By AS expected, elder statesman and leader of the Niger Delta, Chief Edwin Clark, says there’s no basis for the scrapping of the Ministry of the Niger Delta.
Stonix News reports that President Bola Tinubu, leading the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, dumped the ministry in a decisive restructuring of his cabinet.
President Bola Tinubu
Chief Clark, who, through the Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in August 2023 earlier warned against such attempt, described the move as not only surprising, but unfounded, while fielding questions from Nigerian Tribune late Wednesday.
He reiterated that the ministry was established for a critical purpose: addressing the developmental and security challenges in the Niger Delta region.
Clark recalled the intentions behind the ministry’s creation under former President Umaru Yar’Adua, and highlighted that it was meant to foster peace and development in the area.
“There’s no basis for scrapping it,” he stated, underscoring the ministry’s role in managing ongoing projects and addressing the region’s unique needs.
The prominent South-South leader criticized the Federal Government for lacking a comprehensive development plan following the ministry’s dissolution.
“Why would you take over a ministry without any development plans, funding, or concrete actions?” Clark queried, pointing out that vital infrastructure projects, like the East-West Road, which were under the ministry’s purview, have been reassigned to the Ministry of Works without sufficient attention to the region’s needs.
Clark, who also leads the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), noted the importance of maintaining special arrangements for the Niger Delta, especially as other regions have also had their development commissions.
He raised concerns about the fragmentation of governance, questioning whether there would be multiple ministries within the same region and whether the complexities of these arrangements were properly understood by the government.
Reflecting on past discussions during the 2014 National Conference, Clark mentioned agreements to increase revenue allocations to the regions and establish funds to support development efforts post-Boko Haram.
He lamented the lack of implementation of these agreements, stating that the Niger Delta and South-South regions must be consulted in decisions that impact their development.
The former Federal Commissioner warned that the government’s actions could be perceived as an attempt to divert resources from local needs to other development commissions.
He asserted that any move to scrap regional development initiatives must be accompanied by a clear replacement plan.
“We will not allow it to be scrapped,” Clark declared, emphasizing that governance should serve the people and should not operate, unilaterally.
He called for greater accountability and transparency in managing regional development to ensure that local voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes.
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