NIGER DELTA CONGRESS CALLS FOR A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING OF ALL ETHNIC NATIONALITIES OF THE NIGER DELTA

NIGER DELTA CONGRESS CALLS FOR A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING OF ALL ETHNIC NATIONALITIES OF THE NIGER DELTA

Our Ref: NDC/PS/007/2021

Wednesday 21st April, 2021

The Niger Delta Congress has taken note of a disturbing trend of happenings in and around the country which has so far gone unchecked, despite several warnings from the NDC. These can be said to be existential threats to the region and the people of the Niger Delta and we do not intend to fold our arms and do nothing about these developments. 

 

On the 8th of February 2021, the NDC issued a statement warning the presidency against appointing another Northerner as IGP of police, after very reliable intelligence reports suggested that the President had finalized moves to retire a Niger Delta son, Moses Jitoboh in order to make way for another Northerner to take over as I.G of the Nigeria Police Force. In confirmation of our suspicion, on the 6th of April 2021, President Buhari appointed Usman Alkali, another Northerner, as IGP. This blatant disregard for the principles of Federal Character and disrespect for other regions of the country, especially the Niger Delta region, has become a hallmark of the Buhari administration and sadly, nothing is being done to correct this dangerous precedent.

The NDC has at several times within the past 2 years drawn the attention of the public to the suspicious movement of Jihadist elements from the North down south, in the guise of cattle herding and pastoral activities as the case may be. This development has led to increased terrorist activities in the south, including the creation of Jihadist sleeper cells in various parts of the Niger Delta. It has also brought about incessant cases of farmer-herder clashes, which have led to the loss of several lives and made life unbearable for the farming communities of the Niger Delta. 

In all of this, the federal government has failed to set up a proper security framework to check the excesses of this group of people. Instead, they come up with convenient excuses after each occurrence. If these activities continue unchecked, we might one day be chased out of our homes by these enemies of our societal advancement.

The Niger Delta region since the discovery of oil has been continuously plundered for the benefit of other less deserving regions of the country till this very day, with no regard whatsoever for the welfare of the communities from which these resources are gotten, and absolutely no care for the impact of these exploration activities on our environment. The NDC was quite disheartened to learn that the federal government had put in place a Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI) for artisanal gold miners in the North, after showing total disregard for years of struggle for resource control by the people of the Niger Delta. 

Following this development, the NDC issued a statement on the 22nd of July 2020 calling on the federal government to reconsider this wicked move as that will be tantamount to severe injustice to the people of the Niger Delta. Despite several moves made in this regard, the Nigerian government has refused to change its posture on the issue and has continued with this act, showing preference to the North as against the Niger Delta.

Albert Einstein said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Sequel to the aforementioned developments and many more which are too numerous to mention, the Niger Delta Congress has deemed it necessary to call for a stakeholders meeting of all ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta region on Saturday the 15th of May, 2021, in Port Harcourt. This is to enable us discuss issues relating to the socio-economic and socio-political future of our region and people. 

All enquiries should be forwarded to congressnigerdelta@gmail.com +2348143646056, +2348151165274

STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NDC:

ADOKIYE OYAGIRI

(ACTING SPOKESPERSON)

RURAL PEOPLES' ASSEMPLY DECRY THE RATE OF CHEAP SOLAR POWERED LIGHTS USED IN BAYELSA STATE STREET LIGHTING ....... RPA Media Dept.Pamela Jones (Correspondent)

The Management of Rural Peoples' Assembly an NGO in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has spoken up against the rate of poor quality solar lights used in projects in Bayelsa State.

This statement was made while members of the organization in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State was out inspecting the lights at night on the 15th of April, 2021 and observed that the entire stretch of the road from Igbogene to Tenacious Junction along the Mbiama-Yenagoa road were in total darkness, as not more than two solar powered lights were on as the team drove into Yenagoa, by 10pm in the Night. Also, it was observed that from Etegwe to government House also suffered the same fate, as only a few solar lights could be sighted after a long drive in the dark was along the Mbiama-Yenagoa road at about the same time. This means that the lights go off even before it's twelve mid-night, contrary to popular expectation that the lights should stay through the night or most of it.

