Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Dr. Laz Etemike
difficult, building so difficult, building so
expensive and education so scanty in a
country which is unlikely ever to be
developed”.
Most importantly, the Willinks commission concludes that “a
feeling or neglect and a lack of understanding was widespread”… a
case made for a special treatment of this area. This area require
special treatment because it is poor, backward and neglected.
(Willinks Commission Report, 1958).
The failure of the Nigerian Government after independence in
giving the desired attention to the development of the Niger Delta
region in spite of its enormous contributions to the wealth of the
country stimulated Boro’s dream for self-determination. As Boro
proclaimed thus; “the Ijaws as may be seen from the list of Nigerian
tribes were thus pronounced victims of a woolly administration. Year
after year we were clenched in tyrannical chains and led through a
dark alley of perpetual political and social deprivation. Strangers in
our own country! Inevitable, therefore, the day would come when we
shall fight for our long denied right to self-determinism”. Boro
therefore saw independence Nigeria as a country besieged by all
known social vices ranging from tribalism, corruption, avarice,
marginalization, oppression political killings, falsehood and patron –
clientelism to electoral malpractice. It was against this backdrop that
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