Ben Agande
15 October 2008
PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua admitted, yesterday, that a review of the 1999 Constitution to address some of the Niger Delta problems was inevitable. But he also explained that his administration was doing all it could under the prevailing situation to deal with the problems.
"We shall do anything as an administration within available resources and the imperfect constitutional provisions within which we are constrained to operate to share the problems in the Niger Delta," he told a delegation of leaders of the region in his office.
The delegation led by retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Adolphus Karibi-White, had gone to present him with the report of the Vanguard-organised South-South Legislative Retreat on Constitution Review held last August in Port Harcourt.
The president said the necessity for constitutional amendment must not be an excuse to allow the problems of the Niger Delta to fester, and stressed that the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry by his administration was a demonstration of its readiness to begin the implementation of its agenda for infrastructural development, cleaning the environment and youth empowerment in the Niger Delta.
Describing the Niger Delta crisis as "a national problem," he urged those canvassing constitutional amendments to go through the National Assembly.
"While I have no objections to your feelings about constitutional amendment, I strongly believe we have to follow the procedures. Building a just, prosperous and equitable society is not an easy thing, as it requires patience, efforts and perseverance," he said.
He thanked the South-South leaders for "frankly airing their views" and for their sacrifices to bringing peace not only to the Niger Delta but to the nation. He assured them that his doors would "always be open to listen to advice and opinions that will help us find a lasting solution to national problems like that of Niger Delta."
Leader of the 11-member delegation, Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte, explained that they were there to present the resolutions of the Vanguard-organised South-South Legislative Retreat on Constitution Review held in August 2008, to the Federal Government, while he commended the establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta.
Also on th delegation were Vanguard Publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka; Chief Edwin Clark; Mr. Ledum Mittee; Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Sen. Felix Ibru. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan; Ministers of Petroleum, Transportation and Science and Technology, and the NDDC Managing Director, Mr Timi Alaibe, were also in attendance.
Speaking to State House correspondents latter, Justice Karibi-Whyte said no worthy leader would ignore the recommendations contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the retreat.
He said though it was too early to draw conclusions on whether the president was sincere in his assurances, there was no evidence that he did not mean well.
Justice Karibi-Whyte in response to a question on whether the leaders of the Niger Delta were persuaded by the president's assurances that he was committed to addressing the problems of the region said: "From what I know of the president, he would not say what he does not mean. The suggestions we made (in the report presented yesterday) are serious, genuine and salutary, to this country. Anybody who ignores such serious suggestions, and knowing the sensitive nature of the matter of the Niger Delta, at that stage, we will begin to doubt his sincerity. But at the moment, we believe that he (President Yar'Adua) means something serious."
The report, he said, captured some of the most important positions of the Niger Delta region from a gathering of eminent sons and daughters of the region which, if implemented, would "assist the region realize its potentials in self sufficiency and the upgrade of the political image of the area."
He said though the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry came after the retreat, if there is enough political will-power, the region could be transformed just like the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory transformed Abuja.
In his contribution, the Ijaw leader, Chief Clark, who was also on the delegation, said government should give back to the Niger Delta region the wealth that it was endowed with by ensuring that at least 60 percent of the wealth derived from the region was given back to the region.
3-point agenda
Three main demands were made in the communique issued at the end of the retreat on August 8, 2008.
These are:
•Government should recognise that there is really no military option to the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis.
•It is counter-productive to demonise all militants as seems to be the case now.
•Adoption of a "Marshall Plan" to transform the region into a hub for economic progress.
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