March 1998 APICPOLICY ALERT APIC: Twenty Years ofInfonnation for Action 1978-1998 Nigeria Update

West Afiican countries, Senegal and the oil-producing regions ofNigeria. Stronger Ghana. The President needs to hear Ogoni activists remain in detention, that failure to take a stronger position however. Pressure on Nigeria, before or during his trip, will send a strong signal that As long as new oil investment flows Needed to Move Washington is not serious about into Nigeria, swelling the bank supporting Afiican pro-democracy accounts ofits military rulers, criticism Nigeria to efforts. from Western capitals will be dismissed as empty rhetoric. This is so Democracy The military regime headed by General even ifthe decibel level moves up a Sani Abacha continues with its plans notch from "quiet" diplomacy. It is now almost five years since the for a "transition" to civilian rule by Supporting democracy in Nigeria, Nigerian military regime overtwned the October. But the scheme has won little advocates must continue to stress, results ofNigeria's June 12, 1993 credibility. Meanwhile, political requires going beyond talk to action presidential election. It is more than prisoners languish in jail and the which imposes real penalties for failure two years since the regime executed government has stepped up repression to move toward democratic rule. environmental and human rights against critics, journalists and members activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight ofthe Ogoni minority group in the Background colleagues in defiance ofworldwide Delta area. appeals for clemency. Since independence in 1960, Nigeria Shell, Mobil and other multinational oil has e!tematt'd between short periods of While the United States has joined companies are heavily invested in intense civilian political competition others around the world in criticizing Nigeria's energy sector. They continue and longer stretches under military rule. the lack ofdemocracy in Nigeria, the to deny that they bear any responsibility Military governments ruled from 1966 flow ofmoney tells a different story. for the human rights abuses ofthe to 1979, and from 1984 to the present. U.S. investments in Nigeria. led by Nigerian government. It is a fact investment in the oil sector, have nonetheless that oil revenues bolster the As a British colony, Nigeria was grown from around $4 billion to as repreSSive regtrne. administered as three distinct much as $7 billion over the last five geographical areas: the north, years. Bilateral trade increased from Activists from Movement for the predominantly Muslim and $4.9 billion in 1994 to $6.7 billion in Survival ofthe Ogoni People Hausa-speaking; the southeast, 1996. (MOSOP) have protested predominantly Christian and identitll:d environmental contamination ofthe with the Igbo-speaking ethnic group; Meanwhile, the Clinton land by the multinational oil and the southwest, also predominantly Administration's internal policy review companies, particularly Shell. The oil Christian and largely Yoruba-speaking. on Nigeria has dragged on for several companies claim they are improving years. President Clinton is planning a their environmental standards and their Between 1967 and 1970, Nigeria visit to Afiica in March, including two relationships with local communities in fought a civil war over the secession of 2 NIGERIA POUCY UPDATE March 1998

the eastern region, called Biafra. installed his own civilian caretaker, the authorized political parties or their Despite intense ethnic polarization and Ernest Shonekan. Shonekan was then leadership. The possibility ofthe perhaps as many as a million killed deposed by General Sani Abacha in transition program producing a serious during the war, the winning federal November 1993. presidential candidate other than government followed a policy of Abacha appeared remote." Other non-retribution. Subsequent division Abacha's rule has been marked by sources confirm this analysis. The ofNigeria into smaller states produced unprecedented levels ofpolitical current "transition," notes a report from larger representation for ethnic groups repression against opponents from all the U.S. Institute ofPeace, "is so other than the big three. walks oflife. The most prominent case seriously flawed that it is not credible was the hanging ofKen Saro-Wiwa and or legitimate." Abacha even fears While political competition often eight ofhis fellow Ogoni activists in possible opposition within his own paralleled ethnic and regional divisions, 1995, just after General Abacha had regime. In December he arrested the there were also many cross-cutting announced his new three-year plan for country's second-highest-ranking divisions and allian!'es based on return to civilian rulz. In Ja:mary this milita.')' officer and others alleged to bc distinctions between civilian and year, a new crackdown on Ogoni planning a coup. military, between rich and poor, and a activists has renewed fears that others host ofother factors. A wide array of may die in prison. The regime has also The International Response groups--private business, independent targeted journalists, trade union communications media, labor unions, leaders, human rights activists and Despite the Nigerian regime's professional associations, religious political opponents, as well as influence-buying campaign in the bodies, and a literary scene with repeatedly discovering alleged coup United States and other countries, there world-renowned authors--built solid plots within its own ranks. is wide international consensus foundations for democratic culture and regarding the denial ofdemocracy in a vibrant civil society. Prominent political prisoners include Nigeria. There is, however, still much ChiefAbiola, winner ofthe 1993 disagreement as to what should b~ Human Rights Abuses election; former head ofstate General done. Nigeria has been suspended Olesegun Obasanjo, who became a from the Commonwealth, but its In 1987 President Ibrahim Babangida, prominent international statesman after expulsion was postponed at the last who came to power in a 1985 coup, he handed over power to a civilian Commonwealth summit in favor of a officially began a program oftransition government in 1980; Dr. Beko threat to take further action if to civilian rule. After many delays, it Ransome-Kuti and Shehu Sani, leaders democracy is not restored by October culminated in presidential elections in ofthe Campaign