Former President Goodluck Jonathan has placed the blame for the Niger Delta's stagnation squarely on the shoulders of politicians with their selfish ambitions! Speaking at the launch of "The Hidden Treasures," a book by Chris Iyovwaye, he pulled no punches about the dire state of the region, declaring that political rivalry has decimated any hope for progress.

Held in Abuja, the event featured Jonathan, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe, who lamented the countless abandoned initiatives that could have transformed the Niger Delta into a powerhouse. It’s hard to fathom how regional development is perpetually derailed by personal agendas that take precedence over the collective good. “A lot has been said in the past and even now,” Jonathan said, almost resigned to fate. “But when you don’t bring action to it, it will remain a potential.” What a striking commentary on the paralysis gripping our leaders!

Jonathan didn’t hold back on the untapped wealth buried beneath the surface of the Niger Delta, claiming it has gold, diamonds, and uranium,yet it remains untouched! He urged current leaders to shift from talk to action, insisting that the region could be Nigeria’s economic hub. “The Niger Delta is supposed to be the economic hub of this country, with the potential to build the biggest seaport in Nigeria,” he passionately proclaimed.

Echoing his frustrations, Adewole Adebayo, former presidential candidate, painted a bleak picture of the Niger Delta as a mismanaged paradise, rich in resources but plagued by poverty. “If there is no Niger Delta, there is no Nigeria,” he boldly declared, suggesting that the region's fortunes are hidden by the blindness of ineffective leadership. 

Adebayo, who claims a lineage steeped in the region's wealth, asserted that the Niger Delta's resources could eclipse the entire economic output of the United States since its founding.

 He criticized the NDDC for focusing on minor projects while ignoring the transformative change the region so desperately needs. “I have not been personally impressed by the results,” he lamented. What happened to the grand vision we were promised?

The Niger Delta,Nigeria’s cash cow,has been battered by environmental destruction, unemployment, and governmental neglect. Despite being the backbone of the nation’s revenue, it suffers from oil spills, gas flaring, and rampant corruption. The NDDC, founded in 2000 to tackle these very issues, has become synonymous with mismanagement, leaving the people in a perpetual cycle of despair.