Itsekiri Ethnic nationality today vowed to resist any exclusion of projects in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC 2017 budget.
The Itsekiri people made the vow during a peaceful protest at NDDC’s office in Warri today.
They stated that the long exclusion by previous leadership of the commission has led to underdevelopment of their land despite their contribution to the revenue generation of the Nigeria.
The Warri North Local Government Council Chairman, Chief Francis Maku lamented that,” An ethnic nationality that is contributing over eighty percent resources to the Federal Government coffers cannot be said not to have a single project from NDDC while the chunk of projects are distributed to communities that offer little or nothing to the nation’s revenue.”
Maku in a statement made available to DAILY POST stated that the Itsekiris will continue to resist continuous oppression and exclusion by NDDC.
He noted that nothing will change the stance of the Itsekiri people unless their fundamental human rights are respected.
” Good governance means good relationship between the government and the governed. It is only the respect for our human rights that would change our stance on this issue but not tactical deceit and arm twisting.”
” There are sufficient issues plaguing us as a people and we cannot sit and watch deprivation of this magnitude before our very eyes. The Itsekiri people believe in justice, fairness and equity, hence this appeal to the relevant authorities and National Assembly.”
” Nigeria is one and some communities cannot claim to be more Nigerian than the others. The hijacking of Federal projects to some quarters will steer up strife which can still be avoided at this stage.”
Maku called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Budget Office as well as the National Assembly including the Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC and his House of Representative counterpart to urgently wade into the ugly trend with a view of finding a lasting solution for peace and the overall development of Nigeria particularly the Niger Delta.
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