for Democracy, which ofthis year. The United States and 1993. spearheaded demonstrations in 1993; other countries have imposed Frank Kokori and Milton Dabibi ofthe restrictions on military sales, aid and The electoral system imposed two oil workers union; Chima Ubani ofthe visas for Nigerian military leaders. political parties created by the military. Civil Liberties Organization; and U.S. State Department human rights Both parties chose wealthy Muslim Batom Mitee ofMovement for the reports have been strongly critical of businessmen to nm for president. One Survival ofthe Ogoni People--to name Nigeria, and former U.S. ambassador to candidate was Bashir Tofa, from only a few. Scores ofothers are in Nigeria Walter Carrington won thc northern Nigeria. The other was Chief detention, and hundreds more have enmity ofthe Nigerian regime for his Moshood Abiola, from the southwest. been harassed or forced into exile. support ofhuman rights activists. Although both had been approved by Kudirat Abiola, wife ofthe imprisoned the military, Abiola, amedia magnate election winner, was assassinated in Overall, however, Washington has not and philanthropist, was seen as 1996 in an incident widely attributed to made Nigeria a high priority. An potentially more independent. covert agents ofthe regime. Administration policy review has been Major-General Muss Yar'Adua died in pending for several years. Legislation Abiola won majorities in 22 of prison last December, and many other has been introduced in Congress that Nigeria's 31 states. Even in the north detainees are reported in poor health. would codify existing sanctions against he won 43% ofthe vote, including Nigeria and impose new ones, majorities in four ofthe 11 northern According to the U.S. State including a ban on new U.S. investment states. President Babangida annulled Department's human rights report for in Nigeria. But the Administration has the results ofthe election. When 1997, the transitional electoral process not supported the legislation, and the protests led Babangida to resign, he "failed to generate popular support for bill has yet to acquire enough 3 NIGERIA POUCY UPDATE March 1998 congressional support to move ahead. President Bill Clinton The White 20515 Capitol switchboard: (202) House Washington, DC 20500 White 224-3121 This failure to take stronger action, House comment line: (202) 456-1111 combined with the flow ofadditional e-mail: [email protected] •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• investment, means that international pressure has in fact imposed little or no 2. Write General Sani Abacha, head of For Additional Background and restraint on the Nigerian military the Nigerian military goverrunent. Updates regime. Nevertheless, an international Urge him to release all political grassroots movement ofsupport for prisoners, lift barriers to free public On the Web: democracy in Nigeria has continued to debate, and implement a genuine grow, including Nigerian exiles, human transition to civilian rule. Remind him The Amca Policy Web Site rights and environmental groups, trade that groups around the world are (www.africapolicy.org) has a Nigeria: unions, religious groups and others. mobilizing grassroots pressure in favor Country Profile background paper, ofdemfJeracy in Nigeria. references to other sites and many This movement has appealed to the additional documents on Nigerian Nigerian goverrunent to change its General Sani Abacha, Chairman Issues. behavior and to Western goverrunents Provisional Ruling Council State House to impose sanctions. It has also Abuja, Nigeria Fax: 234-9-523-2138 The Amca News Web Site targeted Shell Oil, demanding that the (www.africanews.orglwest/nigeria) has company accept responsibility for the Send a copy ofyour letter to: current news, including dispatches from environmental devastation it has caused the Pan Amcan News Agency. and actively use its influence against Ambassador Wakili Hassan Adamu human rights abuses. With tactics Embassy ofthe Federal Republic of In Print: echoing the anti-apartheid movement, Nigeria 1333 16th St. NW state and local goverrunents in the Washington, DC 20036 Fax: (202) The Nigeria County Profile (8 pages) is United States have begun to enact their 775-1385 available for sale ($2 each, $1.60 each own sanctions against Shell and the for 20 or more, include 15% for Nigerian regime. It is only such a 3. Write Phillip 1. Carroll, president of postage and handling) from APIC, 110 groundswe11 ofactions that can Shell Oil (U.S.) Let him know that Maryland Ave., NE, #509, Washington, eventually lead goverrunents, and Shell cannot evade responsibility for DC 20002. businesses as well, to take seriously the environmental, social and political democracy in Amca. consequences ofits investments in Additional books for suggested reading, Nigeria. Ask him to let you know what including recent works by Ken Actions action he is taking to ensure the release Sara-Wiwa and Wole Soyinka, are ofOgoni activists and other political noted in the Country Profile on-line I. Contact President Clinton. Ask him prisoners in Nigeria and a return to (www.africapolicy.org/bp/niger5.html). to complete the internal Administration civilian rule in that country. Many are available for purchase on-line policy review on Nigeria before he through the APIC Virtual Bookshop, travels to Amca, and to announce new Mr. Phillip 1. Carroll, President Shell (www.africapolicy.orglbookslvbooks.shtml) substantive measures to pressure the Oil (U.S.) P.O. Box 2463 Houston, TX in conjunction with the on-line Nigerian military regime to release 77252 Fax: (713) 241-4044 bookshop Amazon.com. prisoners and allow the country to [email protected]. return to democracy. Such measures •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• should include, at the very least, a ban 4. Send copies ofyour letters to your on new U.S. investment in Nigeria's Senators and Representative in energy sector. Remind the President Congress. APIC that the absence ofdemocracy in 110 Maryland Ave., NE, Suite 509 Amca's most populous country Honorable U.S. Senate Washington, IX 20002 Tel: (202) 543-5416 handicaps the entire continent's future, Fax: (202) 546-1545 and that inconsistent U.S. policy has Washington, DC 20510 E-mail: [email protected] encouraged the military regime to resist www.africapolicy.org change. Honorable U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC