By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Founder of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and foremost Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has faulted the scrapping of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
He wondered why President Bola Tinubu did not consult widely with the region’s leaders before making the decision.
Clark stated this in a telephone interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said the administrative structure created in the form of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry was misunderstood because of its complex structure.
He said, “I’ve noted so far that there’s no basis for scrapping it. The late President Umaru Musa-Yar’Adua had a clear purpose to address the security situation in the Niger Delta.
“This led to the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, which focused on developing the Niger Delta area. We have been working for some time now, managing our commission.
“The administrative structure created by the President was, unfortunately, misunderstood by Nigerians due to its complexity. Why would you take over a ministry without development plans, funding, or concrete actions?
“Even the East-West Road, which was meant to be under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, is not being addressed; it’s being handed back to the Ministry of Works. I’m saying that the federal government lacks special arrangements for this.
“When I saw that every region established its development commissions, I anticipated these issues would arise. Are there going to be multiple ministries within one region?”
Clark said rather than creating regional development commissions, the federal government should have increased
“The government needs to consult with the leaders of the Niger Delta and the South-South regions. We’re saying that the government cannot overlook these unresolved issues. The government must explain why it decided to halt critical legislation.
“This raises concerns about how regional development’s benefits are managed. Many people feel disconnected from the process, and resources are being diverted from local needs.
“We need to ensure that regional development isn’t scrapped without a clear plan for its replacement. In a democratic system, the government should be created for the people, by the people, and for their benefit. It shouldn’t operate as a one-person show.”
