‘N’Delta, Worst Victim Of Political Malaise’

A delegate representing Delta State at the ongoing National Conference, Prof. Godini Darah, has described the Niger Delta region as the worst victim of inequity, corruption and bad governance in Nigeria.
Darah made the claim in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Abuja.
“Niger Delta states are the worst victims of inequity, bad laws, plunder, corruption and bad governance that have happened in Nigeria.
“This is because we are the ones whose resources have been stolen for 45 years since 1969, when the Petroleum Decree No 51 was enacted by the military regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
“By that decree, the Federal Government has monopoly over income and revenue that come from oil and gas and Niger Delta is floating on oil and gas.
“So, we are the most injured, most exploited and the most dispossessed region in the country.’’
Darah said for this reason, Niger Delta delegates were prepared “morally, philosophically and intellectually” not just to set the tone for the conference but also to correct the injustice that had allegedly been meted to the region.
He said that the delegates had conducted an extensive research on all the ramifications of petroleum resources and how it had harmed and injured their people, society and territory.