Oil, Islam and Politics

1. Oil, Islam and Politics • “By far the greatest obstacle [to development] then and now has been the discovery of oil.  …For most nations the discovery of oil has spurred development and industry, unfortunately in our country…Oil has been a burden, and a source of great pain.    The pain of the Ogoni and the reality of environmental degradation is caused by the discovery of oil.  The social instability and insecurity of the Niger Delta is caused by the discovery of oil, and if there was no oil in Biafra, I very much doubt the military orders [back in 1967] would have been given to destroy Biafra.” • [Abiodun Adekunle (April 2004, son of federal army leader)]

2. Challenges to Independence: Nigeria Role of Colonialism: - Nigeria British Colony until 1960- country divided : Yoruba (West), Igbo (East), Hausa/Fulani (North)- south largely Christian; north Muslim (former Sokoto Caliphate)- colonial development uneven: little attention to north, left in hands ‘Emirs’- independence meant ‘democracy’: Muslim population in north largest, therefore ruled

3. Oil, Islam and Politics South resented situation: - government overthrown by Igbo army officers- counter-coup six months later (leader, 300 officers killed) - Igbos in north massacred (30,000 – 50,000) - massive exodus to ‘homeland’ (south) - independence movement led by Gen. Ojukwu - Created state of ‘Biafra’

4. Oil, Islam and Politics • Biafran War: - story of ‘survival’ for Igbo • story of Oil and the future of Nigeria • [check for online video]

5. Oil, Islam and Politics ’

6. Oil, Politics and Islam • War devastated region: • - widespread use of child soldiers • - famine, as imports cut off (drew international attention)Challenge of post war era: how to move on? • - profits from oil should have funded ‘reconciliation’ • - instead, story of corruption

7. Oil, Islam and Politics • - suspected oil companies involved, supporting one side or other • - Ojukwu not the only one seeking to control ‘the prize’ • - in midst of war (1969) federal government acquired oil fields • - over next ten years, south-easterners disenfranchised

8. Oil, Islam and Politics • New civilian government established 1979:- already decrees, edicts put in place during war had transformed Niger Delta into colony- 1978 Land Use Act confiscated oil-bearing land of Delta communities under 'protection' of central government. • - revenue sharing adjustments took 50% profits from Delta, allocated among all provinces (since 1967, twelve in total)

9. Oil, Islam and Politics • - other 50% to government - Delta communities receiving about 20% • - inhabitants bore brunt oil production • - supporting national economy • New gov’t quickly overthrown: • - under new military regime, portion oil revenue going to oil-bearing communities of the Niger Delta plunged to 1.5 %

10. Oil, Islam and Politics • - Shell Petroleum Development Company (Anglo-Dutch Co.): • - half total oil production • - other Western companies benefited from legislation • - Delta communities reduced to squatters • - oil companies not required to obtain permission of local communities to explore for or exploit oil

11. Oil, Islam and Politics • Companies required by ‘law’ to pay 'compensation' for crops, other valuables destroyed during production: • - amounts paid minimal • - environmental protection laws breached by all companies: • - devastated farm lands, fishing creeks, livelihood local people

12. Oil, Islam and Politics • By late 1980s: • - government neglect reduced Delta communities to poverty • - existence threatened by environmental degradation • - conditions worsened with effects IMF structural adjustment policies

13. Oil, Islam and Politics • Abiodun Adekunle (April 2004, son of federal army leader): • “By far the greatest obstacle [to development] then and now has been the discovery of oil.  …For most nations the discovery of oil has spurred development and industry, unfortunately in our country…Oil has been a burden, and a source of great pain.  No doubt a few thoroughly morally bereft elites have used this national resource as a source of personal self-enrichment, and as a consequence currently have the nation by the yoke.  The pain of the Ogoni and the reality of environmental degradation is caused by the discovery of oil.  The social instability and insecurity of the Niger Delta is caused by the discovery of oil, and if there was no oil in the Biafra, I very much doubt the military orders [back in 1967] would have been given to destroy Biafra.”

