Understanding Youth Conflict And Sustainable Initiative Model (Part 2)

NIGER DELTA MILITIA PSYCHOLOGY THE ART OFto:
WAR- The economic emancipation and the empowerment
In most of the militant camps, there is an ideology ofof our youth, women (especially the widow) and the
warfare that is preached and accepted by a handfuleconomically challenged groups through skill acquisition
of militant of less than 21% not synonymous withfor various trades and ventures.
criminality or any form of Negative acts other than- The establishment of an ICT (information
for the emancipation of all the communities within thetechnology centre) to improve the ICT knowledge of
Niger-Delta region. The occidental philosophy is, in liferural and urban dwellers, towards accessory
one must be a warrior, and war (either by conspiracyopportunities locally and internationally.
or in collaboration) requires stamina achievable in its- The creation of a business environment and
entire ramification by all means necessary. As strongeconomic culture which will address the absence of
as this 21% are, while others (the 52% militantentrepreneurial know-how among the youths
criminal, bunkerers, and collaborators in high places)- To stimulate the creative imaginations, talent and
may find beauty in endless dreams, the latter finds itcuriosity of our youth in the pursuit for development
in all its shapes, figures and colours in reality andand excellence.
persistent struggle for survival and liberation of the- To promote self-reliance, particularly among our
several communities being sabotaged by those withyouth and women, thereby eliminating idleness with
Presidential and Federal government immunity.its attendant vices.
The truth is underpinning in a relationship between- To enhance the socio-economic status of our local
the 52% of the criminals and the conspirators, theypeople.
have forgotten that their limits can set up predicatedRecently, from my intelligent report Niger-Delta
ethnic cleansing, set the stage for another civil war.states, urban centres, and local governments have
The master strategists have seen the Nigerianbeen engendered by the resource which has been
problematic economic schematic from mountaintop oflavishly kept in the dark for too long, with explosive
several debates, and critical observation of wholemobilization of NYIF peace process and the
government. It is clear, that both side will lose, yetproliferation of sustainable development paradigm.
more success is to certain groups, which I mayThe group or any other groups for that matter must
somewhat classify in this book; yet in war, there ishave to come up with articulate models; which should
no victor. The jigsaw puzzle can be unraveled like thebe of economic and political values, and the network
cat; they are aware and looking for the perfectcoverage area cannot be undermined - it is part of
economy of motion and gesture in the way to givethe success stories that state governments and the
their blows the greatest force with the leastFGN may adopt in their political card's scoring
expenditure of effort. The Militant Groups from alltechniques. It is based primarily on the premise that
indication are ready to give the insensitive federalthe already processed model will for the first time be
government a good fight. They also realize that ifexperimented in line with the rational behind the
they are to fall, they will do so with gallantry andstatistical work ability of the model.
ferocity, and not as cowards.In the pursuit of the above objectives, the NYIF has
Although the Amnesty package was a welcomeestablished a 'Targeted Economic empowerment and
development on the negotiation and conflictSustainability framework,' under which the overall
resolution process of the federal government and allobjectives will be realizable. This was created in view
restive groups in the area; only if the right words areof streamlining all activities designed for
used, and from a standpoint, it is not clear if theimplementation under the programmer. The targeted
government understands the common grounds foreconomic empowerment and sustainability framework
reconciliation. For the Amnesty truce to work, the(TEESF) is structured into three operational branch of
both party must shoulder certain blames, and mustthe NYIF, namely,
take responsibility for atrocity perpetuate on theBureau for skills acquisition, Bureau on business
innocent and to the communities over time. Reasonsdevelopment, Bureau for Small and Medium scale; and
why Asari Dokubo went haywire on thethey have been so named "Bureau" for convenient
lukewarmness of the federal government to acceptusage.
