From Ameachi Prosper (The New Diplomat’s Delta State Correspondent)
The paramount ruler of Siembiri kingdom in Delta State, King Charles Ayemi Botu, has lamented the hijack of the interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), by those he described as selfish politicians.
King Ayemi Botu lamented the sorry state of affairs in the Niger Delta and Delta in particular during a thanksgiving service at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Okpokunou, Burutu LGA, to mark his 73rd birthday and 27th coronation anniversary.
The royal father alleged that the federal government was making mockery of NDDC which the people of the region fought gallantly to create.
According to him, he was in the forefront for the agitation for the creation of 13% derivation fund, the NDDC and DESOPADEC, stressing that what is happening in the two interventionist agencies was not what the people bargained for.
“The law passed by the Delta State House of Assembly made the derivation fund 50/50. The government has 50% and the oil Producing communities 50% of the 13%. Despite this legal document, contractors are not paid for jobs executed, ongoing jobs abandoned since 2018 and no new jobs awarded, undermining the fact that Delta State is the highest in oil production.
Speaking further, the monarch called for a conference of ethnic nationalities in the country to review the unity and togetherness of Nigeria, stressing that the country is currently divided along ethnic lines.
He however charged Nigerians to speak out against the unhealthy state of Nigeria which has been characterised by insecurity, corruption and nepotism saying, “The state of our beloved country, especially the Niger Delta region should be of great concern to every well-meaning Nigerians.”
“The problem was caused by massive corruption, avarice, nepotism, winner-takes-all syndrome, bigotry and ethno-religious dimension, that is being perpetrated by political leaders both at federal and state government to their selfish ends and detriment of those who elected them.”
