No Niger Deltan Should Be Poor —Adebayo

A former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has described the Niger Delta as a “hidden treasure” with human and natural resources, saying it is impossible for anyone from the region to be poor.

Speaking at the unveiling of the book, “The Hidden Treasures: An Exposition On The Rich Resources And Opportunities of the Niger Delta” yesterday in Abuja, Adebayo said the region’s wealth is 18 times more than everything in the United States of America, with vast reserves of oil, gas and other natural resources.

He said the region’s people are extremely brilliant, hospitable and kind, forming the glue that can build a strong country, and urged Nigerians to take themselves seriously and recogniae the region’s potential, adding that the country’s crisis is not due to lack of resources, but lack of vision and leadership.

Adebayo identified three ways to unlock the Niger Delta’s hidden treasures as individually, communally and governmentally, and emphasised the need for Nigerians to move away from a culture of appropriating surface wealth and instead focus on harnessing the region’s resources for the benefit of all.

He also highlighted the Niger Delta’s rich history from the Royal Niger Company to the discovery of hydrocarbons in Oloibiri, and the need for Nigerians to recognise the region’s contributions to the country’s development.

Former minister of information, Prof. Jerry Gana, expressed disappointment with the performance of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying the agency had not lived up to its mandate of transforming the region into a beautiful and prosperous area.

He recalled presenting a paper at a conference where he proposed the creation of the NDDC, but lamented that the commission had focused on building primary schools and other basic infrastructure instead of transforming the region’s infrastructure.

He urged the leadership of the NDDC to do more, saying the region had the potential to be a prosperous and beautiful place.

Gana praised the people of the Niger Delta for their hospitality and generosity, saying they are the glue that holds the country together.