 16 to 19 deals with miscellaneous issues. Social critics and environmental activists from the Niger Delta speak on topics such as Ijaw National Congress (INC); Constitutional-making and the struggle for resource control in Nigeria, amongst others. These issues are very thought provoking considering previous statements made by Evah in the past, which later turned out real.

Evah says the only solution to the Niger Delta problem is when the federal government, the oil companies and some flatterers claiming to be patriots of the Niger Delta stop telling lies, and make genuine efforts to develop the area to look like Abuja.

The book ends with a pictorial of the activist and some notable personalities from the Niger Delta and other regions of country such as, Miss Anne Kio Briggs, Director of Mobilization of Ijaw Monitoring Group; former governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; members of the Niger Delta Blind Students; former President of Arewa Youth Consultative Assembly; former Ndigbo Leader of Lagos and a host of others.

For those who are not well enlightened about the problems and degradation facing the Niger Delta people from time immemorial, Friends and Enemies of the Niger Delta is a good material to read. Experts working on issues concerning the Niger Delta will also find the book resourceful for study.

However, there are some shortcomings in the book. Typographical errors here and there and the non-specific identification of the Arewa President and Lagos Ndigbo leader by their proper names for better clarification in the pictorial pages are major flaws. Such errors need to be corrected during re-impression of the book. These errors notwithstanding, it is an eye-opening book which every individual who has the Niger Delta people's love at heart need to read.

                                                            END