Date Published: 06/02/09

Niger Delta Ministry a fluke, says Group

A GROUP, Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy (GIPD) says the creation of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry is a subterfuge like its proceeding interventionist agencies and allegedly not intended to solve the oil and gas region’s crisis of development.

“What stops President Umaru Yar'Adua and those who together with him, are currently holding the levers of power from going straight to grant the Niger Delta at least, 30 per cent derivation”, the group said in a communique issued in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday, after their meeting. 

The communique which was signed by the Executive Director of the group, Mr. Akinaka Richard, claimed that the solution to the Niger Delta conflict was not about Interventionist agencies, ''but a genuine commitment and sincere approach to the handling of the underlining issues''

They wondered why  the Federal Government approved N50 billion for the Niger Delta Ministry only to chop off N28 billion of the amount for the reconstruction of the East-West road.

“We want Yar’Adua to profit from history, realize how he came to power and more importantly, to imbibe and emulate the democratic and visionary leadership of his late elder brother, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua”, they said, adding, ''all said, it is high time Nigerian leaders started building and strengthening democratic institutions that will uphold and give justice , equity and freedom to the people, otherwise the country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder’’.

On the 10 years of uninterrupted civil rule, they said the country's politicians and the nation’s political leaders are disappointing.

They said government, should strengthen democratic Institutions in the country in a bid to ensure justice, fairness, equity, peace and progress.

On the president’s seven-point agenda and delivery of  good governance, they said Abuja has not achieved anything claiming, “now our universities are on strike, the health sector is restive while the power sector has become both a nest of corruption and an unleashed darkness on the nation”.

“Perhaps the area  in which government has shown its crudity and capacity to betray the governed more , is in its dealing with the Niger Delta people and the Niger Delta question”, the communique stated.