By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
The group, Niger Delta Patriots (NDP), has reminded the Federal Government of Nigeria not forget in a hurry that the activities of militants in the creeks of Niger Delta nearly crippled the Nigerian economy some years ago, with a threat that if the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board is not constituted within the next 14 days, the whole world will hear from them.
The NDP made the threat today while briefing journalists in Asaba, on their demand tagged “A STRIDENT CALL ON LEADERS OF OUR NATION TO URGENTLY CONSTITUTE NDDC BOARD”.
At the Press briefing, the group, led by Dr. Victor Okwureogu, Convener, Chief David Omoru, Co-Convener and Prince Obaro Unuafe, Secretary, expressed worries that there is a growing concern that some Niger Delta leaders are beginning to tinker with the idea of replicating the NDDC in the North of Nigeria.
According to the NDP “More worrisome lately is the Federal Government’s plan to pipe gas from the Niger Delta to Kaduna for onward sale to Niger Republic and Chad. The cost of this project will gulp billions of dollars of tax payers’ money. The Federal Government seems not to be worried about the cost as the motive is just to replicate whatever the Niger Delta has in the North.
“Note also that the Buhari Administration is hell bent on discovering oil in the North at all cost which has materialized according to the FG. It also appears that some Northern States are becoming uncomfortable with the derivation principle which gives some Niger Delta States more revenue from the federation account than some Northern States”.
While alleging that the idea of probing the Interim Management Committee (IMC) was diversionary and would certainly be counterproductive, the Convener, Dr. Okwureogu said NDP want all campaigns of calumny against the NDDC to stop henceforth. That everyone should exercise patience while they urgently call on Mr. President to commence actions on the IMC report and constitute NDDC board immediately.
“We equally call on all warring stakeholders in the Niger Delta, especially as it pertains to the NDDC to sheathe their swords in order so as to stop being used as cannon fodder by enemies of our region. If there are tendencies that want the Federal Government to scrap the NDDC, our own sons and daughters in the Niger Delta should not join them with excuses to succeed through their own bickering.
“Finally, we need to sound it clearly that Nigeria is not prepared for another round of militant agitation in the Niger Delta to add to the challenges currently faced by the citizens. The goose that has been laying the golden eggs for the nation is at verge of extinction”. He added.
The Niger Delta Patriots equally call for immediate action by the FG on critical infrastructures destroyed by the flood in the Niger Delta region.
