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I never knew the day will come when I would appreciate Jame Onanefe Ibori for fighting for the 13% derivation allocation policy that himself and his extended family, starting from Emmanuel Uduaghan to all those who continue to receive monthly alerts whenever federal allocation is paid to Delta State. But when I learned that the petroleum industry bill has been passed with the reduction from 13% to 3% for derivation allocation, I remembered Ibori. But my memory quickly jumped to the man who more or less bankrolled Buhari\u2019s election \u2013 Rotimi Amaechi. The irony hit me hard because the goose that lays the golden egg in Nigeria is deprived of nourishment. I recently wondered why a place in the North East of Nigeria – Baga, arguably produces more fish than the whole of Delta State. I recently also wondered why cassava harvest and palm oil production have declined considerably in the last 3 decades in the inlands of the Niger Delta? All these can be attributed to petroleum exploration and exploitation. Today, the traditional means of livelihood of the people of the Niger Delta has been disrupted and extreme poverty is destroying the fabric of the communities that once enjoyed peace and progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another dimension of the present madness that involves the politicians from the Niger Delta is Nigeria’s indebtedness. Rotimi Amaechi is busy doing all to impress the caliphate while selling his people for free. From the Transportation University in Buhari\u2019s home – Daura, to railway lines to Buhari\u2019s cousins in Niger Republic, the magnitude of such thoughtlessness is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria. Timipre Silvia is glowing in the fact that with all the corruption allegations against him, he is a superficial kingpin of the Buhari administration. The ministry of petroleum continues to squander resources from his homeland on subsidies that goes into the pockets of those very far from his land. The juiciest positions in the oil sector are occupied by incompetent men and women who are not his kinsmen. Again, such ineptitude is beyond comprehension. But this is where we find ourselves. But the most painful is the Deputy Senate president – Ovie Omo-Agege who is a signatory to the slashing of the 13% derivation allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Niger Delta is arguably the most endowed region in Nigeria in terms of human resources. From Burna Boy – Nigeria’s Grammy Award Superstar to Bruce Onobrakpeya in the Arts, the Niger Delta is blessed. From Richard Mofe Damijo to Omoni Iboli in Nollywood, the Niger Delta is incredibly talented. From Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to Tony Elumelu and Jim Ovia, the Niger Delta boast of the best brains in finance and entrepreneurship. From Nigeria’s first female Vice-Chancellor and Mathematician Professor Grace Alele Williams to inventor per excellence Brigadier General Otuanovwe Ovadje, the Niger Delta should be the home of science and technology. Yet, the region swims in poverty. The region is flooded with pollution from oil exploration and exploitation. If there were research on the health of Niger Deltans, there would be discoveries on ailments that are direct consequences of oil exploration. Yet Omo-Agege, Amaechi, and Silvia are part of a government that continues to make matters worse in the Niger Delta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n