Lagos — The developmental and social challenges in the Niger Delta region are the main pressing issues to be addressed by the newly created Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs headed by Obong Ufot Ekaette. Recently, Ekaette led his team on a week-long fact finding tour of the states in the region, comprising Delta, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Ondo and Bayelsa. Victor Efeizomor, who covered the Minister's meeting with stakeholders in Asaba, presents some of its engaging moments

Time was 2:30pm. Venue was the main auditorium of the Unity Hall of Delta State Government House, Asaba. A first timer would mistake the crowd for a political rally of some sorts. But the people had assembled at the instance of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs who is also former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufot Ekaette, the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe and other officials of the ministry for a stakeholders meeting.

The fretfulness, worry and anxiety that greeted the late arrival of the minister prompted Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to personally appeal to the already exhausted audience to be patient as their guest was on his way. The meeting that was slated for 3:30 pm did not commence until 5:45pm and when Ekaette finally arrived, he walked into the waiting hands of the panthers that were ready pounce.

No sooner was he ushered in, than the audience, made up of politicians, members of the state executive council, legislature, top government functionaries, traditional rulers, religious leaders, pressure groups and the business community, started firing salvoes at him for lack of performance while in the stewardship of the immediate past president, Olusegun Obasanjo as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)and doubted whether he would perform in his new assignment as minister of the Niger Delta Affairs in his second coming.

During the exchange of ideas and interaction, the audience x-rayed the myriad of problems confronting the Niger Delta region, arguing that the Niger Delta has for some years been the site of major confrontations between the people who live there and the Nigerian government's security forces, resulting in extra- judicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. They opined that these violations of civil and political rights, miserable deprivation of the people have been committed principally in response to protests about the activities of the multinational companies that produce Nigeria's oil and the use made of the oil revenue by the Nigerian government.

They were of the opinion that soldiers remain deployed in the riverine areas of Bayelsa and Delta states, and while there are genuine security concerns relating to kidnapping of oil workers and to inter-community conflicts, especially in Delta State, these soldiers were responsible for ongoing sundry human rights violations.

Ekaette urged the youths and the militants to sheathe their swords and embrace peace as he promised unrestricted access for the ministry to fulfil its obligations to the people.

His words: "I am sure our brothers in the creeks also want development for themselves and their respective communities. That is why we are calling on them to sheathe their swords and join forces with us in developing the Niger-Delta. It would amount to self deceit if workers of construction companies providing life-enhancing facilities are constantly being kidnapped for ransom, only for the same perpetrators to turn around and complain that the government is not interested in developing the Niger Delta."

He praised President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for setting up the ministry, adding: "It is in a bid to respond to the growing sense of despair and squalor in the Niger Delta that Mr. President has come out boldly to set up a separate ministry to co-ordinate the development of the region." He debunked allegations that the funds budgeted for the ministry is indicative of Federal Government's insincerity, stressing that the government believes that the region deserves quality and meaningful attention.

The former SGF said that the creation of the new ministry would help co-ordinate and fast-track the development of the region despite the cynicisms that have been faced by the Federal Government. He observed that since the Wilinks Commission Report of 1958 the people have been agitating for improved condition of living in the region and said the misconception will soon be over.

The minister disclosed that the ministry was created to provide a lasting solution to the myriad of problem affecting the people and said there was that genuine desire to bring the change and make the people feel the impact of the oil that God put in their land. He assured Deltans that the ministry would begin work with the available resources and demanded for more adding that the ministry would have liaison offices in each of the Niger Delta Region.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in his submission, promised to partner favourably with the new Ministry to make it realize its set objectives, adding that even when the ministry is not the ultimate, it remains the best option from the Federal Government in solving the Niger Delta problems.

Uduaghan, described Ekaette as a true son of the Niger Delta region and said he was confident the Ministry would live up to its expectations from the people of the region. He said the people want action and not mere rhetoric and challenged the ministry to brace up to the challenges before it. According to him, "we hope that this consultative forum will not be a talkshop because Deltans are expecting action from you and not a forum whose findings will not be implemented".

Elder Godsday Orubebe, the minister of state, said the officials of the ministry would do their best to realize the dreams of the Niger Delta people. He appealed to the youths in the region to give the ministry a chance to succeed by embracing peace and engaging in dialogue even as he said the activities of the ministry would be made transparent at all times.

Speaking also, Pere of Seimbri Kingdom, Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, asked the Minister about his effort to see that the N250 billion earmarked for the construction of the East-West link roads was released, "Our amiable technocrat, for eight years, you were with Obasanjo (Olusegun), what effort did you make to see to it that the fund was release?. For your eight years with Obasanjo as Secretary to the Federation, did you ever lay the Wiliki's report on his table?"

He continued with more posers for Ekaette, "Why is it, that you could not make efforts as the Secretary to the Federation to salvage the N362 billion approved by Obasanjo's regime to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a commission that is now lopsided with the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC)? What are we going to do, to ensure that development in the region will not be lopsided with the federal government again?" On his part, the Ohirue Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, questioned why oil companies were still operating outside their host communities.

Also speaking, Senator Francis Okpozo, who expressed fears over the appointment of Ekaette, said, "I hope it is not a ploy by the federal government to clash you with the Niger Delta governors, because from the look of things, the federal government is laying a siege for us with your appointment.

Okpozo said the politics involved in the new ministry may end up with Ekaette being used as an instrument to cause frictions in the region. He stressed: "If not, why is the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja and not within the oil producing communities? That is why I will continue to say our youths are not militants, they are opinion fighters". According to the former federal law maker, the calculations among policy makers in the Northern part of the country are to suck the South dry before dumping it. He questioned why virtually all OMPADEC contracts were awarded by Northerners.

"Many of those making policies in Abuja had not been to the Niger Delta creeks once to see how they are suffering. So, we have to be conscious when we are jubilating about the Niger Delta Ministry, because, if they (Abuja policy makers) really have the interest of the region at heart, can they use the pipe they laid from the Creeks to draw oil to Kaduna to draw water to the region?" Okpozo queried.

Okpozo pointedly accused the Minister of having failed as the Secretary to the Federation. The Senator said "Unless Ekaette changes the attitude of civil servant, he cannot deliver the Niger Delta". However, Ekaette, who was undeterred by their war of words told the forum that the ministry is on the threshold of making history, as according to him, it has provided a blueprint to aggressively address the Niger Delta question adding that though, the money appropriated for the take-off is insignificantly inadequate, the ministry was borne out of a genuine desire for change.