President Bola Tinubu’s decision to disband the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has drawn harsh criticism from Chief Edwin Clark, a well-known South-South politician and former Federal Commissioner for Information. Clark made the case during a news conference in Abuja that this action goes against the peace and development programs that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua started. Yar’Adua founded the ministry to deal with security concerns and foster regional development.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
According to Vanguard, Clark expressed concern that the federal government plans to redirect funds from the South-South region to other development commissions, depriving the Niger Delta of necessary resources.
He emphasized that there is no justification for dismantling the ministry, especially given its critical role in managing local affairs and fostering development.
He pointed out that previous agreements to increase revenue allocations and support for conflict-affected regions remain unimplemented, further exacerbating regional disparities.
Clark urged the federal government to engage with Niger Delta leaders to address unresolved issues and ensure that regional development efforts continue without interruption.
Highlighting the democratic principle that government should serve the people, Clark stated, “We will not allow it to be scrapped.”
He called for clarity on how the government intends to manage regional development moving forward, warning against the dangers of sidelining the needs of local communities.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>
