Politics
Agenda For Niger Delta Governors
In 1957 oil was discovered in commercial quantities by shell in Oloibiri in the old Rivers State, now Bayelsa State. Subsequently it spread to our creeks, lakes, swamps, forests, farmlands and backyards into nine states that constitute the Niger Delta region.
From 1960s to 1970s, there was enormous increase in our revenue generation to an extent, the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowan announced to the whole world that there was surplus money in Nigeria, and that money was not Nigeria’s problem, but the problem was how to spend it.
Thereafter the surplus money was pumped into Lagos, the then capital city of Nigeria, that is from 1960 to 1970s. The sky crappers, Network of roads and other infrastructure, including the overhead bridges and mainland bridge, the longest bridge in West Africa sub-region was built with oil money from the Niger Delta region.
In 1980s to date, since Abuja was chosen and proclaimed as the nation’s new capital city, the oil and gas money from the region has transformed Abuja, a virgin land to one of the best modern and expensive cities in Africa within the shortest period of time.
Right now, infrastructural development of all kinds, including building of bridges where there is no river is going on in Abuja. Besides, oil and gas wealth in the Niger Delta has made Nigeria a leading giant in Africa and a strong voice in the world affairs. Many Nigerians have emerged multibillionaires through acquisition of oil blocks and in engagement in oil and gas business.
Today, if oil dries up and in the events of disintegration of Nigeria as Boko Haram is threatening, Eastern region or Niger Delta region will be the greatest loser. Western region will go with Lagos, Northern region will go with Abuja, Eastern region or Niger Delta region where oil and gas wealth is extracted will go with the hazards and the ruins of years of oil and gas operations and explorations, such as environmental degradation and bastardisation of our natural resources and air.
As you are already aware, the rivers, lakes, creeks, streams, swamps, forests, farmlands and backyards have been degraded and polluted as a result of constant oil spillages and leakages. Also, acid rains occasioned by the regular gas flaring have corroded our buildings and polluted our air. Owning to it, our people suffer from different kinds of diseases, such as lungs, skin disease, asthma, hypertension among others.
Before the discovery of oil, our people were in better health condition, our lands were fertile and all manner of crops thrived without fertilizers. It was similar story with our seas, rivers, lakes, streams etc. They were full of fishes and other sea foods.’ But today all that are now history as our fishermen and farmers return home from fishing and farming with empty hands.
Recall also, the massacre of the Ogonis, the Umuechem in Etche, the sacking of Odi community and the destruction of Gbaramatu kingdom all in Niger Delta region, simply because they asked to be part of the benefit of the oil and gas extracted from their soil. It then means that oil and gas substance which God deposited beneath our ground which was supposed to be a blessing and source of joy to the people of the region, turned out to be curse and source of sorrow to the people but a blessing and source of joy to Nigerians that suffer no hazards of oil and gas operation.
By the way, how many Niger Delta indigenes have oil blocs and are into oil and gas business? How many are working in oil and gas companies? While many other Nigerians work in oil and gas companies, live a happy and decent life, train their children in good schools, the people wallowed in abject poverty. Take employment statistics of the oil and gas companies, especially Shell and NLNG etc one will discover that Niger Delta indigenes are nowhere.
Today God has seen the afflictions, pains, sorrow, tears and blood and has deliberately placed Nigeria, its affairs, its wealth and leadership under Niger Delta through our son, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to see how to utilise this great opportunity to better the lots of Niger Delta people, especially at this time of local content regime. Nigerians and indeed the rest of the world are watching also.
It now becomes imperative for the Governors of the Niger Delta States to rise up and seize this God-given opportunity of Dr. Jonathan’s Presidency to redress the years of imbalance, denials and deprivations by assisting and involving Niger Delta people in business, training and recruitment in oil and gas sector
First, the government should push for the release of the reports of Barr. Ledum Mitee led Technical Committee On Niger Delta. Nigerians need to know the recommendations of the committee. Secondly, the government should put pressure on the president and the minister of petroleum to order the relocation of the corporate headquarters of the oil and gas companies to Niger Delta, its operational base.
There was plan to relocate those headquarters in the past before it was put on hold due to crisis in the Niger Delta. Now that peace and normalcy had returned to the region, it behoves on the officials of these companies to fulfill their promise.
The governors of Niger Delta should promote and encourage joint investments in oil and gas business by establishing Niger Delta Refinery and Niger Delta oil and gas company. They should build the world first class and state of the Arts University of oil and gas to be known as University of Petrogas to be specific in oil and gas related courses sited in Oloibiri where oil was first discovered as an appreciation or in Ogoni as an appreciation to the sacrifice of the people. It should be joint venture with Federal Government through ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the oil and gas companies with a great edifice to be called OIL HOUSE, as an oil and gas memorial, just as the Western region have cocoa house in Ibadan.
Apart from oil and gas wealth of the region, Niger Delta is also the maritime base of Nigeria. But it is regrettable that the political leaders had failed to utilise these great commercial blessings of the region for the benefit of the people. Had they participated in the taping of these enormous resources, God endowed in our region ever since, they wouldn’t have been the most weeping zone over the payment of eighteen thousand naira minimum wage to its toiling workers. In fact, Niger Delta workers would have been earning different and better salary than the workers from other zones. Or at most would have been the first zone to implement the new salary structure.
However, this suggestion is applicable to South-South Governors which of course are also Governors of the Niger Delta States. Although, the BRACED Commission consisting of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross, Edo and Delta States, headed by our respected son, Ambassador Joe Keshi has been set up, but little is known about what its set goals are. Nevertheless, the commission, the Governors and the political leaders of the zone should brace up with the challenges of poverty and unemployment in the commercial rich-zone to eliminate these ills.
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) an interventionist agency was created by the federal government for important and special projects for the region, but it ended up in building water tanks and struggling for roads maintenance in the cities with state and municipal government has become interventionist agency for friends and relations. It is the same way the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Commission (OMPADEC) failed to achieve anything for the region. Nobody cared and talked.
The past Governors of the region, from 1999 to 2007 were known for their struggle for resource control which brought about the militancy in the region and snow balled or catapulted our Son, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to Presidency. It was a great achievement. As for the present Governors, we are yet to know what their agitation is for the region. I think if it could be for the relocation of oil and gas corporate headquarter to Niger Delta, the better.
The Niger Delta governors should sit up, particularly this time that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is on ‘the seat. Because if they fail collectively to achieve any tangible thing for the region and there is a new brand of youth restiveness or insurgence in the region as a result of poverty and joblessness, it will not be directed against Nigeria as a nation again, but against the present leaders of the region for their inability to seize President Jonathan’s presidency for the betterment of our people and the region. This is the greatest opportunity the people of the Niger Delta cannot afford to miss.
Ogbuehi, wrote in from Port Harcourt.
Prince Ike Ogbuehi
Politics
Atiku Quits PDP, Says Decision Heartbreaking

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
Politics
2027: Group Vows To Prevail On Diri To Dump PDP For APC
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Politics
Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations

The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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