According to Mr. Abraham, a member of the delegation "the rate at which the people's warefare is taken for granted, even when huge amounts of money has been allegedly spent in fixing these lights not long ago is appalling". Speaking further, he said he was concerned that Bayelsa State contractors and government representatives supervising these projects are conniving to deceive and defraud the state and her indigenes of meaningful development after cashing-out with inflated budget provisions for these embarrassing projects that cannot stand the test of time.

The community stakeholders under the aegis of the Rural Peoples' Assembly (RPA) stated that it would be good that the Bayelsa State Government should consider setting up a "Standard's Management and Monitoring Department" (SMMD) to ensure that projects embarked upon in the state are of considerable quality and standard befitting the budgetary allocation attached to them and serve the purpose for which they were designed. 

You will recall that the current government styled the Prosperity Government, in a bid to bridge the development gap has continued to invest massively in projects that would give a facelift to the state, so it is imperative that such projects achieve the milestone targeted by the government and people for the state. The organization is also by this medium calling on the Prosperity Government to strongly consider the issues of who handles contracts in the state with a view to ensuring better quality, standard, transparency and accountability. It also resolved that henceforth, the organization, in solidarity with the state government will begin a frequent visit to ongoing and existing projects concluded recently with a view to observing and ensuring that the projects meet required standards. 

Congratulations to His Excellency Duoye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State & Deputy on One Year in Office

Congratulations to His Excellency Duoye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State  and his Deputy, His Excellency Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo on their one year anniversary in office, - a call to do more to regain the confidence of Bayelsans.

Your Excellencies, the Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. It is one year since you miraculously assumed the mantle of leadership of Bayelsa State, the home of the people having the forth largest population in Nigeria and bearers of the wealth of the Nigerian State. A great Nation of the Izon People and endowed with vast resources and intelligent stakeholders, such as yourselves.

Bayelsans have decided that they cannot continue to look for a leader when they have been given one already by God almighty, and have decided to stand with you till the end through thick and thin, with a view that, what we have is even better than what we hoped for, considering the circumstances of your eventual emergence as our leaders in the current political dispensation. 

Liberation Movement political party, as one of the forerunners to your victory in the aftermath of the gubernatorial polls wish to used this medium to express our profound respect and appreciation to you for your purposeful leadership and developmental strides within the first one year of your administration even in these trying times of economic hardship and the Covid-19 virus. We do not intend to praise you but want to commend you for your industry, mastery and patience as you stir the ship of our dear state towards prosperity as the captain and assistant captain we have elected you to be in the Bayelsa State project.

While we celebrate your mastery of political administration and sustainable development with other Bayelsans this Valentine's day, we want to also remind you that there is no time, as the years in political spheres pass very swiftly. We urge you to make haste while the sun shines and ensure that you cease this opportunity to write your names in the sands of time by changing the fortunes of Bayelsa State for the better. 

We see your victory as a divine orchestration and implore you to draw strength from the favour bestowed on you by God to convince Bayelsans that, indeed, better times are here. 

We have lots of untapped fortunes and potentials that we want you to assist us to harness and promote for sustainable development of our dear state and its environment, even as we call on you to tighten security in our state and region by coming up with regional plans with other governors in the region, to safeguard our people as they go about their lawful business activities in the state and region, both on land and our waterways. We consider our security in Nigeria as the most important thing right now, and an assurance of your commitment to it, both at the state and regional level will assure us of your desire to be the leader we desire.

Your Excellencies, love is natural. Love for ones heritage is eternal. Wherever we go, we will remain Izon people, so let's be the best Izon people we can be, while we can because time and chance do not wait for anyone. May the prosperity you preach be our portion as we pledge to work hand in gloves with your administration to reposition Bayelsa State in the comity of prosperous states in Nigeria. 

Happy Valentine's day Bayelsa State, and Congratulations to the prosperity administration.

Signed: 

Aniso, Oyindinepre Abraham

(State Chairman)