Efio-Ita Nyok|19 June 2016|6:40am
The advent of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), to the socio-political clime of Nigeria has provoked many honest attempts at rationalising their motive, justification, etc. For the 'Avengers', they are citing environmental degradation as the motive for their activities.
However, it has been conjectured by some that the group are nothing other than a set of militants who are in the employ of disgruntled politicians from the Niger Delta region of the country who are bent on destabilising the present government at the centre. In other words, NDA maybe an instrument used to pay back in the same coin what Boko Haram did to the presidency of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a Niger Deltan and Christian.
Cross River-born, Canada-based academic and renowned conflict theorist, Obasesam Okoi, had submitted a paper for publication to the Journal of Global Change, Peace and Security. Rather than communicate to him the acceptance of his paper for publication he was rather castigated for not adequately capturing the threat posed by the NDA. Okoi is considering whether the group 'can be reasonably theorised'. He pegs a theorisation on the NDA to be based on empirical evidence. On his part, Emmanuel Undie has categorically submitted that, 'Reality is that you can not effectively, constructively and objectively, for sound academic purposes, theorize and appropriately put in perspective, an extremely unpredictable sect with such infamous activity founded on a complexity of ideals and not very unlikely devoid of several socio-political undertones'.
I will proceed to render excerpts of both Obasesam Okoi's and Emmanuel Undie's reactions:
Obasesam Okoi
When the email came in I thought I was going to rejoice over the good news that my paper on the struggle in Niger Delta had been accepted for publication in the Journal of Global Change, Peace and Security.
Instead, the paper was seriously criticized both theoretically and empirically by two anonymous peer reviewers.
Finally, I was asked to address the criticisms and resubmit. One of the criticisms was that I didn't mention the Niger Delta Avengers who are presently posing a dangerous threat to regional stability and social order.
But I submitted that paper when the group was operating at the ideological level and wasn't taken too seriously. So I spent 6 hours studying the Niger Delta Avengers through information on their website including through regular updates on Twitter.
So far, there seems to be a big difference between this group and previous militant groups that have emerged with a similar agenda. The difference, though hypothetical, lies in the construction of their struggle, their motivation and targets.
Whether this group can be reasonably theorized as a criminal syndicate is subject to empirical evidence that point to fundamental changes in the nature of warfare including how they match their means to ends.
Emmanuel 'Eau' Undie
Reality is that you can not effectively constructively and objectively, for sound academic purposes, theorize and appropriately put in perspective, an extremely unpredictable sect with such infamous activity founded on a complexity of ideals and not very unlikely devoid of several socio-political undertones.
Seriously, for a complete scientific hypothesis to work in this case, somebody has got to tell the truth. For now, that group can not be considered for any serious scientific contemplation. It's a wild directionless wind with little or no bearing to what usually holds militants, rioters, vigilantes, pressure group or religious sects, etc. together.
They are neither here nor there. And for that reason, I highly suspect the group is a quick, association of an unprepared bunch to distort certain permutations in the political economy of some sort…just a thought.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)
