A Communiqué issued at the end of an assessment of the recent crisis in the Warri metropolis by participants of the Strategic Thinking Leadership Training for Youth in the Niger Delta. 

Organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development at Motel Benin Plaza, Benin, Edo State, Nigeria between 21 September and 4 October 2003.

In recent times, the Niger Delta has consistently been plagued by conflicts and crises. Unfortunately, the unwillingness of state parties to address the root causes has contributed immensely to the persistent tension in the region.

Apparently, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Niger Delta and beyond have taken a lead to manage, resolve and transform the situation. Hence, the initiative of the West Africa focused Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) to mainstreaming youth in the pursuit of leadership and strategic thinking skills.

In an assessment of the extent of damage in the Warri metropolis, the participants of the CDD Strategic Thinking leadership training embarked on a field visit on October 1, 2003.

• That there is a heavy presence of military personnel at strategic locations, which is an indication that the situation is still very volatile.

• That as a result of the nature of the crisis, eminent stakeholders who were contacted were cautious in their responses towards pinpointing the root causes of the crises. The implication of this is the general manifestation of fear, insecurity, and mistrust.

• That the extent of damage notably around Okumagba layout is pathetic and heart rendering.

• That the number of lives and property lost threatens the present fledging democracy.

• That the disturbance is not natural, but human-made and that the Warri crisis is being fuelled by conflict merchants/elites who benefit at the expense of the public interest.

• That the print and electronic media have an important role to play in escalating or deescalating the crisis situation by their positions and analyses.

• That the Warri crisis may very well serve as an early warning sign about the fragile issue of citizenship, indigenity and residency rights, which is ambiguously stated in the 1999 constitution.

 

• That the conflicts merchants benefiting from the Warri crisis be identified, apprehended, and neutralized. Apprehending these merchants would deter the warring parties (foot soldiers), and would thereby enhance dialogue as a better and civil approach to resolving conflict once and for all.

• That the Federal and the concerned state government identify key stakeholders and partners for joint design, implementation and evaluation of sustainable poverty reduction strategies as a long-term measure.

• We enjoin the Media to act as neutral arbiters, and to out rightly desist from accepting group or personal advertorials relating to the crisis.

• The participants collectively call on all the state executives within the Niger Delta region and in fact other parts of the country, to show more support and commitment to helping with the resolution of the crisis in Warri.

• We call on the Federal Government to regard with all seriousness the early warning signs of possible conflict, arising from the present decision to unilaterally increase the price of petroleum product by immediately rescinding the decision.

• The 1999 Constitution review process should be open, inclusive and gender sensitive.

 

On our part as young leaders, we commit ourselves to working with youths in our various constituencies on the need to embrace dialogue as a solution to the challenges of the Niger Delta through leadership training and capacity building workshops.

We believe in peace as a fundamental human right of all and we are committed to serving as facilitators of peace, through respect for diversity, justice and equity in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

Signed