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President Bola Tinubu has called on leaders and stakeholders from the South-South and Niger Delta regions to support his administration’s efforts to develop the Niger Delta.
Tinubu made the remark in a statement issued by Mrs. Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, March 12, 2005.
According to the statement, the President recently welcomed a delegation of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) which visited him in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu told the delegation that the support from regional leaders and stakeholders for the NDDC would accelerate development in the Niger Delta.
He described the region as “the goose that lays the golden egg,” and emphasised the need for urgent attention and sustained development efforts in the region.
“We must care for the Niger Delta, otherwise, we lose the golden egg,” Tinubu stated.
The president also acknowledged ongoing political tensions in Rivers, noting that he had been working to restore peace among warring political factions.
“I got your (PANDEF’s) signal and concerns regarding Rivers State, and I have been on the issue for quite some time.
“I foresaw the crises festering for too long ‘before’ I intervened,” he explained.
Tinubu urged political leaders in the Niger Delta to work closely with developmental agencies to fast-track Niger Delta development.
He praised NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for his contributions to the region’s economic and infrastructural growth.
“We are all proud of Ogbuku because he is doing a great job.
“Community development is very close to my heart, and Ogbuku should be encouraged to do more,” Tinubu added.
The president advised Niger Delta leaders to prioritise selfless leadership and focus on revitalising the political and economic future of the region.
Expressing optimism about ongoing projects, Tinubu stated that the coastal road project would create new economic opportunities for both the Niger Delta region and the nation.
He revealed that the Federal Government had engaged international companies to develop new ports in the Niger Delta to further expand economic prospects for the region.
King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom in Bayelsa and Co-Chairman of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude for Tinubu’s dedication to the South-South region’s development.
He also lauded the president’s appointment of Niger Delta indigenes to government positions.
“Your government has taken the bull by the horns, and we are confident that you will succeed,” Diete-Spiff stated.
By Desmond Ejibas
