The paper seeks to depict the scenario in the Niger
delta area of Nigeria.The politics of the oil region is that of marginalissation as many Multi National Corporations are blamed for environmental degradation and neglect of the local populace.
There is no need for pretences. The Geographical space and people that make up the present day Nigeria have never really been one. Nigeria is a nation within which abound so many nations, the many contradictions inherent in pseudo nations like Nigeria led to a civil war within 6 years of independence, and has to date sustained ethno-religious strife, and unprecedented inter-
ethnic hatred.
The multiplier effect of such, hatred, distrust, and suspicion among the different ethnic nations has led to each group seeking to dominate the other, and all forms of
marginalisation both in strategic
federal appointments, citing of federal infrastructure, and resource distribution. Specifically in the case of the
Igbo, no Igboman has been appointed a Chief of Army staff, or Inspector general of police since the end of the civil war. Federal industries and infrastructure is almost non-existent in Igboland.All strategic federal investments that would improve the economy of the Igbo nation like ie.the dredging of the River Niger and the construction of an inland port at Onitsha,the long promised construction of a second bridge across the Niger, and the internalisation of Enugu Airport amongst others, have all been abandoned for reasons of inter-ethnic hatred, and the politics of marginalisation.
The composition of the service chiefs in President Olusegun Obasanjo''s administration, is another crass and undeniable evidence of Igbo marginalisation.In all the arms of the service Chiefs including the police none is from the Southeast.
Of the present day 6 geo-political zones, Ndigbo have the least number of
states, and correspondingly local governments, which automatically places Ndigbo at the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of allocation of resources from the federal government. The proposed
development plan for the Niger Delta being circulated in the Nigerian press, laid down immediate development, and employment initiatives for 20,000 people from the Niger Delta in varied services like the Army, Air force, Police, NNPC etc.Officially the Niger Delta oil producing states are, Delta state, Rivers state, Cross river state,Akwa Ibom state, Bayelsa state,Abia state,Imo state, Edo state, and Ondo state, but in the articulated development and employment initiatives for the Niger Delta, being circulated by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration the 2 core Igbo states of Abia and Imo were subtly excluded, while interestingly Ondo state was included. Against this backdrop it is increasingly difficult for the average Igboman to see himself as a Nigerian.
More abstracts about the TALES OF MARGINALISATION FROM THE NIGER DELTA OIL RICH REGION IN NIGERIA