[allAfrica.com] [allAfrica.com_Sports] Why Warri War Has Not Ended, By Ritalori Ogbebor Vanguard (Lagos) ANALYSIS August 17, 2003 Posted to the web August 18, 2003 By Dayo Benson Despite efforts by both the Delta State Government and the Federal Government to douse the conflagration and mindless killings in Warri, the situation appears to have defied logical solution or so it seems. However, there are those who believe that the issue at the root of the festering crisis goes beyond what Nigerians are made to believe. Chief Ritalori Ogbebor, an Itsekiri prominent figure spoke to Sunday Vanguard on why Warri is still burning but she expresses hope that the war will end. Excerpts: Q: WHY is it that the crisis in Warri between the Ijaws and the Itsekiris appear to have defied solution? Well, it is becoming clearer why the Warri crisis has remained unsolved. It is now clear that unlike the claim of the Ijaws that the creation of local government was the problem, it is now clearer that it is not the local government. I think it is the expansionist ambition of the Ijaws to own the whole of the coast line because of the oil in the Niger-Delta. And like I have always said, the death of Ken Saro Wiwa made people feel sorry and created a lot of attention, attention of sympathy for the Ijaws. They capitalized on that and won the sympathy of the outside world that they have been neglected. But now, we know that it is not true because the Niger- Delta now know that the Ijaws are not fighting for neglect but they are fighting because they have ambition of taking over the whole of Niger Delta as their country. This, of course, has been made very clear through the two letters (they wrote), one to the queen, referring to certain treaties that they are the owners of Niger-Delta. But those treaties are false. They wrote to former U.S. President Bill Clinton claiming to be the owners of Niger-Delta but when you look throughout the world, every country has its coast line and in the coast line are states like Delta, Ondo, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa States. All these are coastal states. But here, what you hear is littoral states. If it is true that the Ijaws own the Niger-Delta, why are the littoral states talking about compensation? Littoral states So, where is the state of the Ijaw man that he is now talking about the Niger- Delta, all the nine states that are called the littoral states own all the areas along the Niger-Delta. Niger-Delta itself is not a swamp but collection of states whose areas River Niger flows through. These are the states that are called Niger-Delta. So, it is not an area for the Ijaws like they are making people to believe. Why are they now vehement about taking over this area, it is because of the oil. And why? It is because while the different states own the River Niger, it is the Ijaws who are fishermen. We all looked at them as just fishermen but incidentally, this is where all the oil pipelines are passing through. So, they come in contact with these oil pipes. But it appears that was not enough as they think there is much more to the oil pipes that are going through the Niger where they fish. It's not only the political interest which is very minimal. What is there is the money which is the economic interest. So, there are a lot of people now who are involved, that is why the war is not ending. There are a lot of influential men in this country now who are involved in illegal bunkering. So, this is a very big business and all these people are interested in what is going on in the Niger-Delta and of course, if there is peace, they would not be doing what they are doing now. So, there must be war, war, war. I am sure you know that the Itsekiris own all the villages in the Niger-Delta coast. In Delta State for instance, the Itsekiri people own the land in the three local governments. The Itsekiris respect the laws. I challenge anybody today who can say there is an Itsekiri man who is into bunkering. Having said that, the second one is that today, because of the oil, all the people there have seen money which as far as I am concerned is a mirage. The only two occupations in Delta today is illegal bunkering and politics. Politics brings money. Why? The whole money goes to whoever is in power and, therefore, they dish out the money. So, these boys who have no work and see that you could become a big man through politics are no longer interested in working.With this, nobody wants to go to the cities, everybody wants to converge in Warri because this is where the oil is circulating. Q: Will this war end? It will not end because all the boys are now used to big money, they ride big cars, with quick money from politics and that is it. It is now a matter of do or die. If there is nothing in politics, why should they be killing themselves. How can you roast a whole family in a house because of politics? And all these boys are armed, they are all badly armed. I will ask the government that they should turn around quickly because the Delta State used to be a state where you have palm kernels, rubber and timber to export, these things are still there and this is what we must do because he who lives by the sword must die by the sword. Q: Are you satisfied with the state's efforts in finding solution to the Warri crisis? Well, the state government say they are doing something, we wait and see the outcome of what they are doing. Q: Recently, the governor moved the seat of government from Asaba to Warri, all because of the crisis there, how do you see this? I don't think the movement is really significant. After all, George Bush is in America, controlling the whole world. So, the shift in itself does not mean anything for me per se. I don't see the significance but if that will help things psychologically, good, but I think that what we want is sincerity of purpose that they really want peace in Delta State. Q: How do you see the effort of the Federal Government so far? Remember that the President does not shift seat, he is in one spot and the army is geared through different sources, the government, police, army, SSS, and so on. But I think unfortunately, especially when some of the men as we got to know later, if they had told the President clearly when we went to him that