Tuesday, February 9, 2010 20:31

ON WATCH: Cold cash for silent guns

Stephen Davis

In the Niger Delta, cash has proved far more powerful than the president’s amnesty package. Certainly some of the former combatants were tired of the life in the swamps and were eager for the opportunity presented by the amnesty to bail out. But for most it was the promises of money. Governor Timipre Sylva has done a deal with Boyloaf (Victor Ben Ebikabowei), the principal MEND commander in Bayelsa State. A total of ₦500 million was withdrawn from the Bayelsa State Government account at the First Bank of Nigeria PLC. Half of this, ₦250 million, was paid to Boyloaf, and the rest was earmarked to pay the boys and for arms at the surrender.

This is in addition to the ₦30 million Mr. Sylva has been paying to Boyloaf monthly not to hit targets in Bayelsa State. Boyloaf used some of the funds to purchase “scrap” guns for display in the recent amnesty deal. This is a quick fix and will only last until Boyloaf needs more money. Within a few days of the public surrender Boyloaf’s boys were spraying money around Yenagoa while Boyloaf was hosted by Governor Sylva in the Government House compound and enjoying excursions in his new bullet proof SUV, compliments of Governor Sylva.

This is so very reminiscent of the situation in Rivers State after the 2004 Peace Accord that unravelled within a mere six months with former combatants drafted into a failed coup attempt against the government of Equatorial Guinea with a ₦50,000 mobilisation payment each and a promise of a further payment of $5,000 each. But much of the funds paid to Boyloaf appear not to have been passed on to the former combatants. The boys marched on Bayelsa Government House on Friday 4th September demanding the ₦10 million promised to each of them, and again on Friday 25th September blockading roads. Governor Sylva has borrowed an additional ₦100 billion from First Bank on top of his N300 billion state allocation over the last 2 years and is now talking of a bond issue, which will attract a very health fee to whoever brokers the facility. There can be little doubt that Sylva’s state sustainable development plan has enormous potential to deliver prosperity and destroy the conditions that foster conflict.

But it would be helpful to public understanding if Sylva would explain his formula for funding the programmes needed to deliver sustainable development which is the framework for poverty eradication, education and health reform required as foundational to a sustained peace, quite apart from any major infrastructure development. Governor Sylva is to be applauded for his initiative in engaging George Soros’ watchdog, Revenue Watch, to provide guidance on the Bayelsa State budget and implementation of the Bayelsa Expenditure and Income Transparency Initiative (BEITI). However, there is little chance that the Governor’s payments to Boyloaf passed through the state revenue transparency process.

It is time for the public to see the Bayelsa Expenditure and Income Transparency Initiative (BEITI) in action with comprehensive and timely reporting. If the surrender of Boyloaf, Tompolo, Ateke Tom, Africa Owerri, Joshua MacIver and others is based on money then it is unlikely to be a long-term solution for peace. Awarding security contracts to former non-state forces and particularly to cult-based groups is reckless behaviour and any company that does so should be condemned and the information disclosed to the company’s shareholders.

The international shareholders of the major oil companies and construction companies might take a dim view of the so-called security contracts. The major international oil companies have codes of practice that should preclude such arrangements but they too lack transparency when it comes to Nigeria and it seems their parent companies in Europe and the US are not rushing to have a closer look. It remains to be seen whether the amnesty package and state government training programmes will be enough to retain the former combatants in their new peaceful and productive mode after the money has run out. Political godfathers in the Niger Delta all eventually learn that cult members cannot be bought, they can only be hired ... for a short while.

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Reader Comments (8)

Posted by Kpamgbu on Oct 24 2009

The joy of Governor Sylva is representative of the joy of the Nigerian political class who would soon be assured of the funding for their various programs through increased oil revenue. The lofty projects of Gov Sylva will soon receive a new life. We believe the Governor has both the capacity and good intentions for Bayelsa state. He can do nothing without adequate funding. He has introduced the best framework for sustainable development through transparent budgeting. Security matters should not be discussed in this manner except in a bid to cause disaffection among the polity.Lets give him a Chance!

