The second south-south economic summit that took place recently at Asaba, the capital of Delta State is a welcomed development and it will be good if such summit will continue to take place from time to time. The most important thing is that we should always try to implement decisions reached for the betterment of the inhabitants of the region. What about the decisions reached at the first summit in Calabar, capital of Cross River State? I hope we made progress on the decisions reached. The states are as follows, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Delta acronym “BRACED”. At this summit, the governors called for the urgent review of the current revenue allocation formula. The issue of worsening power was deliberated upon. They also recommended the establishment of a Niger Delta Energy Corridor (NDEC) so as to properly connect the people, industry and natural resources for it will create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the region. The governors also agreed to implement the agricultural development programme. This, they agreed should be given top priority. I was able to monitor the summit effectively through the channels news (broadcast outfit) as a result of improved power supply at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun senior staff quarters. When the governors and other invited dignitaries were suffocating due to power outage as reported in the broadcast media, if it was possible, I would have assisted in their own ‘cooling’ at Asaba from Effurun. However, it became a situation of my brother I cannot help you being the statement General Idi Amin of Uganda told General Yakubu Gowon while attending OAU meeting at Kampala in Uganda during the overthrow of his administration on the 29th of July 1975.
It is appropriate to state here that the Niger Delta Region is an area of more than 28000 square kilometres of mangrove swamps and meandering waterways, which stretches for over 300 miles from the Benin River in the West to the Cross River in the East. It is a truism to say that the Niger Delta Region is one of the world’s largest wetlands. It covers a large area of Nigeria and depending on the political, ecological or hydrological definition of what constitutes the Delta.
The many years neglect of the Niger Delta Region tagged “the goose that lays the golden eggs” without being cared for is the main cause of youths restiveness and aggressiveness within the region. However, it is abundantly clear that the military laid the foundation for the neglect immediately the first republic collapsed in 1966 (as a result of a bloody military coup led by Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu) and continued with the use of arms until the coming of civil rule on May 29, 1999 under the leadership of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo popularly known as “OBJ”.
For many years, the Niger Delta People have been restive as well as aggressive; as a result, they called for an interventionist agency to stem the tide of series of agitation. The fierce agitation was once resisted by the military, which even led to events that took the life of a foremost Nigerian environmentalist, civil rights and playwright, Ken Saro Wiwa who was judicially murdered in November 1995 by the Abacha’s military junta. This led immediately to Nigeria’s suspension from the commonwealth. Also, the series of agitation from the Niger Delta youths led to political crises that cast the government then in bad light. Oil producing companies lost substantial man-hours as a result of militant youth action who felt cheated and dejected; this finally led to the destruction of some communities in the region.
The late Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige once said and I quote, “All Nigerians are thieves, stealing the property of the Niger Delta. Nigerians have stolen the treasures of the Niger Delta and if care is not taken, we will face the wrath of God because it is a sin to continue to plunder the resources of the people”. I think and believe the injustice might have necessitated the Kaima Declaration by the Ijaw youths on the 11th of December 1998 to make the country ungovernable just like youths of South Africa did during the apartheid policy.
Despite the fact that the south-south governors are calling for increased revenue formula during the just concluded second summit, there is need for them to judiciously manage whatever allocation that is coming to their states as this will drastically reduce unemployment on one hand, youths restiveness and aggressiveness. Happily, the presidency said through the vice president, Architect Namadi Sambo that it will continue to support the Niger Delta region. Whatever the case may be, allocations coming to the region should be properly and effectively utilized for the benefits, progress and development of the masses in the region. It must not go into private pockets through the awards of fictitious contracts to party loyalists among others. However, there is need for the Federal Government to instill economic justice and consciously eliminate inequity in resource allocation as to enhance developmental investment in the region. In order to achieve this vision, it is also proper to device well articulated and coordinated strategic planning for the development of the Niger Delta Region. This is because the region holds the ace in a delicate balance of power, and therefore holds the key to the stability of Nigeria. To this end, it is crystal clear that the sustainable development of the region is non-negotiable. Based on the last summit, we should tender practical solutions to the vexed Niger Delta question. This is because the sustenance of peace is the harbinger of development and meaningful progress. The most important project for all of us is to pursue the enthronement of peace in our society. While the federal, state and local governments as well as our tenant oil companies need to formulate policies and programmes that are youths friendly and peace-oriented. Thanks to the current democratic structure under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan popularly known as ‘GEJ’ for the training of some of the Niger Delta youths both in Nigeria and abroad. This is kudos to the GEJ’s administration. I wish the administration elbow grease.
It is a truism to say that the Niger Delta is the treasure trove of the nation, the producer of the ‘black-gold’ a.k.a. crude oil that is responsible for over 90% of the revenue base of the nation. I am of the strong view that the 13% derivation approved for the oil producing states is too meager considering the fact that the states have suffered a lot of environmental degradation and pollution. The inhabitants of the oil producing states are living in ghettos as well as abject poverty. A cursory look at section 162 subsection 2, paragraph 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 stipulated 13% as the minimum. However, there should be need for increase to heighten, in particular, the pace of development of the hitherto neglected states of the Niger Delta Region.
Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, cpae, son, emba, ksq is a Mass Communications Scholar, Public Affairs Analyst/Commentator and Head, Academic and Physical Planning (A&PP) of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State. (08036724193). charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
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