“The present political situation in Nigeria is one of great flux; there are so many uncertainties, as this analysis makes clear. The Niger Delta, and the calculations of the leading actors in the region – state functionaries, politicians, armed militias, Western governments and the oil companies – will play a major role in the unfolding drama as they seek to shape the electoral outcome to their advantage. There are perils, not least the possibility of the armed militias using chaotic and fraudulent elections to force through a settlement of the Niger Delta question through more violence,thus threatening national cohesion, oil flows to global markets, and ultimately the political and economic future of the West African region for which Nigeria serves proudly as a powerhouse.”