fault, and declare state of emergency on the regionBUREAU FOR SKILLS ACQUISITION
for immediate development as compensation for theThe framework for the realization and
age-long deprivation, genocide, environmentalimplementation of the proposed bureau in the social
degradation and injustice; government should call up aterm will be dialogued in the context of the overall
genuine sovereign national conference in order toNYIF communities' sustainable development agenda.
deliberate and reconcile all ethnic, economic andHowever this bureau shall be responsible for the
socio-politico bitterness. If this presidency is sinceretraining of various categories of unskilled and
enough, the gaps between the people of the region,semi-skilled youths and women for self-employment,
the federal and proposal for development of theas well as retooling and educating them for specific
area can be closed. Both parties must sue for Peaceneeds of the manpower market.
and tranquility.Studies carried out in this model indicated that
In militant camps today, agenda have beenbusiness often located or expanded wear cluster
compromised things have fallen apart, reasons why(similar business, input supplies, customer base, etc)
the centres could not hold for this long. With Atekevertically increase economic growth, this is impossible
tom, Soboma George, Soboma Johnson and co onwithout overall empowerment process. From previous
my end; with Tom Polo, Henry Okah on the otherstudies it has shown that a targeted economic
end, while Asari Dokubo and others yet on anotherdevelopment often lead to more effective use of
end could grieve the bitter horse wipe. While I mayscarce local and community resources. These facts
have had first hand information on situation as regardpresent a targeted approach to local economic
current activities in these camps with my very limitedgrowth index, leading to efforts of several potential
intelligent network, I have concurrently loss thedata/information sources. An economy is composed
motion and gesture for the actual master plan withof all the households and businesses within the
the main zones of the intelligent reports. Howevercommunity space and their numerous functions,
subtle, it is necessitated by the available and limitedinteractions, and change through time, as expressed
resource and manpower. With the right finding,in the holistic psyche of any existing society,
results are as ripe as a drop fruit from the tree top.Niger-Delta state inclusive.
In my report, I am aware that these militants (moreIn view of this bureau, the group will be able to work
than 21%) have been exhausted in terms ofpartner with other NGOs to implement the proper
resources, but not in manpower; still the 52% indulgesensitization of the frame work within the ambit of
in all known atrocity in the area, such as kidnappingthe group master plan. There is already a cooked
and vandal have in all ramification both resources andprerequisite model above board, while there is need
manpower, with their major supports fromto also work with government's existing models is
multinationals corporations who are themselvesalready in place, as group must concurs with the
cronies in this widespread international conspiracy,philosophy of the seven point Agenda of the present
haven be cut temporary because of ferventadministration.
observation and monitory of non-governmentalBUREAU ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
agencies. While the 21% recognizes and appreciatedIf sustainable development truly evolved from a
their limits, there are things they can never do,specific planning of today and tomorrow in order to
talents they will never have, loft goals they will nevermeet the required challenges, goals and the benefit
reach; that hardly bothers them. As ferociousof social economic and political awareness. Then with
warriors they focus on what they have the strengththe concretization agenda of the bureau, a balance
that they do possess and that which they must usewill be reached between people with various
creatively; knowing when to slow down, to renew,economic states and in all level of the society in the
to retrench and retreat, they outlaw their opponents.utilization of the amenities and scarce resources.
They play for the long-term, because by theirFrom previous studies it was discovered that such
establishment and oath, they respect the wishes anddimension centers on the ecological and cultural
aspiration of the people which they represent andtrends of the people. For any development to be
fight to death for.called sustainable it must contain the perspective
There ware time when their calculation and strategiestransformation of the general solution of Ecology,
misfire; what had seem to them during the earlyculture and local natures; this is incomplete without
years of Kaiama Declaration of 1999, the Ogoni Crisisthe participation of all stakeholders in the process.
genocide of 1992, the Ijaw/Itsekeri ethnic crisis ofIn practice, the bureau will sever as the storehouse
late 1990s, and IYC agitation of 2000 - 07, and otherfor business ideas. It will offer guidance and
numerous campaign has ignite the beast of conflictconsultancy services for business development. In
across the Niger Delta region in relation fair share ofessence, this bureau will teach our women and
resource control and development, a farce brokeredyouths the arts of starting and succeeding in
between the region, the multinationals and thebusiness.
