Mortgaging tomorrow’s Security through Today’s Graveyard Peace: A Critical Discourse of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Over the years, as a result of its strategic importance to national development, coupled with perennial and fierce resource-induced agitations, the Niger Delta, Nigeria has become a veritable laboratory for all sorts of government interventionist and management policy measures. Although the implementation of the peace building initiative has brought about cold peace to the conflict-ridden region, the paper argued that the Amnesty Programme does not have the capacity to engender genuine and durable peace to the crisis-ridden region. This is because the focus of the peace-building strategy is geared towards addressing the symptoms rather than the root causes of the Niger Delta conflicts. The post-amnesty security environment is characterized by kidnapping, hostage-taking, oil-bunkering and attacks on critical national oil assets, a vivid indication of the deceptive peace the programme may have fostered on the oil-rich region. This has given peace-loving humanity cause for anxiety. In appraising the amnesty peace initiative, the study adopted a combination of descriptive qualitative and case study research design, with insights from structural violence paradigm. The paper concluded that, until and unless the real drivers of restiveness and violence are holistically and constructively engaged, genuine and sustainable peace and security will continue to elude the region.

Sustainable peacebuilding and development in Nigeria's post‐amnesty programme: The role of corporate social responsibility in oil host communities

“…As a concept, it has been seriously criticized, and there is now fierce debate over conflict deterrence in the aftermath of the PAP. While advocates view PAP as a vehicle for violence reduction, including the submission of notable militant leaders, and a decline in threats to oil exploration and production, critics see it as an avenue for purchasing of peace, believing the rebellion will return if the payments cease (Mbalisi, Eheazu, & Kiyenowei, 2012; Nwobueze & Inokoba, 2017; Obi, 2014; Odubo & Tobor, 2016; Ogbuene, 2017; Ogege, 2011; Olatoke & Olokooba, 2012). This variance in views invariably sets the background for the sustainable peace building and development in the post‐amnesty programme.…”

Sustainable Peace Building and Development in Nigeria’s Post-Amnesty Programme: The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Oil Host Communities

“…As a concept, it has been seriously criticized, and there is now fierce debate over conflict deterrence in the aftermath of the PAP. While advocates view PAP as a vehicle for violence reduction, including the submission of notable militant leaders, and a decline in threats to oil exploration and production, critics see it as an avenue for purchasing of peace, believing the rebellion will return if the payments cease (Nwobueze & Inokoba, 2017;Obi, 2014;Mbalisi et al, 2012;Odubo & Tabor, 2016;Ogbuene, 2017;Ogege, 2011;Olatoke & Olokoba, 2012). This variance in views invariably sets the background for the sustainable peace building and development in the post-amnesty programme.…”