14. Oil, Islam and Politics • Following decade, situation worsened - difference was international attention:- well-known writer, poet Ken Saro Wiwa activist for Oguni and others frequently arrested, harassed • - oil companies solicited government support to clamp down on public protests • - 1995: Saro-Wiwa, 8 others arrested, tried for murder, sentenced to death • - international appeals ignored: all executed

15. Oil, Islam and Politics

16. Oil, Islam and Politics • - Shell brought to court in US in 2000 for ‘aiding and abetting the torture and murder of Nigerian activists’ • - also for orchestrating raids by Nigerian military on Oguni villages leaving more than 1,000 people dead and 20,000 homeless

17. Oil, Islam and Politics • Issues: - Land Expropriation, origins in Biafran Civil War (‘war’ justified Government’s Petroleum Act 1969 - protection of resources) • - Constitution 1999 (re-affirmed): “rights to minerals located in any part of the country belong to Federal Government – expropriation can take place with compensation”

18. Oil, Islam and Politics • - compensation far from adequate, value based on crops not on land itself • - Chevron (American corporation) particularly criticized • - Government standards low, companies profit • return to civilian government (Obasanjo) 1999 • great expectations; no impact

19. Oil, Islam and Politics Leaks Fires

20. Oil, Islam and Politics • Human Rights:- Saro Wiwa case not the end • repeated examples oil companies engaging with, paying, local military -- brutalizing ‘non co-operating’ villagers - one example “Parabe Incident”:“According to Bola Oyimbo, who co-led the protest, the protesters sought potable water, greater local employment, medical facilities, and the fulfillment of pledges made by Chevron to provide scholarships to local students….”

21. Oil, Islam and Politics • - occupied Chevron’s platform • - negotiated, agreed to leave but before that could happen: • “ They [helicopters] started shooting before they even landed, started shooting indiscriminately…The end result was that we lost two of our boys and a lot of them got injured…Some of them jumped overboard and they were later rescued. Then the balance of us, we refused to [leave the barge]. … So they decided to arrest 11 of us. We were first taken to a Nigerian naval base at Warri. We were kept for four days in a cell. Then …they transferred us to another cell [in a different town] before taking us to the state security service at the Fort of Ortacuri

22. Oil, Islam and Politics • …Chevron…first accused us of sabotage…And then later, I don’t know if they induced the police but [Chevron] asked them to make me sign [a statement] that we destroyed their chopper, vandalized their equipment – which was a lie. [Then] I was hanged up by the handcuffs on my wrists on the hook on the ceiling fan. They asked me to sign a statement that I led a team to the Parabe platform and that we vandalized the things there…but I refused…” • According to this leader, those who had fired upon them said they had been paid by Chevron to do so.

23. Oil, Islam and Politics • Another ‘incident’ 1999: • - Villagers demanded compensation for oil-related environmental damage • - military responded: • - killed people and livestock • - burnt homes, destroyed churches, traditional shrines, wells, fishing • equipment • - Company accused of supplying transport and equipment

24. Oil, Islam and Politics

25. Oil, Islam and Politics • Environmental Degradation -- Oil Spills: - 1976 -1998, over 2.5 m barrels oil spilt (officially recorded) • - spills pollute groundwater, agricultural lands, fisheries • - unprotected above-ground pipelines run next to homes - leaks routinely explode, human life threatened on daily basis

26. Oil, Islam and Politics • October 1998: • - pipeline leak flooded large area near village in Delta State • - exploded, over 700 people killed, many women, children • - smaller incidents common

27. Oil, Islam and Politics • Environmental Degradation -- Gas Flares: - natural gas produced as byproduct when burned creates ceaseless, high-intensity flame • additional CO2 emissions • - alters local microclimates, creates acid rain • pollutes drinking water • - impoverished people cannot afford to buy water

28. Oil, Islam and Politics • Health, Well-Being of Population:- denied normal access safe water, food, shelter [issues with corrugated iron roofs, acid rain] • - respiratory disorders, skin diseases (bathing in polluted water), cancers dramatically increased

29. Oil, Islam and Politics • - population depended on fish for protein: collapse of fishing led to depletion of protein sources - loss of biodiversity [including fish], destruction of habitat due to deforestation, pollution, construction of oil production infrastructure • ALL LINKED TO OIL DEVELOPMENT!!

30. Oil, Islam and Politics Gas Flares … Never StopBurning!

31. Oil, Islam and Politics • 21st century, conditions not changed but political situation worsening: • estimated US$350 billion oil government earnings 1965 - 2000 has done little to alleviate poverty • exacerbated deprivation through opportunities provided for corruption, abuse [not to mention environmental damage] • - Nigeria among 15 poorest countries, 70% live below poverty line.

32. Oil, Islam and Politics • Failure of state, absence law and order in Delta region:- companies’ policies benefiting local ‘host community’ exacerbates ethnic differences, ‘have-have not’ rivalries: “"The system of designating some communities as host communities left those not so designated feeling alienated and underprivileged, inadvertently leading to or adding to the causes of conflicts among communities," the company said. “…projects built for beneficiary communities as such have become prime targets of attack and destruction”.

33. Oil, Islam and Politics • Practice of paying local troublemakers to protect operations against disruptions: “Young, unemployed community men were being paid salaries as ghost workers for doing nothing at all, except that some are often found to be involved in threats, extortion and disruption of operations…"

34. Oil, Islam and Politics • Fueled gang violence, thefts of oil “bunkering” (also cause of major accidents, explosions) – huge losses to oil companies: "Annual casualties from fighting already place the Niger Delta in the 'high intensity conflict' category (over 1000 fatalities a year), alongside more known cases such as Chechnya and Colombia. The criminalization and political economy of conflicts in the region mean that the basis for escalated, protracted and entrenched violence is rapidly being established. This not only threatens [Shell's] (and the oil industry's) future ability to operate, but also Nigerian national security."

35. Oil, Islam and Politics • Political Situation Deteriorated: • - ‘echoes’ of Biafra -- Mujahid Dokubu-Asari leads political party (‘youth gang’) demanding independence for region- “Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB, 1999)” • - policies kidnappings oil workers, managers • sometimes involves ransoms

36. Oil, Islam and Politics • - thefts of crude oil continue- thefts, kidnappings, general violence cut oil production more than a quarter in 2006 • Major development: • - all ethnic groups in Delta fighting together, claiming oil resources for new independent Biafra

37. Oil, Islam and Politics MASSOB

38. Oil, Islam and Politics • In what ways is this an issue of Islam? • ‘Mujahid Asari’ (‘Mujahid’ – ‘fighter for Islam): • - makes direct link between ideology of Islam and need for strength to fight federal government

39. Oil, Islam and Politics • “The only religion I saw that is suitable to my nature is Islam. It is only Islam that says we must resist evil wherever we find it. The prophet Mohammed said and I quote: "When you see evil in the land, you must resist it with your hand, you must speak against it with your tongue or you must hate it with your heart." That is the weakest of it. Mohammed also said: "The best thing to do to a tyrant ruler is to speak the words of truth." So that is it. Islam has helped me in my agitation because Islam accepts my role as somebody who should correct the ills of society and the fight against oppression even with my life.”

40. Oil, Islam and Politics • Hatred of Government still connected with hatred of Muslim North [somewhat contradictory to previous connection of Islam with MASSOB]: “When violence erupted in the mainly Muslim north in response to caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers [two years ago], Onitsha and surrounding areas [located in Delta region] became the center of reprisal attacks witnesses said were spearheaded by MASSOB members against Muslim northerners in which scores were killed.”

41. Oil, Islam and Politics • Ways it is being construed by outsiders, especially Americans • two scenarios, each potentially disastrous: • -One sees Muslim North re-emerging, taking power, control oil resources, holding America to ransom -Second sees current corruption, poverty, political instability making Nigeria ‘ripe’ for radical Islamic takeover

42. Oil, Islam and Politics • “With an ethnically and religiously combustible population of 130 million, Nigeria is lurching toward disaster, and the stakes are high—for both Nigeria and the United States. An OPEC member since 1971, Nigeria has 35.9 billion barrels of proven petroleum reserves—the largest of any African country and the eighth largest on earth. It exports some 2.5 million barrels of oil a day, and the government plans to nearly double that amount by 2010. Nigeria is the fifth-largest supplier of oil to the United States; U.S. energy officials predict that within ten years it and the Gulf of Guinea region will provide a quarter of America's crude. … In 2002, the White House declared the oil of Africa (five other countries on the continent are also key producers) a "strategic national interest"—meaning that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to protect it.”

43. Oil, Islam and Politics • “Nigeria's similarities to Saudi Arabia are manifold: - corruption, oil wealth • burgeoning Muslim population • value to the United States as an energy supplier. Osama bin Laden has called Nigeria "ripe for liberation."

44. Oil, Islam and Politics • Argument: • - Nigeria’s problems more deeply entrenched, volatile than Middle Eastern states that US tries to avoid dealing with… • - Linked to Colonial policies: ‘arid and poor’ north left out of colonial development but made into largest population base at independence

45. Oil, Islam and Politics • - Gave it political power which it used to ‘plunder’ fertile and oil-rich south, reversing economic situation • - Now southern Nigerian population (estimated that oil wealth in hands of 1%) associates poverty and corruption with Muslim rule

46. Oil, Islam and Politics • Northerners: • - same association - response is to ‘purify’ with introduction Sharia • - ‘new’ fundamentalist Islam is answer to previous corrupt IslamBoth scenarios: • - ‘curse of petro dollars’ leading to increased tensions focusing around rise of Islam • - author posits scenario of ‘takeover’ that would leave US in situation “worse than Iraq”

47. Oil, Islam and Politics • Second scenario: • - similar in some ways • - calls attention to way in which social, political, economic failure Nigeria made it ‘ripe’ for radical Islam • - quotes same phrase by Osama bin Laden that Nigeria is in need of ‘liberation’

48. Oil, Islam and Politics • - develops argument differently, associating it directly with ‘terrorist’ Islam: “Nigeria has experienced increased ethnic and religious violence and tensions after 12 of the country's 36 states adopted the Islamic Shar'ia law. …over 10,000 people have died in communal and religious violence since 1999. A January 2004 uprising by Al Sunna Wal Jamma (Followers of the Prophet) highlights these concerns. The terrorist group attempted to establish a Taliban style Muslim state in northern Nigeria…

49. Oil, Islam and Politics • When locals resisted their efforts, the group attacked, seizing weapons and burning down police stations. Nigerian troops quickly crushed the uprising, killing approximately 20 members and arresting another 50. However, Nigerian officials fear that a network of cells with as many as 1,000 followers may still be operating in Nigeria. Although Al-Sunna Wal Jamma originated in Nigeria, foreign radical Islamists may be supporting the group…”

50. Oil, Islam and Politics • Conclusion: • “The growth of radical Islam in Nigeria and its potential impact on regional and energy security should be viewed in the context of increased global terrorist threats and a breakdown in governance systems. Government mismanagement, interventionist economic policies, and inadequate law enforcement hinder Nigeria's economic growth and oil production and have heightened Nigeria's vulnerability to Islamist radicalism. Addressing the Islamist threat in Nigeria requires strategies that strengthen Nigeria's ability to counter foreign terrorist activity and fix the country's underlying economic and security problems. “