An Elder statesman and a respected clergyman in the Niger Delta Region and one of the founding fathers of Rivers and Bayelsa States, Rev Dr. Sokari Soberekon, has said that for equity, fairness and justice to prevail in the country, the in-coming administration, headed by President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) should endeavour to pay 50 per cent tax free fund into the coffers of the oil producing states in the country, to correct the wrongs of the past and injustice suffered by the people of the Niger Delta. Buhari should, according to Soberekon, implement the report of the National Conference which President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan promised to implement to the letter before he was voted out of power in a bloodless coup d’ etat with Permanent Voter Cards (P.V.C) and card reader on 28 March, 2015.
Making the call in Port Harcourt recently. Soberekon said many sons of the Niger Delta Region have lost their precious lives in the cause of fighting for resource control in the past. They include prominent people like: the late Captain Northingham Dick, Major Adaka Boro and Capt. Samuel Owunaru (rtd). “Many people have died in the course of Niger Delta Resource control issue than the South Africa Xenophobic attack on foreigners”, said he.
On pipe-line vadalization by some youths in the Niger Delta Region, the Elder statesman, urged them to stop and give the president-elect, General Buhari, a chance to succeed; because his election might have a divine colouration.
Soberekon noted with sadness, that some past leaders in the country have not been fair to the Niger Delta Region. Except for General Gowon who granted amnesty to Isaac Ataka Boro and his men and created states in Niger Delta. Gen. Ibrahim Babagida created Delta State and Gen. Sani Abacha created Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states in Niger Delta and increased the oil derivation from 1.3 to 13 per cent. “Shehu Shagari granted our request for oil derivation and gave 1.3 percent after Professor Ambrose Alli went to court and failed on oil derivation. Later President Musa Yar’ Adua granted amnesty to the youths who were struggling for oil right (resource control) and made President Jonathan who came from Niger Delta his Vice.” However, Soberekon added: “Imagine, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, when he was the president of Federal Republic of Nigeria, for no justification, attacked our people with jet bomber, bombing Odi in Bayelsa State and killed a lot of women, children, youths and elders in the name of fighting youths that are struggling for oil right. After that incident, I turned the main ruling party PDP to ‘people destroy people’ but when president Jonathan took over the leadership of the party and positioned it for good, I turned the PDP to ‘people developing people’, when Gov. Amaechi left the party and decamped to APC, I said, Amaechi problems continue (which is APC). But when he apologized to Rivers people, I turned Ameachi’s APC to mean Amaechi’s Peace Commences, Amaechi’s Prosperity Continues and Amaechi Progress Continues. Now that General Buhari has come on board I changed APC to ‘Assured Peoples Comfort’ to Nigeria in general and Niger Delta in particular. When Buhari is sworn in, he should not rob Peter to pay Paul or Isamalia to pay Usman.”
Though Amaechi’s administration failed the people on the mono-rail project which was perceived to be a white elephant project and the unnecessary demolition of the then General Hospital in Port Harcourt, without re-building it (a big disappointment to the good people of Rivers State), Soberekon said that hospital has its catchment areas in Bonny, Opobo, Ogoni, Eleme, Ahoada, Buguma and Kalabari axis.
In his words: “I pray the in-coming administration in Rivers State will be able to build more health centres and make the one’s built by the out-going administration to work effectively, to cater for the needs of Rivers people. It should also provide floating and flying medical service with flat bottom boats with heliports and helicopters’ to the rural communities. I am not a card carrying member of any political party. I am a friend to all governors in the federation and never out to make things difficult for any of them. However Gov. Amaechi did so well on road construction but failed to construct the Trans-Kalabari road which I believe the in-coming Governor (Barr. Nyesom Wike) will do and complete on time. Amaechi used the State fund to build Federal Roads when the Federal Government was not forth-coming on roads re-construction, and spent several billions, I met him and advised him to ask for refund from the Federal Government, but he refused. Honestly, that money could have been used to construct the Trans-Kalabari road project.”
Soberekon went further: “As the agitator and founder of the oil derivation formula of 1981, I was shocked when some youths from the region asked him to honour me through the media but he refused and ignored the advice. I therefore asked that the Governor should not let the labour of the fathers of the Niger Delta Region and some of our heroes past to be in vain. There are a good number of us still alive today. I also asked that the leaders of the Niger Delta should invite that poor wise man which the Bible refers to in Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 for interaction and never to allow the sufferings of our heroes past to be in vain in the region. Gov. Amaechi has apologized to Rivers people. I urge Rivers men and women, clergy, gospel ministers, traditional rulers, youths and President Jonathan to forgive him.”