DATE=3/12/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=NIGERIA/VIOLENCE
NUMBER=5-45619
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABUJA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: After two outbreaks of sectarian violence,
Nigerians are examining how a debate over the
introduction of Islamic law in some states turned into
a national crisis. As V-O-A's John Pitman reports
from Nigeria's capital, Abuja, religious fervor is
only one explanation for the violence.
TEXT: Nearly everyone in Nigeria agrees that the
debate over the implementation of Sharia law in
several northern states was the spark that ignited the
violence on February 21st in Kaduna.
But there is also near-universal agreement that the
violence -- which spread briefly to several cities in
the southeast and flared in the northern city of
Sokoto -- was also tied to long-standing political,
ethnic, and economic rivalries.
Many Nigerians believe last year's democratic
transition, which ended more than 15-years of military
rule, created a new class of former military and
political leaders that are worried their legacy of
corruption and brutality may be about the catch up to
them.
Because Nigeria's military has traditionally been
dominated by northerners, most of these alleged
conspiracies are being hatched in the northern part of
the country.
Although it has not been proved, many Nigerians
believe these former northern leaders have banded
together to protect themselves against corruption
investigations launched by the new civilian government
led by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
/// OPT /// The anti-corruption probes have largely
focused on former northern leaders, especially the
late general Sani Abacha, whose personal bank accounts
have been found to contain billions of dollars of
stolen government money. /// END OPT ///
A widely held view maintains the former northern
leaders are funding and encouraging ethnic and
religious violence in Nigeria as a means of
destabilizing the civilian government and ending its
corruption investigations.
Orji Kalu is the governor of Abia State in
southeastern Nigeria, where violence claimed hundreds
of lives in the city of Aba earlier this month.
/// KALU ACT ///
It is a vast conspiracy . A lot of people are
not happy with my and President Olusegun
Obasanjo's anti-corruption stand. And these are
the people causing trouble in the name of
religion. Because they are used to stealing
government money . (and) they know the bonanza
days are over.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// Concern about a northern conspiracy is not
limited to southern politicians. Many ordinary
northerners also subscribe to the idea that powerful
interests are running scared and scrambling to protect
themselves, regardless of the cost to the nation.
Everybody has something going on - said one well-known
women's' rights activist in Kaduna - so they are
working to protect it. /// END OPT ///
The men at the center of this alleged conspiracy have
consistently denied the charges against them, and have
argued they are also interested in seeing democracy
flourish in Nigeria.
Umaru Dikko was the minister of transportation under
Nigeria's last civilian president, Shehu Shagari, and
a likely target in the current government's anti-
corruption probe.
/// OPT /// The Shagari government has been blamed by
prominent Nigerians with creating the corrupt
governing practices that led to military intervention
in 1983 and for inspiring the soldiers to enrich
themselves. /// END OPT ///
Mr. Dikko - a northerner from Kaduna - dismisses
Governor Kalu's conspiracy theory; saying northerners
have no interest in undermining president Obasanjo's
government.
/// DIKKO ACT ///
I would say that is complete nonsense. First of
all, without the vote from the people of the
north, Obasanjo would never have won the
election, all right? . So, to say somebody is
conspiring to bring him down is just rubbish.
And not only rubbish, but it is also
irresponsible.
/// END ACT ///
Analysts say although northern leaders supported Mr.
Obasanjo, they did so out of self-interest, hoping the
former general's military ties would dampen his
enthusiasm to investigate his former comrades-in-arms.
In addition to the political rivalry between
northerners and southerners, the recent violence is
also being attributed to lingering ethnic animosities
between the Hausa ethnic group in the north, and the
Ibo ethnic group from the east.
In the late 1960's, tensions between these two groups
led to an Ibo secessionist movement, which sparked the
Nigerian civil war, also called the Biafran War.
Between 1967 and 1971, up to a million Nigerians died
in the war and famine it provoked. Relations have
improved since then, and the two groups have
intermingled extensively, largely because of trading
ties.
But when the Sharia-related violence broke out in
Kaduna, many of the victims were Ibo Christians, whose
deaths sparked a cycle of revenge killings against
Hausas in the east.
Although the Ibo victims in Kaduna were targeted
because they were Christians, many Ibo merchants in
the north say they believe Ibos would have been
victimized regardless of the issue, simply because
they are a vulnerable minority.
/// OPT /// This merchant in Sokoto, who asked not to
be identified, says he believes Ibos will always be
scapegoats in the north.
/// OPT UNIDENTIFIED MAN ACT ///
If they agree that they will implement the
Sharia, it does not concern us. But in my mind,
when anything happens (in the north), it will
land on our heads. That is what is making some
people afraid. Because we know we are targets.
/// END ACT // END OPT ///
On top of the political and ethnic motivations, many
Nigerians also believe the recent violence can be tied
to underdevelopment and poverty - issues they say must
be addressed in any effort to resolve the Sharia
controversy. With unemployment skyrocketing and the
country's educational system in a shambles, millions
of young men have been forced to live on the streets,
where a life of crime often provides the only means of
support.
These young men - who are called "area boys" - have
been tied to much of the recent violence, either as
looters taking advantage of chaotic situations, or as
paid thugs who have been ordered to infiltrate
peaceful demonstrations and provoke violence.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JP/DW/RAE
12-Mar-2000 08:26 AM EDT (12-Mar-2000 1326 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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