Have You Seen The Map Of Nigeria?
I bought a Map of Nigeria from a street hawker at Ikeja sometime ago. I needed to check something, something very important; because in this Nigeria, they can make you have serious doubts about even your own identity.
I bought the map because I did not quite trust, the map that is in my Union Bank Diary, but after I cross checked in the bigger Map I bought on the street, I can confirm that nothing was wrong with the map in the Union Bank diary; only it was smaller

Map of Nigeria

Yes, I only wanted to confirm which states in Nigeria qualified, I mean met the literal definition of “COASTAL STATES ”; Lagos qualified, ditto Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom. Of all these Lagos is the only non-oil producing state. Edo State is not a Coastal State, just like Imo and Abia are not; but the three states i.e. Edo, Imo and Abia produce oil.

So pray, will somebody tell me how you can create a body of Oil Producing Coastal States and include Edo and fail to include Abia and Imo; Lo!! How can there be a Presidential Council on Socio-Economic Development of Coastal States in Niger Delta and leave out Imo and Abia State?

The truth is that every oil producing state suffers severe environmental despoliation and tragic consequences as a result of exploratory, exploitative and denuding activities of Oil companies in their territory.

The truth is that oil producing communities have not been adequately compensated for the fruits on their land.

The truth is that you do not heal injustice by perpetrating more injustice. The truth is that if the president does not immediately reconstitute the Presidential Consolidated Council on Social and Economic Development of Coastal States by including Imo and Abia the world and in particular this writer will see it as conclusive proof of Igbo-phobia of the worst type as the exclusion of both states from that body defies every logic in view of the states which presently constitute its membership. Martin Luther King (Junior) said that “injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere” . Darrow Clarence (1857-1938) taught us “True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than any where else” . Our president as the father of all must be guided by this saying, which I call the Darrow principle. Having included Edo State, which though an oil producing state but not a Coastal State; it will look malicious to now exclude Edo, but having accommodated Edo; the membership must as of necessity be expanded to include all oil producing States which in this instance is just Imo & Abia.

Brigandage is infectious, some of my brothers in Imo and Abia have threatened to resort to violence and kidnappings and other forms of anti-social activities if their states are not accommodated and their case is understandable because the Federal Government appears to defer only to terror and violence. I fear that this forbidden fruit of violence must be kept out of the reach of these youths dishing out the threats, for as we have seen once resort is had to violence, willy nilly it becomes intractable; kidnappings and the ransome also become lucrative business; all forms of racketeering become the industry that grows out of the atmosphere of chaos and nihilism which is created.

A sage had said that “ Violence is essentially a confession of ultimate inarticulateness ” and from experience we all know that “War (read violence) does not determine who is right but who is left.” Today anger is seething; youths are planning, oil producing communities in Imo and Abia are “strategizing” what they will do and what they will not do if they miss out of what they (rightly) believe ought to be their due when the Presidential Council gets the funding and starts doling out (and denying them). There is fear in the air.

I commenced this article about 3 months ago, indeed the week after the Presidential council was announced, I could not proceed further because I had writers block; (I think that is what they call it); but alas I opened the papers on Wednesday July 19 th 2006 to read that at the forum where our president blasted and lambasted Chief Mrs. Rita Lori Ogbebor that in pursuance of the mandate of the Council; the Chief of Defence Staff General Martin Luther Agwai announced that “Coastal States” indigenes have been recruited into the Armed Forces in the following numbers viz: Army: 50 indigenes from Ondo, 100 from Delta, 100 from Bayelsa, 50 from Cross River, 100 from Rivers and 50 each from Edo and Akwa Ibom States. The Navy had recruited 30 from Ondo, 50 from Delta and Rivers, 46 from Bayelsa, 20 from Cross River and Edo and 30 from Akwa Ibom. In the Air force Agwai said 30 would be recruited from Akwa Ibom 50 from Bayelsa, 20 from Cross River, 50 from Rivers; etc etc. The Nigeria Police Force is expected to recruit about 10,000 indigenes into the force from these areas within this period. No Imo or Abia person is being recruited into the Army, Navy or Airforce, what injustice?

The gross injustice of it all is that the President has refused to reconsider the inexplicable exclusion of Imo and Abia States from the council, months after the council was constituted. Once again as a patriot about the Darrow Clarence truism that: “True Patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than any where else” once again I appeal that Mr. President should please include Imo and Abia in that council or how many expatriates from ADDAX, Agip, Mobil and other Oil Prospecting Companies in Imo and Abia do you want kidnapped or killed before they get justice?

Chief Chibuzo N. Ziggy Azike Ksc Lawyer/Politician