Those in Buhari’s administration who failed Niger Delta region (Pt 1)
By GbaramatuVoice Editorial Board
After eight years of president Muhammadu led Federal Government. GbaramatuVoice casts an objective look at illustrious sons and daughters of Niger Delta region that served in that government.
Their performances and contribution towards the development of the region while in office.
1. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; the Former Rivers State Governor was the Minister for Transportation for close to 8years without accruable benefits to the people of the Niger Delta region.
His Ministry (Transport) had well over twelve agencies and commissions. Yet, he could not attract any development from any of these agencies to the region-not even to his home state-Rivers state.
The major landmark that could have brought great benefit and democratized infrastructural development for the people of the Niger Delta region was the Federal University of Transportation, had it been attracted to the region. But in his quest to please the North and possibly see if he will be compensated with the Presidential ticket of the All Progressive Congress, he cited the school in Mr. President’s home town, Daura.
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To worsen the episode, on the 7th of April, 2023, President Buhari assented to the bill establishing Federal University of Transportation, Daura, whereas the bill of the long created Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, Delta state, is yet to be paused by the senate despite the awareness that the university is a professional university under the preview of Amaechi’s Ministry (NIMASA to be precise).
Today, Amaechi is at home in the Niger Delta region with no scorecard to present to his people. He represented the region poorly.
2. Major General Ndiomu, Presidential Amnesty Interim Coordinator
When President Muhammadu Buhari on the 16 September 2022, sacked Col. Dikio (Rtrd) and appointed Major General Ndiomu as new administrator for Amnesty Programme, Niger Deltans were happy. They were happy not because Dikio did not perform, rather, many thought that Major General Ndiomu will come with more creative ideas to build on the foundation that his predecessor laid in ways that holistically solves socioeconomic challenges bedeviling the Niger Delta youths.
But instead of working towards achieving this common goal, he generated megawatts of excuses and produced monuments of nothingness.
He did not stop at this point but went ahead to destroy what he met on the ground.
He stopped the well crafted scholarship scheme that he met on ground for reasons that could not hold water. That singular act alone, truncated the educational opportunities of many of the ex-agitators. Before his arrival as PAP Boss, the scheme was healthy, up and running.
Some of the student beneficiaries of the scholarship who complained about the out-of-ordered way the affairs of the ex-agitators were being managed got suspended without following due process.
He went ahead to stop the sixty five thousand monthly stipends of ex-agitators that he met on ground without an alternative solution to, or concern on how these youths will survive.
Today, Niger Delta region, courtesy of the Ndiomu led Presidential Amnesty Programme, is littered with youths that have no training, empowerment, job and stipend.
GbaramatuVoice views this scorecard as pathetic!
3. GodsWill Akpabio. Former Minister Of Niger Delta
Like Chibuke Amaechi, GodsWill Akpabio, the Former Governor of Akwa-Ibom state, was Minister of Niger Delta Ministry, under his reign as Minister, the Niger Delta Ministry existed only in the name.
Under his watch, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was riddled with a series of corruption allegations. Throughout his administration, no block was placed on top of the other by way of development by his ministry in the Niger Delta region. In fact, under his watch, the region became poorer without development strides.
It was so shameful that NDDC under the sole administrator that he appointed became an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) for politicians of all shades within and outside the region.
Corruption at the Commission got to an embarrassing level that Mr. President had to order a forensic audit of the Commission.
It was a colossal failure and great disappointment to the people of the region.
4. Niger Delta Development Commission.(NDDC)
Among all the agencies created to develop the Niger Delta region, NDDC stands out as the worst,
Making the matter a reality is the painful awareness that NDDC management stood a kimbo and watched the recently established North East Development Commission, NEDC. transform the Northeast region of Nigeria into a safe, economically vibrant, ICT driven 21st Century region in partnership with selected institutions that established ICT Resource Training Centres across the North with the vision of training the residents of the North East states on highly-demand ICT skills.
While NDDC management were locked up in crisis, they watched the NEDC offer a range of training packages in a range of subject areas to offer blended learning opportunities to best meet the needs of our target audience and deliver Social and Economic Services to the people of the Northeast through her trained participants.
Aside from having no legacy project to its credit, it is on record that in the past 8years, NDDC has left Niger Deltans particularly the youths to remain stagnated while the world moved forward. The Commission offered no training that focused on enhancing literacy and skill acquisition modules for youths drawn from different sectors of the community and catchment areas around the region.
5. Niger Delta Region Representatives at the 9th National Assembly
If the failures of the political appointees of the now out-gone President Muhammadu Buhari led administration was a challenge, that of the Niger Delta Region Representatives at the 9th National Assembly is a crisis.
To Be continued.
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