Contrary to expectations that the emergence of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as President of Nigeria would be a solution to the Niger Delta, some citizens of the region, said his administration has worsened the matter. MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara, at a Niger Delta Round Table Forum organised by Social Action in Port Harcourt recently said the world expected great improvement in the condition and attention to the Niger Delta cause, particularly in the restoration of peace and respect of the people’s right instead, the people’s hope has been dashed with the failure of Jonathan’s administration to bring about peace in the region.
Speaking further on the topic “Niger Delta Struggle and Niger Delta Presidency”, the MOSOP leader observed that the people of the region presently suffer more deprivation than previously when a non Southerner was at the head as president.
Mr Pyagbara maintained that the President’s failure is more visible in area and section like, education, economic engagement, employment and human empowerment, and environmental protection in the Niger Delta.
He said the issue of oil pollution in Ogoni land and government neglect in putting an end to it is another area the government of Jonathan is failing his people.
A Philosophy lecturer in University of Port Harcourt, Dr Andrew Efemini, believes that the problem continues because President Goodluck Jonathan does not understand the term, ‘Political Reform’.
Dr Efemini urged that for the nation to be stable and Niger Delta people to benefit from the dividend of President Jonathan’s administration, he should carry on real political reform, to enable those who understand the situation in the country to contribute positively for future development and peace.
“Jonathan does not understand the term, ‘Political Reform’. We must insist that in the next two years, the current leadership should be committed to political reform”, Efemini said.
However, to Deacon Parker Akuro, he thinks that the church has an important role to play, yet they have not seriously contributed to the solution of the crisis going on in part of the country. He said more than 90% of Nigerians are very religious but when there is crisis, there is hardly solution.
Deacon Parker, who argued that no political group teaches morality, said it is an aberrant, and insult for Christians to watch evil leaders dominate the public offices while the church seem to be expanding numerically and financially without significant impact on the society it is supposed to illuminate.
Source: OgoniNews