government. The Militant groups are aware that notBUREAU ON SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
everything can be foreseen, the master-strategistThe Niger-Delta labour market is at the moment
amongst them have known how to pick their battlesundergoing a shift towards a pattern that reflects a
carefully, along with their ability to know when andmore contingent employment economy. Vocational
how to quit. This honor has preserved them till thisrehabilitation service providers are gradually
day in their engagement militarily of the Federalreconsidering their current practices and strategies
government. Although there have been clamour ofwhich are in tune with emerging trends.
criminality perpetuated by them in the name ofConsequently, most global economies of today are
militancy and somewhat thwarted emancipation, theirmarked by an interrelated environmental and
funding has been genuine even though Limited anddevelopmental crisis in their overall economic trends,
Transparency International attested to this facts withas such; Niger-Delta states government, philanthropist
regard to the UNO's fireman policy.and stakeholders should articulate models to deal with
The 21% may have agreed and concurred with thiscommunity issues. Some of these crises are rooted in
advocacy of warfare, they have controlled their pridethe structural dynamics of an economic model which
and anger, despite the death toll in severalis centered on profit rather than the promotion of
communities within the region by the insensitivethe welfare of communities.
action of the joint task force (JTF), and the inhumanIn line with the above enumerated discourse, the
Arial bombing that have claimed more than 1,162 lives,bureau will provide a platform for accessing capital to
displaced more than 2430 people and destroyedpromising business and commercial initiatives to
properties worth Millions of naira in the just concludedestablish small and medium scale ventures. It is
Gbaramatu saga. As servants and puppets of theenvisaged however that micro finance banks,
conspirators both the federal, State/Localcommittees on loans (philanthropy), corporate civic
government and the JTF have done the dirty workresponsibility by multi-national companies and private
of these blood-thirsty clowns called the bigwigs, orcorporate/NGO bodies shall play a crucial role in the
the "Blue Blood". More to our surprises, almost 80%realization of the objectives of the NYIF as they shall
of the 52% criminals in the Niger-Delta have beenbe confronted for partnership. Various models of
infested with the "Share the National Cakedevelopments are particularly manifested in local
syndrome" due to greed and selfish gains, 90% ofcontent to considerably alleviate poverty; this is also
the 21% have stick to their aims and objectives.a condition for the NYIF'S community development
They have not allowed anger and pride to overtakeparadigms.
their powers of reason and limitedness; they havePOVERTY STRICKEN DYNAMICS
not fallen into bogus offers and irreparable trapsDue to the long periods of marginalization in the
because they certainly knew when to stop.derivation formula, the states of Niger Delta are
So far, fighting economically on both sides have builtcomprises of civil servants, and medium scale
an angle of momentum. The Federal Government,enterprises in scarce levels and location of business.
Amnesty group, Transparency International andThe situation has developed over time without
stakeholders should think of finding common groundsolution to community ills, such as community people
for possible negotiation, thereby creating a perfectoriented policies and programs. The better part of
balance between what both groups are capable ofthe work of the various bureaus that has been
and the task of economic development of the region.structured by the Executive of the NYIF in line with
Since it is an internal insurgency network, the militarythe Niger Delta Agenda (NDA) is to curb poverty,
should diverse a way of peaceful negotiationilliteracy and social ignorance. In the past, the above is
between the militants. Best of all, the perpetuatorsresultant and often led to destructive consequences,
of this conflict, of which focal point is thepoverty, diseases, and deforestation. Akwa-Ibom,
multinationals and pillars of oil hegemony, should notRivers, and Cross-River states are a reflection of the
shy away from the problem which they out ofaforesaid consequences, as seen in the use of
technical problems caused. Instead, they shouldcitizens are house boys and girls and other forms of
establish a proper community relations and conflicteconomic deprivation of its citizens.