the bunkering in Delta State is being done by his men, and it is these same men who are to give and feed the President with situation on the ground. Q: Illegal bunkering If those men have not fed him correctly, he cannot act correctly. But when we the women were tired and all of us went to him and told him the correct situation, he invited the different tribes in the area and the different tribes confirmed that there is illegal bunkering. Since then, the President has tried to do something. But I think that the Federal Government would have dealt more decisively with people who killed their neighbours for nothing. People who destroy the economy of the country, people who killed men of the armed forces. I think the Federal Government should have dealt with them more seriously because these issues are very vital to the growth of any country, the economy, human resources and the armed forces. All these crimes were committed against this country and the Federal Government just looks on. They were just deceiving themselves that the war was between the Itsekiris and the Ijaws. Until when they find out that the economy is no more there, it's gone, that is when they would realize how important the three local governments of Warri were. That the Federal Government is trying to take action now is not something I am happy about because the Itsekiris are roaming around in big cities with their children. A lot of them are dying and we have not been able to go back up till now to our homes. I think it is a disgrace to the Federal Government and I like to use this medium to tell the Federal Government that if they want the bloodshed to stop in Delta State and in Niger Delta, they should do what they have to do, they must maintain law and order because what all these look to me now is that the Federal Government is moving in there because of the oil. Take for instance, I was amused today, (Tuesday) with the story that the Scotland Yard stormed Delta State. What has Scotland Yard got to do with Delta State - the Nigerian government - they are not up to the task. It only shows that our governments are not capable of looking after their people whereas it was only one Briton that was kidnapped and for that, the whole of Scotland Yard stormed Delta State. The Itsekiris are being beheaded everyday and nothing is done. The other one is that they are now talking of US Marines moving into the Niger-Delta. As a conscious woman and someone who knows what the world is, it is a shame to allow US Marines to come and look after us than those people within the boundaries of this country. It means we have not got the ability to look after our people. So, we need US Marines to come here. Well, we all know the implications. But, however, as an Itsekiri woman, I welcome the idea because if the Federal Government cannot protect us, then, other people should come in, in trying to protect the oil industry, they may as well protect us, that is my hope. Therefore, I welcome the US Marines, if that will give a lifeline to the Itsekiris. Q: What are the elders from the various ethnic groups in the Niger-Delta doing to bring about a lasting peace in Warri? There really had not been a big fight in Warri until now. The Urhobos and the Itsekiris have been quarreling but they have never taken arms against themselves. It is only this time around that there is bloodshed. I hate it when people say Warri, Warri. Q: Kaiama declaration This problem is not Warri. But Warri is the headquarters of the three local governments that are producing this oil and they all know that the Itsekiris are not bunkerers, they know that they (Itsekiris) take solace only in the court of law and unless they clear these people out of sight, this bunkering cannot stop. Unless the main people understand that unless all the Urhobos wake up, once Urhobos are driven out, then, they have no say in Warri. But that is not enough for them to take arms against ourselves. We have never taken arms against ourselves, we talk and talk but when the new idea came; the Itsekiris were to be eradicated from the whole of that area to make way for the Ijaws to have a strong hold on Warri. But I want to tell you one thing, the day the Itsekiris get out, Urhobos will get out because the Ijaws will drive them out, that is the truth of the matter. The Urhobos know this. Take Gbagbalor, the Ijaws and Urhobos are fighting over the place but it is because of the oil that is concentrated in the three local governments, that is why it is not given any media coverage. It is not the local government but the expansionist idea of the Ijaws and they are not hiding it. They said it clearly that the agenda of the Kaiama Declaration must go on. And what is the declaration about, it is to expand because they say they want a country. They are scattering along the coast of everybody, they got Bayelsa, they want another State where they can predominantly hold on to and the area they want badly is Delta State. Unless the matter is addressed, I don't see the end coming because they will continue to attack. Whether the Ijaws like it or not, this war will end. As far as I am concerned, I have declared this war as ended. Why the elders have not been able to do anything is because the Ijaws have definite hidden agenda. Q: Now that former Liberian President, Charles Taylor has been granted asylum in Nigeria and he came with some of his men, all starting a new life in Calabar, do you have any fear in view of the crisis in Niger Delta? I have great fear, in fact, I wanted to scream. I think the President is a sensible man with a lot of wisdom. The President is a soldier and he has been able to do one or two things outside this country to bring peace. But he should know that Charles Taylor, as a mother, has no place in my heart. This is a man who has killed children, made women to suffer and destroyed homes and he was responsible for calamities that have befallen souls for so many years. He has killed Nigerians including journalists. Everybody knows that without journalists, this world will not be a good place because they use their pen to write about injustice. What is he doing in Calabar?   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2003 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================