How poor leadership robs Niger delta of development –Adebayo

By Editor
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2023 elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has atrributed the lack of development in the Niger Delta region to poor leadership and non implementation of regional plans.
He stated this on Friday in Abuja during the public presentation of the 202-page “Hidden Treasures: An Exposition on the Rich Resources and Opportunities of the Niger Delta,” a new book authored by Deacon Chris Iyovwaye.
According to him, no indigene of the Niger Delta should live in poverty, given the region’s abundant natural and human resources that has contributed to national development.
This is as former President Goodluck Jonathan, and former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, also blamed the persistent underdevelopment of the oil-rich Niger Delta on decades of poor leadership and weak political will, among others.
Describing the Niger Delta as one of Nigeria’s richest yet most underutilised regions, Adebayo said decades of leadership shortcomings have prevented it from reaching its full potential.
He said that the region’s prosperity can only be unlocked through deliberate effort, as every treasure requires digging.
He outlined three key drivers for harnessing the region’s opportunities: individual initiative, community involvement, and government intervention. According to him, the Niger Delta holds sufficient wealth to drive national development and even surpass the economic capacities of several developed nations. He also warned against shallow management of national resources, emphasising that the people remain the region’s greatest asset.
“If there is no Niger Delta, there is no Nigeria. To some, every treasure is hidden because the person is blind. It is believed that some of the treasures in the region are hidden because we have had blind leadership over time.
“In truth, every part of the Niger Delta is brimming with a lot of human, materials, liquid, and solid resources. So, if you are from the Niger Delta, it will be an oxymoron to say you are poor. It is impossible to be poor in that paradise.
“I come from a family that has 100 years of experience in making fortunes out of the Niger Delta. Most of my uncles and aunties were born there. They served in great capacities. That is why we are always grateful to the Niger Delta.
“I also personally went to the region and found my own fortune. That’s because I also married my wife from the Niger Delta, and my life has turned for the best since then,” he said.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Mike Ogiadome, reaffirmed the Niger Delta’s role as Nigeria’s economic engine and underscored the need for long-term investment, including the establishment of a deep-sea port to attract global investors. He recommended the book as a vital resource for policymakers and development partners.
Oghiadomhe also confirmed that Jonathan wrote the book’s foreword.
The former president recalled several abandoned regional economic initiatives, noting that political rivalry and the scramble for power had repeatedly stalled progress.
“A lot has been said in the past and even now. But when you don’t bring action to it, it will remain potential. Deep inside here, we can have tonnes of gold, diamonds, and uranium. But it will remain zero until they are mined and brought out. This book corroborates what we have heard,” he said.
Jonathan traced past attempts to coordinate South-South governors and federal lawmakers on regional development, but said personal ambition overshadowed collective interest.
He said, “In the past, when I was a deputy governor between 1999 and 2007, we had this same great commission. We used to have meetings of South-South governors. At a point, it was enlarged to include members of the National Assembly and initiatives held from state to state.
“But action could not be taken because of competition for power and control of that commission. At one point, everybody in the Niger Delta wanted to be the vice president to an unknown president.
“That was because Obasanjo was president from the South, and the next president was going to come from the North. But nobody knew who he would be. So, everybody started scrambling to become the vice president to whoever is coming.
“The Niger Delta is supposed to be the economic hub of this country, with the potential to build the biggest seaport in Nigeria. From the Niger Delta, you can reach out to every part of the country, particularly the Middlebelt and the North. There is a need to harness our resources at this point in time for proper and physical development.”
The chairman of the event, Maj.-Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd), said Nigeria should not fear restructuring, insisting that every region has the resources required to support sustainable development. He urged citizens to continue supporting the Armed Forces in their efforts to maintain peace and security nationwide.
Also, human-rights lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome, represented by Prof. Ezekiel Abalagba, described the book as a practical roadmap for revitalising key sectors in the Niger Delta. He called for transparent leadership, improved infrastructure, and greater economic diversification into agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, petrochemicals, technology, and environmental restoration.
Prof. Gana, who as Information Minister in 1999 helped conceptualise the Niger Delta Development Commission, said the NDDC has fallen far short of its founding vision.
“During Obasanjo’s administration in 1999, I was mandated to organise a seminar on the Niger Delta at the ECOWAS secretariat. It was a very well-attended event that was chaired by the former president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere.
“He came in person, and papers were brilliantly presented on how we need to proceed with developing the Niger Delta. And we proposed the creation of a Niger Delta Development Commission as a platform to provide important infrastructure,” Gana said.
He laminated that despite the tremendous hope that the meeting engineered, he had not been impressed by the results of the NDDC, especially when he sees them building primary schools and other things.
He said, “This vision was to transform the Niger Delta to one of the most beautiful places in Nigeria, with excellent infrastructure.”
He urged current managers of the commission to “arise and do something great for the people of the Niger Delta region.”