Posted by TATA on Oct 25 2009

state and non state forces...young man, in Africa, the line is very thin and blurred

Posted by KK on Oct 25 2009

i wish to restate my belief that this amnesty program is simply an avenue for the thieving elite to enrich themselves and the militants without a care or the core issues in the ND or its people. These 'militants' are armed robbers and deserve to be hung on a stake and shot to death (a la Sanusi style). Sylva and his ilks will pay any amount to the Boyloafs of this world not because they want peace for the populates but because they want the status quo maintained to continue raping the resources of the people.

Posted by kokok on Oct 25 2009

Boyloaf can easily maintain himself by blackmailing the State that he has control over the other fringe groups and the government will continue to pay...Another way to remain relevant is to hijack the Sate with the payout he just recevived: Bankroll the election of munions who will be paying him from their monthly allocation or security vote. The Nigerian State and Delta governments have created these monsters and wont know peace for at least a generation to come. Go check out Oyo state where there wont be development for sme years to come, no thanks to Adedibu's hold from the grave. @ Kpamgbu, see how much peace not "discussing security in this manner" the Delta has been enjoying. Good intentions? Check out the road to hell and see what its paved with.

Posted by olumide gbolahan on Oct 25 2009

Incisive article, and once again a kpamgbu comes up to distract from issues. The man is talking about long term solutions, that is the kernel of his story. The Government has entered into a bargain with terrorists and armed robbers, no one should try to justify this. The only way this will end is disaster. Already, we have heard of some not wanting the government to check their camps. Doesnt that tell you they just displayed'scrap' guns? Sylvia and UMORU are using the state's money to distabilize the state, giving hardworking but poor young people incentives to also form militias. It's a vicious cycle, this. Monies that should be put to into education, and primary health care- and not just PHC clinics- and youth centres is being used to reward criminals. Yet someone still has the boldness to say bringing up the issue for robust public discourse is mischief making. Goodluck to u Kpamgbu. Between, who is afraid of giving the Niger Delta 25%. Even their own leaders have sold out. Now they want to give the communities a share of the Bakery so that the political elite can further deplete the people. This is a dangerous game UMORU is playing. Let the Niger-Delta, and indeed all states take what belongs to them to develop their land. This is what obtained before the Civil War. Now we have people clamouring for new states just because of FG's allocation.Question: will we have this many states if we had no oil and every state basically had to fend for itself, other states and the FG.

Posted by Kingsley in London on Oct 28 2009

Thanks for facing reality Stephen. This charade will soon unravel. Classic Nigeria!

Posted by Leonards Onyekwere. on Oct 28 2009

The real problem in Niger Delta is the same problem that had been there since the enactment of land use decree. It is a problem that many Nigeria Rulers identify but unwilling to sincerely address. And it is a problem that is very likely to consume the polity before the time frame predicted by the CIA to the disintegration of Nigeria elapse. The problem with Nigeria remains the ruling class that have been downright unpatriotic. They have been ruthlessly selfish and because of their reckless leadership, a very promising young nation in 1960, have become hopelessly mismanaged. We all know that given the Nigeria diverse cultural, religious and social background, there exist only three options as far as sustainability is concerned. The three options which are: break up like the former Soviet Union, return back to Aburi accord, or true fiscal and political federalism. I do not believe in blackmail, neither do I support this millions being paid to the resistance group without first rehabilitating them. The gallant men and women who stoop up against the evil that has been the culture of our national leadership, needs redirection, they need social reorientation, skill training, education and then employment. While I support giving them a monthly stipend during the period of their rehabilitation, I do not support a bulk payout of money that they will waste and return back to the creeks tomorrow. Let the government listen if they care and do the right thing in this critical time because there may never be another opportunity to keep Nigeria as one.

Posted by Bros on Oct 28 2009

'Political godfathers in the Niger Delta all eventually learn that cult members cannot be bought, they can only be hired ... for a short while'. A Daniel came to judgement...