Human rights activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, on Monday said the economic hardship experienced in the Niger Delta region was breeding insecurity and ritual killings in the name of “Yahoo.”
Mulade, who is also an environmental activist, told our correspondent in Warri that in spite of being the economic live wire of the country, the region has remained neglected by past and present governments.
Mulade therefore, called on the Ijaws in Delta State to support the re-election of Delta State governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, only if he will channel developmental attention to Ijaw communities, especially the long neglected oil producing host communities.
Mulade, also former Chairman of the oil rich Kokodiagene Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, urged Governor Okowa to pay more attention to oil bearing host communities in Delta State.
He said “Neglect of Ijaw and Itsekiri oil producing riverine communities in the scheme of things,especially infrastructural development will no longer be accepted. It is obvious this administration is only interested in the money from the crude oil to empower their political sycophants and develop other areas without putting the masses of the people from riverine communities into consideration.
“However, whenever it comes to developing the communities, the coastal nature of the terrain will be used as an excuse for neglecting the communities that feeds the state. That is unacceptable. Ijaw as the second largest and populated ethnic group in Delta State can equally produce the next Governor come 2019 for the interest of the development and growth of the suffering riverine people
“I want to strongly call on Governor Okowa to kindly have an understanding with the riverine people if he sincerely needs the 2019 Governorship because we deserve quality development to quantify our over 90% huge contribution to the state and to protect our future.”
He said the people in the riverine communities have paid the price for the development of the State with their environment and communities but with nothing to show for it.
“The goose that lay the golden egg is, indeed, suffering to give Delta State government the economic power it requires to remain relevant in the scheme of revenue allocation and the 13 percent derivation from federal government,” he said.
The Environmental activist, implored Governor Okowa to appreciate the oil producing Delta communities that had sacrificed so much for the state, saying this could be done through development programmes like road construction, provision of health care facilities,portable drinking water and other necessities.
“Governor Okowa should show capacity by creating a business and industrial climate for practical job creation,” Mulade said.
