TEN YEARS OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA – IMPOVERISHMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA AREA AND TALES OF WOE FOR NIGERIANS IN THE HANDS OF THE PDP LED GOVERNMENT

By ACTION CONGRESS AC

After a critical review of the past ten years of democracy in Nigeria, we in the Rivers State AC have come to the conclusion that it has been an exercise of futility culminating in tales of misfortune and woe for Nigeria and impoverishment of the people of the Niger Delta at the hands of the PDP led Federal Government.


A period of introduction of high-tech corruption, where an ex-convict with N20,000 in his account became President and overnight became one of the richest men in Africa. A period when darkness is celebrated after billions of Naira are wasted to keep the moribund power sector more moribund that ever. A time when the youth of the peaceful region of Niger Delta embraced a culture alien to its people, one of militancy, kidnapping, hostage taking, assassinations and other vices fuelled by the inordinate ambition of the likes of Odili in the bid to retain power at all cost. A period when the Odi experience at the hand of Obasanjo approved military insurgence is carried out again on a larger scale, with the JTF under instructions from the powers that be, carrying out a military offensive aimed at killing, maiming and gradual annihilation of Ijaw communities under the guise of rooting out militants.


A study in government, with an incumbent PDP President dismally failing to achieve a single goal of his so called 7 Point Agenda, whilst ignoring in all entirety the Niger Delta agenda. A period when governance is predetermined by ones acceptance to serve the interests of a few misguided 'godfathers', during which time the PDP has been exposed as an insensitive party/entity and an example of how not to run a democratic system.


The atrocities committed against the people of Niger Delta and Nigerians can only be salvaged when the PDP decides to turn a new leaf and allow the will of the electorate to prevail in our democratic system. However, by the stellar example of leaders like Amaechi of Rivers State, Fashola of Lagos and Oshiomole of Edo State, we believe that all hope is not lost. They have proven through their people centred style of governance an emergence of a ''New breed'' in Politics, poised to erase the unpleasant memories of the past ten years and hopefully chart a better course for our nascent Democracy.


Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
Rivers State Action Congress, Publicity Secretary