management units. Expatriate should be trained inAt the moment, there is a great disparity in wealth,
conflict management and community relation so as towhich must be balanced at all cost through
equip them with ready knowledge of avertingsustainable development in various local governments
problems developed in communities by virtue of theirand communities across the states of the country,
explorative activities on the one hand, while theof which emergency situation on the Niger-Delta
powers that be who have established theirregion, the core western and eastern (Erosion driven)
stronghold on the blood and sweat of innocent Nigerand the north central of Nigeria, should urgently be
Deltans should not be left out. Though the Stick mayput into consideration. So far, the social, cultural,
smoke, yet it will never be burnt. As urgent aspolitical and economic injustice as a result of
possible, the FGN and stakeholders through theircorruption of public offices office holders, politically
various Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)elected representatives, is eating deep into the viable
networks and departments should provide a bettersustainable development pattern especially in the
and lasting solution other than the Amnesty packagedeprived and aggrieved Niger-Delta State, which has
to avert further distress in the region.indeed forced her youth to idleness and militancy.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TRUCEBy comparison, more than 62% of the funds
In our contemporary Nigerian society, we live in aallocated to the state are consumed by 38% of the
culture that promotes democratic value of being fairpopulation, vis-à-vis while 62% of local
to one and all, the importance of fitting to a group,environmental degradation is created by the same
and knowing how to cooperate with other people,38%, at which point the power and resources is also
and being able to resolve any types of conflict thatincreasing the concentration of wealth within richest
may arise peacefully without war within or without is38%, which amounts to a handful of civil servants
what guarantees peace. Let none at this mourningand public offer holders. The recurrent imbalances
moment be over confidence, the losses at both sidealso give rise to the Niger-Delta communities. Two
is immeasurable, and the federal government andcommunities in Akwa-Ibom was used by the group, is
every actor of this drama are incapacitated witha case study for the realization of the models already
economic resources. The innocent citizens, thedeveloped so far.
militants and federal government through itsOn partnership with both states, local governments,
blood-thirsty servants of doom (JTF) cannot be tooetc in private individuals, NGOs, multi-national
overconfidence of victory.indigenous companies etc in carryout these land able
By virtue of our national ethos, the actors weremodel. We intend to commence by introduce by
necessitate with ignorance and excesses, all theestablishing an economic empowerment programme
groups have involved in murder and any civilizedimmediately, which shall flag-off a series of skills
society, these groups should be sued and tried forsensitization workshops, semi-skilled and economically
war crime. There is no such action as protectingchallenge youths across the approval by donor bodies
internal and external security can make for the livesand agencies, mainly of artisans, primary and
of the innocent who have died for thesecondary school leavers and the physically
unconstitutional excesses of the government andchallenged, whose creativity and productive potentials
militant. Whatever the prime motives and agitation,to be harnessed and upgraded. Likewise, the
the death toll has ruled out any genuine index ofrefugees from Somali etc. that litters the streets of
success; neither will it make anyone go far. Wemajor towns across the regions will not be left out.
should be aware that the pull of emotion is inevitable,DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
to notice it when it is happening, and to compensateThe NYIF on sustainable development has with in the
for it when there is time.time frame developed a characterized effect of
The result toward peace and conflict management isemergency procedural effect of developing the
that, in all its primordial process, which in turn isNiger-Delta region and timed youths and women
galvanized in stages, it requires prospectiverespectively, the specialized process can delay the
dichotomy of interest that may arose the resourcecreation of a community economic development plan.
