WARRI—Niger-Delta Security Watch Organisation of Nigeria, NDSWON, yesterday, said that the senator representing Delta Central senatorial district, Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, was out of tune with the true realities in the Niger Delta region.
President of the group, Dickson Bekederemo, who was reacting to the claim by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege that Niger Deltans were the ones frustrating President Muhammadu Buhari in his bid to coming out with his development plans for the region because of hostilities by militants, said: “We are at a loss over what our senator is insinuating.”
NDSWON, amazed at Omo-Agege’s accusation, asked: “Is he insinuating that it was the people of Niger Delta that made Mr president not to make provision for capital projects in his 2016 budget for the region?
“Was it the people of the region that also made the president to categorically state that he will give the region 5 percent attention because they did not vote for him?
“It appears that our senator is out of tune with the current reality as it relates to the needs of the region, or he is blinded by his desire to further advance his personal political gains?
“Either way, we wish to educate our senator that the current crisis in the region is a direct response to the unguarded comments made by the president. The militants simply responded by saying, ‘Mr president, go and get your revenue from the North and use same to carry out your 97 percent development in the North.’
“If there is any one to be blamed for the renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta region, it is the president. We are disappointed by the attempt being made by our senator to divide the Niger Delta region along ethnic line.
“We remember quite well that in 2007, prior to the governorship election, the late Justice Omo- Agege, one of Niger Delta’s finest jurists, wanted to make his son, the now senator, governor of Delta State. Justice Omo- Agege did not assemble the Urhobo ethnic nationality.
“As a true son of the region, he went to visit Chief Edwin Clark, the leader of the region for his blessing, which the old man gladly gave and also moved in support. We find it difficult to believe that a man, who once enjoyed regional support for his failed governorship ambition could turn around to want to divide the region for selfish political interest.
“We urge Senator Omo-Agege to tread softly in his quest for political gains so as not to make his late father to become restless in his grave,” NDSWON said.
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