A socio economic and political
pressure group, the Niger Delta Development Initiative (NDDI) has expressed
sadness over Nigeria’s worsening economic statistics in recent times.
It blamed the policies of
President Muhammadu Buhari for the downward trend in the economy.
They also criticized the
President for the failure of his anti-corruption campaign and for allowing his
party, the APC to shelter some politicians they had previously described as
very corrupt.
In a statement on Thursday in Uyo
and endorsed by its President and Secretary, Mr Ernest Ukpe and Tom Buma, the
group expressed sadness that corruption has increased in the country despite
the high expectations of Nigerians following the President’s promises of
fighting corruption to a standstill when he was sworn-in in 2015.
“We are however surprised that
the President is campaigning with corrupt politicians like the former Senate
Minority Leader Chief Godswill Akpabio and the NDDC MD Obong Nsima Ekere who
have been enmeshed in misappropriation scandals.
“Senator Akpabio, Musiliu
Obanikoro, Orji Uzor Kalu and all the previously “corrupt” PDP big wigs have
now been sanctified after their defection to APC. Recall that Akpabio was
charged over N180 billion money laundering,” it said.
The statement said that “the
President’s five point agenda and his economic policies have failed with no
return on the country’s debt; the present administration has borrowed more than
the Obasanjo, Yaradua and Goodluck Jonathan’s administrations in three years
while electricity generation and distribution has worsened.
“Nigeria has become the poverty
capital of the world overtaking India with more than 50% living in extreme
poverty, while the UN predicts that Nigeria needs 11.9 people per minute to
escape extreme poverty, but presently has a deficit of 6.8 people every minute,
i.e. 6.8 people enter into poverty every minute.
“According to statistics by
NACCIMA, more than 800 companies shut down within the three years of this
current administration further denying Nigerians of the much needed employment
opportunities and ruining the
livelihood of many families.”
“Under the present administration
Nigeria has become the 2nd worst electricity supply nation in the world. The
country has not added more than 1,000 MGW to its supply bank while Egypt in
less than two years have added 14,500 MGW of electricity, enough to provide
uninterrupted power for over 40 million people.” It said.
The group expressed their support
for a President who would ensure the immediate restructuring and practice of
true federalism in Nigeria,
commence the immediate development of the Niger Delta and clean up Ogoni and
other communities ravaged by oil exploration and exploitation.
“That though we sympathize with
the President as a human for his fragile health, Nigerians will want a very
healthy and strong President who can cope with the rigorous demands of the
office. We strongly doubt that the current state of health of the President
will let him cope with the demands of his office.
“As we welcome the President and
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) for the flag
off of his Presidential Campaign in Uyo on Friday we will want to remind him
that the Niger Delta people will only support a President who will give us
restructuring, true federation and who will truly fight corruption.
“That the Niger Delta people will
only support a President who will build our battered economy and who will
support investments, develop the Niger Delta region and Akwa Ibom in
particular.
“The East/West Road has been
abandoned while only N3 billion out of the more than N130 Billion needed for
Calabar/ Itu highway has been released to mobilize the contractor making the
people of the region to believe that this could be another political road
project.
“Niger Delta Development
Initiative therefore call on the President to as a matter of urgency begin the
implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 constitutional conference as
regards the practice of true federalism. Bring all corrupt politicians who have
formerly been indicted to book. Begin the implementation of a feasible and
sustainable road-map for the development of the Niger Delta,” they further
stated.
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