control discourse, the heart of which pervades ourWith the evolving of the NYIF into the scheme of
Federal uniqueness. Peace is a process, and if wethings, a structured analysis is necessary for
must end conflict and crisis, both religiously motivatedcommunities to realize their useful economic
and ethnically or socio-politically initiated, negotiation,potentials. Such analysis is useful for examining the
intervention and identification paradigm should be puteconomic make up of area and how those areas
into play in our contemporary Nigeria especially in therespond to internal and extends trends. Community
Niger Delta region, North Central and Middle Belt ofdevelopment is reliant on competent internal leaders
Nigeria; the causes of conflicts are deep rooted.in the accomplishment of set objectives and how it
Ideally the only solution to averting futurecan minimize obstacles poised by external
reoccurrence and predominant crisis is throughbureaucratic agencies. The NYIF is ready to engage
rigorous applications of the peace process paradigmcommunity leaders, heads and chiefs in the overall
(PPP - P3).actualization of our set goals. We are also aware of
Although scholars of non-violence and clinicalthe facts that effective and articulate leadership
mediation have stipulates in their peace processstructure will encourage community members to
model, that the only stages of identifying the causesidentify with recurrent local sustainable development
of conflict is through Community's Negotiation andagenda, and hence take necessary steps in
Resolution Engagement (CNRE). Even though it wasameliorating their situation. NYIF through its bureau
used before Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Manyhelp in training youth in certain leadership courses
others, in my several papers and publication, it isbodies, NGOs, multinational companies etc in
evident that P3 and CNRE when appropriately appliedcommunity leadership structure.
will produce far yielding results in conflictTherefore through this orientation and leadership
management. The Federal Government of Nigeriatraining exercise, an economic analysis of Niger-Delta
(FGN) is pious with several proposals by scholars oncommunities, coupled with strategies development
peace and conflict management, yet in addition toplants providing the framework to combat common
this, it can make use of numerous academic yetlocal issues such as are enshrined in the orbit of the
empirical landmarks. While it is impossible to availcommunity development framework (CDF).
ourselves with general situation of a conflict, we endDEVELOPMENTS STAGES
up losing our hold on reality and reflecting on solution.As a bid to answer some of the militating economic
This is certainly because we have not reflected backissues, the group in future partnership with NGOs,
ward on the root cause of the conflicts or Schism;government bodies have, with clear hopes
we have only dwell in daydream of short-termunderscore some of the vital steps to be followed in
solution.solving the ills of sustainable development.
In other online articles and papers on the P3 andSUSTAINABLE CONTINUTY
CNRE it was made clear that Africa union (AU) is onlyWith the urgency to transform the youth of the
playing the gimmick, and consequent on the fact thatNiger-delta communities under the aegis of The
the initial goals of the AU in its outlined articles is onNational Youth Initiative Forum (NYIF) - a youth
two major agenda:-o Promoting Africa's peace/unityenterprenurerial organization, through it ideologies has
ando Economic development in its entire ramification.suggested the need for groups to make initial
It is imperative to note that the AU is yet to fulfill itsdecision in revamping our national federal pledges, so
pristine objectives; and it has also failed to copy theas to secure the nation's hero's past. Among the
progress made by ECOWAS in reaching anagenda is to build a community strategy and help to
Africancentric Peace Process (APP). I thereforegalvanize the awareness necessary for youth
wonder if the AU has brokered any peace processcentered sustainable growth. At this point, the
so far, since its inception.communities will have to decide if benefits of such
RECONSTITUTING VIABLE SUSTANABLEprocess are worth the effort before implementation.
DEVELOPMENTNGOs, as well as NAPEP could be contracted to
In the just concluded economic summit in calabar,partner in their advisory and technical capacity of the
organized by the south-south governors and theproject.
federal government in lieu of looking into some majorENGAGEMENT RULE MODEL
MDG plans. From the scheme of things, in a paperPlans are not if a handful of individuals are involved.
delivered to the Institute of Conflict resolution andBroad community support is critical, and wider the
community development; a theme formulate as anrange of participation, the greater the talent pool
approach to curb the rhetoric family with sabotage,available. Such may, plus or minus involve the public
by engaging the youths and the economicallysector group- civil society, private sector
challenge. It is in this conception that The "Nigerianrepresentation, volunteer organization etc, should be
Youth Initiative forum" was born. Although still in itsencouraged to participate. Such models, was first
sketch-board, yet with proper implementations in lineintroduced in macrocosm by the group through the
with the sustainable development target; anysharing of eye-glasses area of Akwa-Ibom, an LGA in
government can sue for peace and development inthe Niger Delta region.
