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