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Title Page 2 DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit The Neglect of Common Good and Human Rights in the Nigerian Polity: Niger Delta as a Case (A Christian Ethical Study) Verfasser Chijioke Francis Nwosu angestrebter akademischer Grad Magister der Theologie (Mag. Theol.) Wien, 2015 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 011 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Katholische Fachtheologie Betreuerin / Betreuer: Ao. Univ. Prof. MMag. Dr. Gunter Prüller-Jagenteufel Table of Content Acknowledgement Introduction……………………………………………………………………………. 1 Chapter 1: Overview of Nigerian Polity and Development History 1.1 Pre- and Post-Independent Nigeria………………………………………………. 5 1.1.1 Nigeria Independence and the Making of the First Republic (1960-1966)……... 7 1.1.2 The Young Independent State and the Experience of Civil War (1967-1970)…. 10 1.1.3 Nigeria After the Civil War (1970-1979)……………………………………….. 13 1.1.4 Transition to Civil Rule: Second Republic (1979-1983)………………………... 15 1.1.5 Comeback of the Military and the Making of the Third Republic (1983-1998)… 17 1.1.6 Transition to Civil Rule: Fourth Republic (1999 till date)……………………… 24 1.1.7 Evaluation: Nigeria, a Democracy on a Cross-road…………………………….. 27 1.2 Niger Delta Saga: The Ailing Part of a Nation…………………………………… 29 1.2.1 Niger Delta Area: Land and People……………………………………………... 29 1.2.2 Niger Delta and Oil Discovery………………………………………………….. 31 1.2.3 Stating the General Problems: Oil and Environmental Degradation……………. 35 1.2.4 The Parable of the Goose that lays the Golden Egg…………………………….. 38 1.3 The Birth of the Niger Delta Problems…………………………………………… 40 1.3.1 Institutionalised Corruption……………………………………………………... 40 1.3.2 Host Communities versus Oil Explorers: Struggle for Resource Control………. 43 1.3.3 Individual State’s Corrupt Practices and Mismanagement of Oil Revenue…….. 47 1.3.4 Intimidation by the Government in the utter Neglect of Human Value and Dignity…………………………………………………………………………… 49 1.4 Rise of Activists and Emancipation Movements………………………………….. 52 1.4.1 NDVF: Niger Delta Volunteer Force…………………………………………….. 52 1.4.2 NDPVF: Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force………………………………….. 53 1.4.3 MOSOP: Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People………………………….. 54 1.4.4 IYC: Ijaw Youth Council – “The Kaiama Declaration”…………………………. 55 1.4.5 MEND: Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta……………………. 56 1.5 The Resultant Militancy……………………………………………………………. 57 Chapter II: Overview of the Challenges Facing the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector 2.1 Oil Spill in the Niger Delta…………………………………………………………. 61 2.1.1 Oil Spill defined as a Concept………………………………………………….... 64 2.1.2 Negative Impacts of Oil Spill……………………………………………………. 67 2.1.2.1 Ecological Impact………………………………………………………... 67 2.1.2.2 Economic Impact……………………………………………………….... 68 2.1.2.3 Health Impact…………………………………………………………….. 70 2.1.2.4 Developmental Impact………………………………………………….... 71 i 2.2 Gas Flaring and the Niger Delta Area………………………………………… 73 2.3 Existing Constituted Laws and Policies for the Protection of the Ecology and Life in general: The Parable of Crippled Implementation……. 75 2.4 The Strange Bedfellow: Shell and Other Oil Companies and the Politics of Cleaning and Remediation of Spills………………………. 79 2.5 Evaluation……………………………………………………………………….. 82 Chapter III: The Christian Ethical Perspective 3.1 Common Good and Human Right: Theological and Socio- Anthropological Concepts……………………………………………………… 83 3.1.1 General Concept of Common Good and Human Right………………………….. 83 3.1.1.1 Common Good…………………………………………………………………... 83 3.1.1.2 Human Rights……………………………………………………………………. 85 3.1.2 The Theologico-Ethical Concept of Common Good……………………………. 85 3.1.2.1 Common Good in St. Augustine………………………………………………… 88 3.1.2.2 Thomistic Contribution………………………………………………………….. 90 3.1.2.3 Revisiting the Concept of Common Good in Rerum Novarum…………………. 91 3.1.2.4 Common Good in Vatican II Council: Gaudium et Spes, On the Church in the Modern World, 1965……………………………………………………………. 94 3.1.2.5 On the Development of Peoples in Populorum Progressio, 1967: A Social Doctrinal Landmark of Paul VI……………………………………….. 96 3.1.2.6 The Voice of Reason in the 1971 Synod of Bishops: De Justitia in Mundo……. 98 3.1.2.7 Common Good in John Paul II:…………………………………………………. 100 3.1.2.7.1 Laborem Exercens, On Human Work, 1981………………………………... 100 3.1.2.7.2 Solicitudo Rei Socialis, On Social Concern, 1987………………………….. 102 3.1.2.7.3 Centesimus Annus, The Hundredth Year, 1991…………………………….. 105 3.2 The Theologico-Ethical Concept of Human Right…………………………… 106 3.2.2 Universal Declaration of Human Right…………………………………………. 107 3.2.3 African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights…………………………………. 112 3.3 The Socio-Anthropological Dimension………………………………………... 114 3.3.2 Socio-Anthropological Concept of Common Good and Human Rights………... 