host communities, both in the Niger-Delta oil and gasPROVISION OF INCENTIVE TO PARTICIPATING
sabotaged zones, and the religiously aggrieved people.YOUTH AND WOMEN
In my theories as articulated, it will go a long way inParticipation in any event either for personal or
answering questions of utmost economic viability.collective development is of consideration, people
With regard to the master plan, the application of thetends to participate in event that more rewarding,
theory will only see the light of the day if its missionboth in principal and in practice than those of little
statement is respected.significant which are usually long-term Kurt lumen
However, as I advanced in the NYIF mission(1980). In support of this view, the government and
statement towards corporate implementation and theNYIF through a committee should also approve the
preliminary interpretation of the 7+2 point Agenda, itpayment of stipends to all participations during the
is imperative that the Nigerian youth initiative forumtraining exercise.
(NYIF) if properly galvanized by the right powerThis will cause ten major trends which includes.
politics will not only nearly 76% youth converted and- Create increased participation in the exercise by
motivated crisis, but the sum-total of peace in theyouths and women across the region thereby
region. The NYIF has designed a model for thereducing to it's barest minimum, idleness, youth
proper execution of the 7+2 point agenda of the Yarmilitancy, prostitution and empowerment initiatives.
'Adua/Jonathan administration in the rural levels. As a- Help launder the success stories across the nation
non-profit establishment, its goal therefore should be,and globally, thereby increasing investment and
to collaborate with other donors, such as the NDDC,economic development of the regions by indigenous
NAPEEP & state/local government in reaching itsand non-indigenous investors.
maximum goals as entertained in this administration's- It enhances peace and unity in the region.
mission statement.- It will enhance rural-urban transformation and lead,
This organization is a major citadel in my master planto successive urban decoration.
and efforts to address some of the seven point- It creates and generates even distribution of wealth
Agenda which hinders the youth and the generaland the use of scarce resources.
capacity to major players in the economic- It boosts the entrepreneurial viability of the youths
development of the marginalized Niger-Delta and theand women towards self-reliance and independence.
religiously troubled Northern Nigeria.- It helps in the building up of new cultural and
In the NYIF mission statement, I have laid out in clearecological development, as perception of participants
and concrete terms the NYIF vision of providingtowards marginalization, conflicts, militancy,
opportunities for the youths of Niger-Delta to accessdeprivation would have be reduce to the lowest
economic fortunes through micro-finance, cooperativedegeneration of the word. Youth and women
ventures, business and commercial activities. Thebeneficiary at the end of the day, haven successfully
mission of the NYIF will be to create the enablinggraduated from the institute, will be equipped with
environment and provide the necessary support to avast entrepreneurial skills, sent-off grants and the use
large percentage of the Niger-Delta of our population,of micro-finance loans will enable them engage in
especially the youths and women groups, to bemeaning employment.
engaged in productive economic activities for the- It reduces government work load and enhances the
good of all. This is in line with stake holder's drivenumber of fax payers, hence a booming economy as
towards addressing the marginalization and economic,everybody will be a co-participant in the government
socio-political and psychological disparity over time;of the day.
both in the insurgent and economically deprived oil- It reduces poverty as well as creates wealth and
rich Niger-Delta.self-reliance.
The following are some of the objectives of the- It boosts the overall standard of living.
NYIF is properly implemented and given the- On successful completion of the training
necessary attention, which is needed in anyprogramme, participants will be assisted with take
developing society of today. And these objectives-off grants and would be encouraged to access loans
and visions as I have articulated towards theform selected state micro-finances.
successes of NYIF, and they includes but not limited