South-South Governors Pursue Selfish Agenda – Niger Delta Stakeholders

The people of the Niger Delta are now starting to witness an authentic and practical intervention in their lives and surroundings, as opposed to a mere linguistic, nonchalant and chaotic involvement of the old management team, stakeholders in the delta said on Sunday. from Niger to Uyo.

They also congratulated the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, for addressing the development challenges of the Niger Delta region and making a positive difference in the lives of the people of the oil-rich region and their environment.

In a meeting to address key issues in the region, panellists praised former Federal Information Minister Chief Edwin Clark for holding the sole NDDC administrator Mr. Effiong Akwa in high esteem.

Stakeholders discussed the challenge posed by the governors of the South-South People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

They said that the position of the South-South governors was of sinister importance and that it was supposed to distract the federal government.

“The South-South geopolitical zone can no longer be held hostage by a few people whose sole objective is to work against the plans of the federal government,” key stakeholders said.

Stakeholders urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to play into the hands of those who contribute to the underdevelopment of the South-South geopolitical zone.

Mr President, we urge you not to be distracted by the antics of those who are jealous of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and fear the progress made so far by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the region. may affect their political ambition for 2023 ”.

More specifically, the main stakeholders congratulated Akpabio for responding to the needs of oil producing areas and participating in priority projects such as roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, foreshore walls, piers and land reclamation.

“The opinions of the governors of the South-South are really based on gross ignorance and wrongdoing. The Niger Delta Commission is working. Things are really going on in the region. The Commission is embarking on people-centered projects. There are ongoing development projects in the region. South-South governors have not spoken of facts, at least regarding the Commission’s current efforts to develop the region. ”

Stakeholders, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Stakeholder Forum (NDSF), commended the Commission for the duplication and extension of the East-West road, youth employment and empowerment as well as other agricultural and development programs in the region.

“The NDDC and state governments as development agencies are by no means comparable. The six South-South governors, individually and collectively, have little to show for the billions raised in the form of federal allocation and internally generated revenue (IGR). ”

Briefing the press on the outcome of the meeting, NDSF and South-South Front (SSF) Chairman Chief John Harry said stakeholders commended the NDDC and its officials for taking concrete action. to ensure quality service delivery.

“The NDDC is one of the few government agencies to insist on due process in awarding its contracts. All the communities in the region expect so much from the Commission. ”

Forum members are drawn from the nine states, civil society and oil-producing companies.

“We know that Chief Godswill Akpabio is outdoing South-South governors, but that is not enough for governors to create problems in the region,” Niger Delta stakeholders said.