The current political situation in Nigeria is a thriller.
The president has been in a hospital in Saudi Arabia for more than two months, and there is no formal explanation of his illness, nor transfer of power to the vice president. The only sign of him was a strange radio interview a few weeks ago, instantly sparking detailed analysis whether the time of the recording could be confirmed from something they said. No, it could not be confirmed.
The militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, fighting for the rights of the local people living in the oil extraction areas, ended a three-month ceasefire two days ago. Last year the militants had been promised an amnesty programme by the president, but his long absence is making the thousands of activists who handed over their weapons uncertain of their future. To me it’s understandable, as none of the promised developments have been implemented.
All this has lead to starting again the sabotages of the oil pipes and the kidnappings of the oil workers. Fortunately the latest victims, three British and one Columbian, were relased unharmed.
What is more, just at the end of last month the beautiful and touristic city of Jos, 150km northeast of Abuja, witnessed a religious clash between the Muslims and Christians. The violence spread to some of the neighbouring villages, too. A farmer delivering goods to the expat community described in her email that “all of the Muslim houses in Kuru were burnt, and most of the Muslims were killed. Only a few are still alive. Muslim inhabitants were rounded up and shot or burnt in their houses.” I could not really work that day. [UN’s sad report on Kuru]
If one didn’t read news, one could live in Abuja without the slightest notion of what is going on in the country – the life here continues peaceful and ordinary.
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