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WCC Statement
Here is the statement on Nigeria which central committee approved.
World Council of Churches
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Geneva, Switzerland
11-19 September 1997
Document No. 8.2a-d2
MEMORANDUM AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON NIGERIA
1. Nigeria is one of the richest and most powerful African nations.
This proud land provided some of the most gifted leaders to the
movement for African independence from colonial rule, and key
architects of the rule of law and standards of governance embodied in
the Charter of the Organization for African Unity and in the African
Convention on Human and Peoples Rights. Today it is most often cited as
an example of official corruption, abuse of power, systematic
violation of the rights of its people and economic mismanagement.
2. After bright beginnings when it gained independence from Britain in
1960, Nigeria has been almost constantly governed by the military.
Successive coups d BHtat have so eroded the democratic constitutional
framework of governance put in place at independence that the people
has been left without legal recourse against the misdeeds of their
powerful military masters. The hopes of Nigerians and of the
international community were raised when internationally-monitored
presidential elections were held in June 1993 and Chief Moshood Abiola
was elected by popular ballot. Those hopes were yet again dashed
when the military again took power under the leadership of the present
ruler, General Sani Abacha, the elections were annulled and Chief
Abiola imprisoned.
3. The present government has abolished virtually all the basic
freedoms of the Nigerian people. Political opposition has been
suppressed, trade union activities banned, freedom of the press
severely curtailed, and citizens right to independent courts of law
systematically denied. Nigerians have been rendered defenseless and
live in constant fear of repressive military and police forces.
4. The execution in defiance of massive international protest of Ken
Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders of the Movement for the Survival of
the Ogoni People (MOSOP), in November 1995 drew attention to the
particularly dramatic situation of Ogoniland. A joint World Council of
Churches and All-Africa Conference of Churches team visited this
region and published a report of its interviews with victims of
environmental destruction and brutality by the Nigerian security
forces.
5. These testimonies focused attention on the operations of
international petroleum companies in Ogoniland and especially on
Shell International Ltd., the main partner in the oil consortium,
criticizing it in particular for its part in environmental destruction
and for its collaboration with the military regime. Since the
publication of its Ogoniland report, Shell officers have been in
dialogue with the WCC on the findings of the report and other matters
related to corporate responsibility.
6. Shell and other companies point out that as private business
enterprises, they remain outside the political structures of the country
and cannot be held accountable for the actions of the government. Yet
the fact that revenue from oil production accounts for some 80% of
Nigeria s Gross national Product, and some 90% of its export earnings,
shows that oil companies have considerable influence and potential for
helping to create conditions for a return to a just democratic order.
7. In light of these considerations, and in support of the churches of
Nigeria, the Central Committee, meeting in Geneva, 11-19 September
1997,
7.1. Calls insistently upon the Government of Nigeria to respect the
results of the June 1993 presidential elections;
7.2. Notes the stated intention of the Government of Nigeria to
restore civilian rule by 1 October 1998;
7.3. Calls upon the Government of Nigeria to advance that date and to
proceed immediately with the transition and to complete it without
further delay by reinstating full democratic freedoms;
7.4. Calls for the initiation of a fully participatory national
dialogue in Nigeria to elaborate a new constitutional framework for
governance which places the military firmly under civilian control,
assures fair ethnic and regional representation in government,
establishes an equitable sharing of revenues and guarantees
fundamental human rights:
7.5. Draws attention to the fact that the consortium of international
petroleum companies, in which Shell International Ltd. is the major
partner, provides the principal source of foreign export earnings for
Nigeria, and therefore has considerable potential for helping to create
conditions for the restoration of democracy;
7.6. Notes with dismay the accusations that these companies have been
responsible for severe environmental devastation in Nigeria and that
they have cooperated with Nigerian military and police forces in the
repression of the civilian populations in areas where they carry on
operations;
7.7. Welcomes the dialogue undertaken by Shell International, Ltd.
with the WCC and several of its member churches and related agencies
with respect to its corporate responsibility for environmental
protection and the consequences of its operations for the population
of the areas where they are carried out;
7.8. Calls upon Shell International, Ltd. to extend this dialogue to
include open and direct discussions with the churches of Nigeria, free
from government or other restraints;
7.9. Urges Shell International, Ltd. to negotiate in good faith with
the freely chosen representatives of the Ogoni people and with
representatives of civil society organizations in other parts of
Nigeria with respect to its corporate responsibilities in that
country, including reparations for environmental destruction for which
it is responsible;
7.10. Considers that the health of corporations is not to be judged on
profit alone, but by the ethical standards applied in the pursuit of
business;
7.11. Welcomes the elaboration by Shell International Ltd. of a new
"Statement of General Business Principles," and the commitment it has
undertaken to support fundamental human rights, and calls upon the WCC
and its member churches, especially the churches of Nigeria, to
monitor closely the implementation of these policies and principles;
7.12. Urges all international oil companies active in Nigeria to
review their operations in Nigeria with respect to their environmental
and social impact, to use their influence with the Government of
Nigeria to promote full respect for human rights and democratic
freedoms, and if their initiatives are ignored, to withhold their
cooperation from the Nigerian Government until such time as the rule
of law is restored, effective protections for human rights are
established, and a civilian government freely chosen by the people is
firmly in place;
7.13. Calls upon member churches, related agencies and councils of
churches to keep the situation in Nigeria under close review and to
advocate with their governments the withholding of economic, military
and other cooperation with the Government of Nigeria until such time as
full democratic rule is restored and the military is placed under
effective civilian control;
7.14. Requests member churches, related agencies and councils of
churches to inform the WCC of their actions in this respect and on the
results of further dialogues they may undertake directly with Shell
International Ltd. and other members of the international oil
consortium in Nigeria;
7.15. Encourages the churches of Nigeria in their witness for human
rights, justice and peace in Nigeria through interfaith efforts with
the followers of Islam and in cooperation with civil society
organizations in a common effort to restore democracy, good governance
and respect for the equality and human dignity of all Nigerians;
7.16. Assures the churches of Nigeria of the prayers and active
support of the WCC as they assume the burden of costly discipleship.