Leon Usigbe And Kenneth Ehigiator
13 September 2008
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly have called on the people of the Niger Delta to support the federal government's creation of a ministry for the region, describing the development as a bold initiative taken by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to address their problems.
Uduaghan, in a statement issued yesterday, said the new ministry would create the necessary platform for issues relating to policy and programmes on the development of the Niger Delta to be discussed at the highest level of government.
He said: " The step by the president demonstrates his seriousness to tackle this challenge in a meaningful and co-ordinated manner and I would urge our people to support it. As a first step, it is extremely positive, although I wish to note there are larger issues in the region that would require constitutional amendment.
"The benefits of having this ministry is such that issues of policy and programme for the region can now be discussed at the highest policy making level of the federal government and close attention paid to it."
The governor noted that if such a ministry had existed before now, the strategic East-West Road that had been in a state of disrepair for a longtime would have been fixed long before now, stressing that the inadequate attention given it explains the scanty budgetary allocations the road was accorded in the 2008 budget, against the huge budgetary outlay it requires.
Uduaghan said the existence of the Ministry of the Niger Delta would further challenge multinational oil companies operating in the region to contribute to infrastructure development in the region as well as job creation.
The governor, who said that job creation remained the potent way youth restiveness in the region could be checked, noted that the positive results of the state's allocation of 50% of its 13% derivation to its intervention agency in the riverine oil bearing communities through its development commission is an indication that with resolve and commitment, the challenges before the region could be surmounted.
However, the National Assembly will keenly monitor activities of the newly created Niger Delta ministry to ensure that it meets the objectives of its creation. The Deputy Speaker urged the governors of the states in the Niger Delta area to sensitise their subjects on the need to rally support for the ministry in order to smoothen effective delivery of services and facilitate socio economic development of the region.
The Deputy Speaker told the people of the Niger Delta that the ministry was capable of identifying the problems of the region in a comprehensive way that will provide permanent solutions to them.
He promised that with the creation of the Ministry, the National Assembly was prepared to properly monitor it to ensure that monies appropriated for the development of the area were properly and judiciously utilized.
Praising President Umaru Musa YarÁdua for the creation of a full ministry for Niger Delta, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Usman Bayero Nafada, said in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday that it was also time for militants in the region to lay down their arms and cooperate with the efforts of government.
The statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hammed Bello, said the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry was an indication of the determination of the federal government to find lasting solution to the recurrent crises in the Niger Delta area.
He also congratulated Alhaji Yayale Ahmed on his appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), saying the appointment was in recognition of his hard work and exemplary leadership in the civil service.
Meanwhile, more reactions have continued to trail the creation of the new ministry. Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Power Aginighan, giving kudos to the government on the initiative, told reporters in Warri, Delta State, that Yar'Adua has made history with the creation of the ministry.
"The action of the President in creating the ministry with two ministers - one in charge of infrastructure and the other one in charge of youth empowerment - is a significant milestone in the road map to peace, security and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
"The action no doubt underscores the Federal Government's sincerity at addressing the multifarious problems facing the Niger Delta which led to the making the Niger Delta as one of the components of the seven point of the President.
"The ministry will bring more attention to the region in terms of deployment of resources in addressing the issues of paradox of poverty in the midst of so much wealth of the Niger Delta," he said.
He however tasked the "leaders, youths and all women of goodwill in the region should rally round the Federal Government."
Also, he urged the state governments of the region to establish oil commissions to administer the 13 per cent derivation fund accruing to the states from the Federation Account, adding that this would go a long way to complement the Federal Government's current move to fast track the development and growth of the region.
Said he: "I seize this opportunity to call for the establishment of oil commissions to administer the derivation funds in all the states of the Niger Delta, especially those that have not done so.."
Meanwhile, members of the House from North West geo political zone have formed a parliamentary caucus which they said would serve as a platform to garner support for the Executive arm of government, sell its policies in the House and also bridge the gap between North West members and the leadership of the House.
Bashir Adamu (PDP Jigawa) who emerged chairman of the caucus told newsmen in Abuja that, "when we say garnering support for the President, it does not mean we are going all out to campaign for the President.
What we are trying to do as members coming from the zone, is to make sure that we play a major role in advising the Executive arm in trying to also to sell the Presidency.
"In the past, members of this House who are not even members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have openly canvassed for very sound relationship with the President.
"You will recall that if there were issues that concerned the President in the past, members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) of old, they broke party lines. That is the line that we are trying to toe," the Chairman stressed.
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