The genesis of the Niger Delta minority problem began in 1900. The “Oil Rivers Protectorate” (Ijaw land), established in 1884, was originally administered by the British as a separate colony, independent of the Eastern Protectorate (Igbos). Regular administration in the Oil Rivers Protectorate, began in 1891 with the appointment of Sir Claude Macdonald as Consul-General. Macdonald chose Calabar as Headquarters, and grouped the communities of the Oil Rivers into administrative districts called Vice-Consulates (later known as Provincial Commissioners). The first Vice-Consulates were: Calabar; Bonny; Opobo; and Brass. In 1900, the British abrogated the ” Charter” granted the “Royal Niger Company”, and the colonists merged the Oil Rivers Protectorate with the Eastern Protectorate, for administrative purpose. 1900 marked the beginning of subjugation of the Ijaws and other minority groups by the numerically and politically dominant Igbo majority. Another change was introduced in 1906 and the “Southern Nigerian Protectorates” were amalgamated with the “Colony and Protectorate of Lagos”. The structure was again reorganized into Eastern Province with capital in Calabar, and Central Province with capital in Warri. Thus, the Ijaws were balkanized into Western Region and Eastern Region. The Willinks Commission was set up to examine the fears of all Nigerian ethnic minorities, not only Ijaws of Niger Delta. These were the “Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR)” (as it was originally Known) in the East; the “Middle Belt Movement” in the North; and the “Benin and Delta Movement” in the West. The composition of the Commission: Sir Henry Willink (Chairman), Gordon Hardow, Philip Mason, J. S. Shearer, and K. J. Hilton (Secretary). The Ijaws should stop complaining, an Ijaw son was President of Nigeria for 6 years. If Diezani (Oil Minister), and President Jonathan,both indigenes of Bayelsa,could not give Oil Blocks to Niger Delta indigenes, you can’t blame a Yoruba or Fulani man for not extending the same favour to Ijaws. I will write about the Berlin Conference on Africa (1884-1885), summoned by Otto Von Bismark, Chancellor of Germany, another day.
Analysis by Mr Ebinepre from Yenagoa Bayelsa State of Nigeria.
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