It was indeed the dance of intellectual masquerades at the 10th edition of the Business Hallmark Public Policy Forum hosted by Delta State Government. The event took place at the event centre in Asaba, capital of Delta State. The theme was “Niger Delta: Beyond Resource Control, Burdens and Realities of Transformation”.
The event centre which was beautifully adorned with lighting and chandeliers was graced by distinguished guests including His Excellency, Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, who was represented by the State Secretary General, Hon Henry Obaziri; Professor George Obiozor, Chairman of the Forum; Professor Grace Alele Williams, first Professor of Mathematics; Professor Eric Arubayi, Professor Patrick Muoboghare; Editor and Publisher of Business Hallmark Newspaper, Prince Emeka Obasi; members of Delta State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, royal fathers, spiritual fathers, elders and other remarkable personalities both from the state and beyond.
The welcome address was delivered by Prof. George Obiozor. In the address, he laid emphasis on the necessity of good leadership so as to achieve the overall goal of the state. He told the people that he has always believed that anybody who could govern Delta State can govern Nigeria as a whole adding that the diversity one sees across the country exists in the state and it takes a good leader to manage it well. He congratulated the Governor and the Hallmark Policy Forum for being able to turn obstacles into opportunities and difficulties into dividends in Delta State.
His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, delivered his lecture on the topic “Niger Delta: Beyond Resource Control Burdens and Realities of Transformation”. He expressed gratitude to Business Hallmark for coming to Delta to hold its series of lectures outside Lagos. His lecture was centred on Niger Delta being able to succeed without controlling her resources. He noted that the demand for resource control has remained trenchant simply because the people have lived with the stack evidence of a mindless exploitation of the oil resources in their land without benefits to them and their communities where this oil is being exploited.
He focused on two cardinal issues which include getting the most from oil by reviving the agriculture and invest in agro-allied industries, enhancing rural industrialization, reviving and deepening manufacturing, cleaning up the environment, develop human capital and upgrade infrastructure and developing other sources of revenue by diversifying the economy to optimise available options. He saluted the pioneering works of the past Governors especially Chief James Ibori and the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, who championed the cause of achieving a better and a more equitable allocation of resources to the Niger Delta region. He also lauded Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State for making the state a tourism destination even when the state lost 76 oil wells in a Supreme Court judgement.
Dr. Uduaghan said that his administration, since inception in May 2007, has made it a covenant with the people to look beyond oil, setting for themselves a three-point agenda of Peace and Security, Human Capital and Infrastructural Development. He also asserted that the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has since its creation been receiving 50 percent of the 13 percent derivation in developing the oil producing and impacted areas of the state.
He also explained that his administration has been implementing systematic plans to protect the state from the shock by building infrastructure that would support diversification of the economy which includes Oghareki Power Plant, Asaba International Airport, upgrading of Osubi Airport to international standard, industrial clusters, (Koko Industrial Park, Warri Industrial and Business Park and Asaba ICT Park).
Dr. Uduaghan further explained that the resources required for a total revamp of the Niger Delta is far beyond 13 percent derivation adding that the rest of the federation should do what is right to the Niger Delta region. He told the gathering that since the constitution is in the process of being amended, legislators should address such issues with justice, equity and fairness even as he appealed that the derivation be increased to 50 percent as it is modest and entirely in place.
Immediately after the lecture delivered by the governor, a panel was set up to make some comments and reaction to the lecture. Among the discussants were the Governor of Anambra State who was represented by Hon. Obaziri (State Secretary General), Professor Anyan Anyan, Prof. Eric Arubayi and Prof. Patrick Muoboghare. The discussants were given the opportunity to x-ray the topic and insert their views on the issue.
Professor Obaziri explained that oil is a blessing from God but it has become a curse to the nation and the people of the Niger Delta who have encountered economic set back and environmental degradation and other hazards associated with oil exploration. Therefore, measures should be put in place to reach out to people at the grass root in a bid to meeting their basic needs so that there would be no need for them to migrate out to the city centres. Next, was Prof. Anyan who said that he sees Dr. Uduaghan as one of the discoveries of the nation’s short term in the democratic governance, saying that leadership prepares people for leadership by educating them. He added that Dr. Uduaghan is one of the educated leaders and he is not surprised that Delta State is growing every day.
On his part, Prof. Arubayi said “we are living in an era where we have oil. What would happen to the Niger Delta States when this oil is no longer there? This is a big poser and a big challenge. Therefore, we should be able to get the best of what we have today. Today, the Niger Delta feeds the rest of the nation but do we get the due allocation to enable us put in place necessary investments?”
Prof. Muoboghare rounded off the discussion where he said “before the civil war, derivation was 50 percent, that is, whatever came out of your region, you get 50 percent and also participate in sharing the remaining 50 percent and that what Niger Deltans are asking for, is for things to go back to the old order so that they would be able to invest for the post –oil –era. He concluded by saying that “if oil dries up now and gives way to other natural resources, Nigeria would be up there but as long as oil continues flowing, Nigeria will be down here.
Source: OgoniNews
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