Letters & Communiqùes
Ethnic Nationalities Organisations

Communiqùe:
Statement by The Urhobo National Association (TUNA), North America on the Current Situation in Nigeria

The Urhobo National Association (TUNA), North America

For Immediate Release
Contact: Dr. Paul Egbo, Director of Publicity
Phone: (248) 332-4184
Fax: (248) 332-3329
Email: okugbe@aol.com.

April 3, 2000
The Urhobo National Association (TUNA), North America is the umbrella organization of Urhobo and Isoko people resident in the United States and Canada.

Like many Nigerian ethnic and political groups, TUNA welcomed the return of Nigeria to civil rule in May last year with cautious optimism. We had hoped that the new civilian administration would learn from the grave and checkered history of Nigeria to make amends toward the peaceful coexistence of the verily disparate peoples who presently occupy the Nigerian geographic space.

Members of TUNA have followed patiently events in Nigeria since "democracy" returned to Nigeria on May 29, 1999 and make the following observations:

1. We are deeply concerned about the continuing environmental devastation in the Niger Delta, the exploitation and pauperization of its peoples, as well as the use of the same old carrot-and-stick approach in dealing with their genuine and legitimate concerns.

   Although members of TUNA do not condone the use of illegitimate methods such as piracy and the murder of innocent people to demand legitimate rights of the people, we strongly denounce the indiscriminate use of military force by any government against masses of equally innocent citizens such as the Odi massacre under the guise of "maintaining law and order."

2. We unequivocally condemn the sadism and barbarism with which Nigerians hack one another to death at the slightest opportunity especially after the country had undergone one of the worst civil wars in Africa only thirty years ago.

   The recent violence in parts of Northern Nigeria under the false pretence of religion and the concomitant reprisals in Southeastern Nigeria are the result of the overtly expressed claim by a section of the country to the ownership of Nigeria which is repulsive to other sections of the country.

3. We are not oblivious of the North/South divide or the regional, ideological, gender, class and other differences within the Nigerian body politic. However, historical experience proves beyond reasonable doubt that ethnicity and religion are the major underpinning factors of Nigeria's perennial problems.

   For example, while Islamic fanaticism was exploited for the recent riots in Kaduna and other Northern Nigerian cities, the retaliation in the Southeast was fueled more by ethnic hegemony rather than Christian zealotry or any other factor.

4. We repudiate the rapacious display of opulence by a few Nigerians who have clearly raped the people of the Niger Delta economically while most Nigerians, and our own people especially, wallow in abject poverty.

5. We are greatly dismayed that while some of the "elected representatives of the people" cry crocodile tears over the incessant violence amongst Nigerians, a majority of them seem to be more concerned about their vaunted positions rather than true leadership. The resistance by many legislators against calls for a national dialog in the face of alarming and senseless bloodbaths is a case in point.

6. It is clear to us that the existing political structure of Nigeria is itself contributory to the perennial unrest in the country. Today, Nigeria isa "federation" only in name. A true federation derives its power and legitimacy from the federating units.

   But since 1966, successive military regimes (and the Shagari civilian administration) have increasingly concentrated power and resources in the central government. This has steadily stripped the states and local governments of any measure of autonomy.

7. Ostensibly in an attempt to address the glaring lopsided nature of the political structure of Nigeria, various military regimes since General Yakubu Gowon have embarked on the creation of more states and local governments.

   However, during the regimes of Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha, state-creation became a tool for rewarding political cronies and for punishing those viewed as political adversaries; the makeup of the present Delta State is a clear illustration.

   Moreover, the proliferation of states has made complete mockery of the original purpose. Some of the present states are economically not viable. Consequently, such states have become parasites to the central government, and leeches to other states.

8. The combined result of an overbearing, paternalistic central government and the proliferation of states is that successive central governments have manipulated the revenue allocation formula with a steady erosion of the principle of derivation. Thus, while by 1953, 100% of revenue went to the region or state of derivation, by the 1980s, only 1.5% of revenue accrued to the area of production.

9. The constitution is a contractual agreement between the constituent units of any polity. It is the foundation upon which all other structures and institutions of a true democracy are erected. In a federation, the drafting and ratification of the constitution is the sacred right of the people.

   The "1999 Constitution" of Nigeria was crafted by the military and was never even put to a plebiscite. The current tinkering with the constitution by a selected "Review Committee" or the National Assembly whose members have demonstrated vested personal interests is no different from what the military regime of General Abubakar did. That apart, it is ridiculous for a legislature to draft or "review" a constitution for itself.

The foregoing observations and others have, once again, brought Nigeria to the precipice.

These are issues that can no longer be swept under the carpet as they threaten the very existence of Nigeria as we know it today. Therefore, we Urhobo and Isoko people resident in North America:

1. Join other concerned Nigerians in calling for the immediate convening of a Sovereign National Conference for the various nationalities in the Nigerian geographic space to exhaustively discuss and provide solutions to the issues above and others.

2. Call for the restructuring of Nigeria with the ethnic nationalities as the building blocks. If Nigeria must remain one, then equality and respect for the life and rights of every citizen must be ensured.

3. Demand the re-establishment of a true federal system in which the constituent units are guaranteed autonomy, self determination and control of their lives and resources.

4. Reject any revenue allocation formula which denies our people the benefit of their resources. We feel insulted by suggestions of magnanimity on the part of the central government in raising revenue allocation based on derivation to 13%.

   As happens in any true federal system, each federating unit of Nigeria should control 100% of the revenue it generates and pay the appropriate taxes to the central government. We demand an immediate return to that principle.

   And, in particular, we call for the immediate abrogation of the obnoxious Land Use Decree which has defrauded our people of control of their resources.

5. In solidarity with other nationalities of the Greater Niger Delta, totally reject the status of third class citizens to which our peoples have been reduced. We demand redress of the injustices, human rights abuse, environmental devastation, and the neglect of the oil-producing area and its peoples by successive Nigerian governments.

6. Determined to work with other nationalities of the Greater Niger Delta with similar interests in asserting our rights and self-determination. We applaud and support the continuing efforts of Niger Delta organizations at home and abroad to work together toward the good of our various peoples.

7. Call on all Urhobo and Isoko political leaders, traditional rulers, elected representatives and others to become sensitive to our common problems and actively involved in seeking our collective interests as a people.

Issued by:

The Directorate of Publicity
The Urhobo National Association, North America
P. O. Box 431663
Pontiac, MI 48341, USA.