The incessant quest to pull down our top political office holders and high profile personalities by some faceless and disgruntled elements is unbecoming, unreasonable and shameful to say the least.
How long shall we as a region play the dirty roles in the Nigeria political setting and expect to be respected in the committee of regions in this country.
It is disgusting at this point when we are always at the “crucify him” role play whilst other regions are galvanising support base and protecting their own at all cost.
What we do not value we can not enjoy, therefore with utmost plead that those that has weaponized the tool of protest should have a rethink, even when your protest leads to the removal of the NDDC duo, non of the protesters shall be considered as a replacement so my question would be “What will be the result of your protest?
The “Pull Him Down” syndrome mechanism we have been employing to express our dismay is no longer useful to the birth of new Niger Delta of our dream. Therefore, we should stop playing with our future forthwith.
The call for Mr. Chiedu Ebie’s removal as Chairman and Dr Samuel Ogbuku and Managing Director NDDC is a joke taken too far. A court of competent jurisdiction has given verdict on that matter, so let all of us respect the judicial pronouncement as a civil citizens and support the position of law as regards Ebie’s appointment. The profound well-thought out judgment is clearly predictable, relying on the outer clauses created by Section 24 (1) and (2) of the NDDC Act.
Therefore, any further protest on this is reckless,counter productive and unlawful to say the least, and the instrument of the law can be used against the protesters for disturbing the peace of the region.
For Dr. Samuel Ogbuku’s leadership role as the managing director, he is a product of the then struggle for self-determination and resource control, it is sad that our own Ijaw brothers are at the forefront shouting ‘crucify him’ with alleged mismanagement of NDDC funds and bribery, have forgotten history. All issues raised agains him are mere allegations being sponsored by some disgruntled elements whose identity will soon be unmasked.
We are channelling our energy wrongly by planning a protest against a substantive board we fought and sacrificed for. We have towed this part too long enough.
We must change our style and strategy, let the use of old style of protest be ignored for now and come to the dialogue table to negotiate the way forward for our region.
Time and season shall avail us our own opportunities.
We should learn from the North and West. This government has created terssed economic policies with no signs of ending hunger that has spread across the country, but you will never see a petition from the west.
When former president Buhari was was in charge, it was the same free for all, but did you see any Northerner protesting or raising issues to discredit his government? How long shall we learn and stop the “holier than thou” mentality? we can not be the ‘neutral ground’ anymore.
Let us together raise our banners in support of our own. Let there be a binding bridge between the political class, technocrats, activists, and all and sundry in a collaborative commitment for a better Niger Delta.
We are not our own enemies any longer. Rather, let us rejoice and use our common energy to the central authorities who has shortchanged us by scrapping the Ministry of the Niger Delta, who sacks our brothers and sisters( The Case of immediate past Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,Dr Betta Edu is still fresh in our mind) and replaced them with theirs.
We must collaborate with ourselves and protect the few of us at the helms of affairs and not to suffocate them with ceaseless and meaningless protest .
Signed
Bedford Berefa Benjamin
Spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council, worldwide.
