Date Published: 10/14/10

Jonathan is Special Gift to Nigeria -Hon Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo
…Says We must build Niger Delta for the People

Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo

Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo is a household name in Nigerian politics. He is former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as well as a former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives. He is known for his objective approach to issues and believed to have zero tolerance for unprogressive issues.

His outstanding achievements in NDDC as MD are still reference points till date. Presently, he is the Chairman of the Board, Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority, a position, with which he has used to revive the previously moribund authority.

Excerpts;

On Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee Celebration, he says

Yes, Nigeria has so much to celebrate. Leadership has always been Nigeria’s greatest problem. Former President Obasanjo came to straighten the course. Today, President Jonathan has come to put fire in the whole system, just to ensure that the entire system is overhauled. Jonathan is showing and shall continue to run a disciplined government. The greatest thing every Nigerian should celebrate is the emergence of President Jonathan as a President. He is God’s special gift to Nigerians. What is important is that we have a leader who is giving the country direction. Every patriotic Nigerian should rally round him to build a greater Nigeria.

On the request by INEC for change in time table of next year’s election

Well, if they say they want more time to conduct proper voters’ register, to enable them do a thorough job, then, there is nothing wrong with that. The laws were made by Nigerians and could be amended in the interest of the nation. Jonathan is taking democracy back to the masses, who are the actual owners. He is taking voting back to the people themselves and no longer where a few persons will vote on their behalf. That is how important elections are. Before now, ballot boxes were being snatched and citizens denied their right to franchise.

Today, Jonathan has come to restore sanity in the system. How can you take the right of other people and appropriate them as your own? Every segment of this present day government is moving in that direction. Jonathan is God -sent and we must listen to him. We, the people must have a change of heart and attitude. We must come to realize that enough is enough. The world has left us behind. Let us rally round Jonathan so that we can catch up with the world, because, he is providing and is ready to continue to provide even more visionary leadership.

The state of the Niger Delta

Let’s get things clear. The amnesty programme of the Federal Government was implemented. The post Amnesty programme is on. Just as the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. You don’t expect that in a short while, the entire problems of the region will be solved overnight. The support must come from every service providing agency in the region. That is in this case, from all Federal Parastatals like the Ministry of Niger Delta, the NDDC, the state and Local governments, Oil Companies, among others.

Everybody must come to the realization that enough is enough. Lets us spend the monies meant for the Niger Delta in the Niger Delta to build infrastructure, to build the Niger Delta, create wealth in the region, because, if the people who are providing services in the Niger Delta do not come to this realization, then, no matter the volume of money that is spent by the Federal Government in the region, it will be difficult to turn the region around. Everybody must come to the realisation that monies meant to be spent in the Niger Delta Should be spent in the region.

Just like every other part of the nation, not only in the Niger Delta region. When we were at the national Assembly and even up till now, the complaint in most parts of the Country, particularly, in the North is that they are underdeveloped. Totally underdeveloped. The poverty you see in the Niger Delta is also visible in other parts of the country, particularly, in the North. The whole Country must come to the realization that it is time to forget the past and look at the future. We must forget the former ways of doing things and face the future.

On the social responsibility performance of oil and gas companies in the region

Yes, oil companies in the region are trying. Oil and gas companies naturally are not in the business of development, but in the business of finding and producing oil. In the past, there was the absence of government and that was why when the people were not seeing or feeling the presence of government, it was only the oil companies that they were seeing and since the oil companies were partners with the Federal government, they were holding the oil companies responsible. If not, it is not their duty to be involved in development. Anchored on the need to be good corporate citizens, the oil companies must play some roles in development. Whether they are playing that role is the issue, they are trying, but can do more.

Resource Control

Yes, that is the ideal situation, but , I can tell you that all those kind of issues have a way of resolving themselves. For instance, there was so much agitation for resource control. At a time, some of us started asking for not just resource control, but resource management; so, you can make your choice. Of course, people of the Niger Delta, just like every other Nigerian want and deserve to be key stakeholders in the Oil Industry.

Agitation for creation of additional states

Nigeria used to have four regions. From there, we moved to twelve, and later, eighteen, etc, up till the present day thirty six. If they are talking of creation of additional states, they should come to Delta and create two additional states for us. The old Bendel needs at least, two additional states, because, that region is very difficult to develop and the only way you can bring development nearer to the people is by creating additional states. If they can create an Anioma state from Delta and a Coastal state from Delta, that will be very good. If you create two additional states from the present day Delta state, it will solve the problem of development in that area. There are huge oil installations in the area.

Northern alliance to stop Jonathan

Jonathan is a great Nigerian. He is a true son of Nigeria. Let all Nigerians rally round him because of the visionary leadership that he is giving and will always provide for this country.

Advise

Nigerians should stop sleeping, but should wake up and work harder. The only way to create wealth is through hard work and we need to create wealth in Nigeria, both for this generation and many more to come.