114 3.3.3 Common Good and Human Right: The Basic Principles in the Igbo Ontology of “Egbe Belu, Ugo Ebelu…”………………………………………... 115 3.3.4 The Common Ground: The Dignity of the Human Person…………………….... 116 3.4 Evaluating the Abuses in the Niger Delta Area in the Light of the Teachings of the Church……………………………………………………….. 119 3.4.2 Niger Delta and Common Good………………………………………………… 120 3.4.3 Niger Delta and Human Rights………………………………………………….. 121 3.5 Calling the Spade by its Real Name: The Concrete Abuses in the Niger Delta……………………………………………………………….. 123 3.6 The Amnesty Policy of the Nigerian Federal Government: Analysis and Challenges………………………………………………………... 126 ii 3.7 Concern of the Local Church in Nigeria……………………………………… 133 3.7.1 Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria……………………………………….. 133 3.7.2 Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria…………………………………………. 137 3.7.3 Catholic Education Nigeria……………………………………………………… 137 3.7.4 Catholic Legislative Liaison Office, Nigeria……………………………………. 138 3.8 Reaffirmation of the Teaching and Position of the Church: An Analysis of the Statement of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission, Nigeria: “The Travesty of Oil and Gas Wealth”, 2006……………………….... 139 Conclusion and Recommendations……………………………………………………. 142 Abstract – Deutsch……………………………………………………………………... 148 Appendix I………………………………………………………………………………. 150 Appendix II……………………………………………………………………………… 152 Appendix III (a)(b)……………………………………………………………………… 153 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………….. 154 Curriculum Vitae List of Abbreviations DDRR: Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration GDP: Gross Domestic Product GS: Gaudium et Spes H2S: Hydrogen Sulphides INEC: Independent National Electoral Commission ING: Interim National Government IYC: Ijaw Youth Council LNG: Liquefied Natural Gas MEND: Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta MOSOP: Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People NDDC: Niger Delta Development Commission NDPVF: Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force NDSC: National Defence and Security Council NDVS: Niger Delta Volunteer Service NGL: Natural Gas Liquid NMA: Nigeria Medical Association NNPC: Nigeria National Petroleum Company NO: Nitrogen Oxides NRC: National Republican Convention OAU: Organisation of African Unity OBT: Obtaining by Trick (419) OIC: Organisation of Islamic Conferences OMPADEC: Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission PHCN: Power Holding Company Nigeria SAP: Structural Adjustment Programme iii SDP: Social Democratic Party SO2: Sulphur Dioxide SPDC: Shell Petroleum Development Company UNDP: United Nation Development Policy UNEP: United Nation Environment Programme WAI: War Against Indiscipline iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We touch lives and some people’s lives touch us as well. I am therefore grateful to all who have in one way or the other influenced the success of this work. As a student on a mission for further studies in Europe, I remain grateful to my Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Odili Okeke, Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. His vision and inspiration keep me moving. I thank the Cardinal Bishop of the Archdiocese of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, through his constituted coordinating body: „Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Gemeinden aus Afrika und Asien“ (ARGE AAG) in Wien, for the opportunity being offered. My family and friends, brother priests, teachers, lecturers and mentors make up the bond of my inspirations towards successful endings. I worked together with you in the direction of Music the much time could allow, Mary Ima Udosen-Essiet of the Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, but your love and defense of all that is African and belief in the identity and authenticity of the African person, made an impact – „Vielen Dank“. It was not easy, but I consider myself as being privileged to have worked with a seasoned Professor and ardent Lecturer, who painstakingly moderated and directed this work – I remain grateful to you Prof. Dr. Gunter Prüller-Jagenteufel of the Institute for Systematic Theology, University of Vienna, Austria. My appreciation therefore to all, who in the course of reading and critically evaluating my opinions in this research work, would be able to deepen and develop in their lives, a practical sense of the common good as well as the readiness to defend the human rights no matter the cost it may take. Chijioke Francis Nwosu. Vienna, Mai 2015. v Introduction: Statement of the Direction of Study It is a well-known maxim of life that any generation that chooses not to record her experiences, remains perpetually infantile. Without regards to the number of years of journey unto nationhood, political struggles and rivalries, policies and counter-policy makings, class struggles and ethnic regionalisms, enthronement and dethronement of leaders, constant tensions
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