Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – The Vice-President and provisional Head of State of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, dismissed the government yesterday, March 17. Political analysts say it is meant to strengthen his power. Jonathan is in fact engaged in a power struggle with the entourage of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who was ill for some time. Jonathan assumed presidential powers “ad interim,” through a parliamentary vote, which is, however, disputed by supporters of Yar'Adua.
By next week a new government should be established. According to some advances, it will see the reconfirmation of about half of the Ministers of the previous government. Among these should be the Defense Minister, Godwin Abbe, who oversees the delicate process of implementing the amnesty for militants of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which operate in the Niger Delta, the region where oil reserves are concentrated in the country.
Another area of crisis is the Plateau State, where a series of clashes and reprisals between different communities in recent weeks have killed about 500 people. In the last episode involving the assault by a group of Fulani herdsmen, some of which appear to be wearing a military outfit, on the village of Biye, at least 13 people, mostly women and children, were killed. (see Fides 17/3/2010).
The Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has appealed for calm and urged people to avoid organized self-defense groups. "Something must be done otherwise, when the people feel they cannot be protected, they will have to rise and defend themselves and I don't think it will be good for this nation," he stated. "There is no particular group that has the monopoly of violence. This is because the youth have become very agitated; it may get to a time that we cannot control them any longer.
The governor also mentioned something that sheds light on the complex scenario behind the recent violence that has broken out in his State: “It is believed that some key people in this nation are behind it and in fact, some international communities are involved.” Insisting that the clashes in the Plateau State are interreligious is merely reductionist and misleading, as Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos has repeated for some time now. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 18/3/2010)
