Obasanjo and the NDDC

by

 Micheal Gold.

Nigerians and indeed the people of the Niger Delta would have thought that with the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo led government, hope and respite has come to the people of the area saying goodbye to poverty and unrest. But far from the truth, all that are illusions and figment of their imagination as the government is yet to release the take off grant for the commission to start work as expected nearly six months after its inauguration. If one may ask why must a region like the Niger Delta which contributes well over 90 per cent of the total revenue to the federation account be allowed to suffer this deprivation.

The NDDC was set up mainly to address the various problems that have bedeviled the area such as mass unemployment, absence of good road, poor communication network, water, electricity and a host of other things. The aim was for the board to function effectively so that it can tackle these problems with a view to bringing succor to the neglected and dejected people of the area, but today that dream of papa de-de oyo yo- a common parlance in Delta state when children are expecting something good is still a mirage as the people are still languishing in their squalor. The Obasanjo administration is like a serpent (snake) one comes across at night without knowing whose side its head is. Since the inception of this government a lot of policies have been formulated to alleviate the suffering of the common man. Prominent among them are the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP), Graduate Employment Scheme (GES) and the Anti-Corruption Bill among others. How functional are these programmes? The Poverty Alleviation Programme obituary was announced late last year and had since been buried, the graduate employment scheme was hijacked at the top and so only few among million job seekers passed through the whiskers and one is sure that its obituary would be announced soon. The anti- corruption law has not nailed anybody because those indicted so far are mainly "the untouchables" who cannot be used for the rituals (imprisonment).

The swift take -off the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would have eased tension in the area because job opportunities would have been open to the unemployed youths in the area. Once again, tension is building up in the area and the wave of armed robbery and other crimes are on the increase. Only two weeks ago the deputy governor of Delta State, Chief Benjamin Elue convoy ran into a road block mounted by armed robbers along Warri Sapele Road and engaged the deputy governor’s security men in gun battle. Investigation have revealed that these hoodlums are not illiterate but graduates of higher institutions who have been jobless for considerable period with the government not helping matters. How do they survive except take to various criminal vices in order for them to make both ends meet. Today the wealth of the Niger Delta is being used in developing other areas while the owners of this wealth suffer. The Niger Delta which consist of nine states cannot boast of any modern infrastructure such as good roads, telecommunication, hospitals and schools. Even at the federal level the region is seriously marginalised and each time the citizens protest, it is usually met with stiff opposition. As a result of the people’s political will and economic desire to survive, they have made a lot of sacrifices for government in terms of material and human resources. This has culminated into the death of her prominent innocent citizens such as late Major Issac Adaka Borro and Ken Saro-Wiwa and destruction of properties such as the military invasion of Odi town in November 1999.

For how long will they continue to turn us around and deceive us, killing and maiming our vocal leaders. How true is the statement by Senator Fred Brume, (PDP Delta Central) to the effect that: "if given the correct and right circumstance, the Niger Delta can be transformed to become a major industrialised and tourist belt of tropical Africa." No doubt the Niger Delta is one of the most endowed environment in the world only comparable to the Amazon but as a result of oil exploitation and exploration a lot of environmental and ecological damages have been done to man, animals and fishes. Today, the inland and waterways are polluted and contaminated by dangerous and poisonous substance endangering the health of the people and government does not take its development serious.

Newspapers headline on youth restiveness in the Niger Delta is a daily occurrence with government blaming the people. The oppression the people are subjected to by the authorities even when they are right is painful; they are treated like a child who asks for bread and gets stone in return.

The President concealed hatred and dislike for the Niger Delta manifested glaringly late last year, when he said that the Niger Delta terrain will not allowed for any meaningful work because of the rains. One can quickly add that that same rains has not stop construction work in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja; neither has it stop the oil companies in the Niger Delta from operating or does the federal government refuse tax paid into its confers during the rainy season? So, tell me who is fooling who? The government like previous ones is only interested in troop deployment to the area. The President’s lukewarm attitude and his political utterances towards the development of the Niger Delta is of great concern to the citizenry. In its resolve to divert the attention of the people and reduce their focus on the dormant Niger Delta Development Commission, the federal government has instituted a law suit challenging the 36 states for their request for resource control.

All these are calculated attempt and delay measures it has adopted to discourage the agitators from their genuine request. The Obasanjo administration has run out of ideas and its gradually crash landing. Democracy can only triumph when the people can meet their daily needs of food as well as other essential infrastructure.

The Niger Delta region should not be looked upon as an hostile area to the federal government because of its genuine demand for a fair share of the national wealth. After all, the wealth in question is from oil which is at its backyard. The people of the Niger Delta can hold their own. The federal government must listen to their yearning in order to arrest the frequent occurrence of youth restiveness and other criminal vices in the area.

The governors of the nine states comprising the Niger Delta region have performed creditably in matters affecting the youth in addition to organising workshops, seminars and talk shops in order to inculcate moral value unto them. But more still needs to be done in terms of job creation and opportunities. Until the Niger Delta Development Commission is given the attention it deserves, the people of the region will continue to fight the Obasanjo administration.