Stakeholders from the Niger Delta extraction have charged politicians elected to govern the nation and States in various capacities to take holistic approach in dealing with issues related to the Niger Delta region .
Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation Reverend Nnimmo Bassey, in his address at the 2nd Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence (NDAC 2023) held at Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort, Port Harcourt, Rivers State said the country just had elections and by 29th May 2023, new persons will saddle the political leadership hence the need to set agenda for the incoming government.
In his words: Considering the nature of our political system where the major parties are indistinguishable in terms of programmes and organizing ideas, it is a major duty for citizens to make clear demands on the system and to ensure that leaders are held to account based on their promises, declarations, and the constitution. It is our hope that this convergence will not be a hand wringing exercise garnished with a long list of regrets. This must be an agenda setting convergence, and those agenda must include both what we expect of our political leaders and what we must do as citizens.
Reverend Bassey stressed that Socio-ecological issues hardly take the forefront in political discussions in Nigeria, which Stakeholders have to push with a different kind of presidential Town Hall hosted on the 7th of February 2023 at the University of Abuja where Four presidential candidates participated and discussions about the environment was brought to the spotlight highlighting why the environment must no longer being brushed aside in policy circles in Nigeria and Africa.
Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation while explaining the
challenges of the Niger Delta region, said the Willink Commission Report of 1958 and the activities of various agencies set by government exhibited a poor focus on solving those problems but gaining a dubious reputation of being cesspits of corruption.
According to the Director, such agencies include the Niger Delta Development Board (1960), the Oil Minerals Areas Producing Development Commission (1992), Niger Delta Development Commission (2000) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (2008).
Reverend Bassey recommended that the Nigerian government should take steps to recognize ecocide as a crime and ensure the prosecution of offenders.
In his keynote address, Professor Sofiri Peterside said the role of the Forum should be to insert itself in the Regional and National political process in the mould of what has been described as a sacred duty.
Professor Peterside while noting that Niger Delta region is one of the world’s most important wetland and marine ecosystems and home to over 30 million people, said the area also hosts the location of massive oil and gas deposits, extracted by the National Oil Company-Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and multinational oil companies.
On his part, Spokesperson Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Mr. Ken Robinson frowned at the alleged non inclusion of flooding in the 2023 budget of States and Federal government of Nigeria.
Mr. Robinson stated that the flooding as projected by National Emergency Management Agency is going to be a coastal one that will be more dangerous to coastal communities.
Urging the organizers of the Alternative Convergence to use the opportunity to alert coastal communities to be vigilant and that government should also be put on alert to make sure that proper planning is carried out to save the people.
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