The accusation was made by the
Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Youth Development, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, on Thursday 18th March 2021, while addressing journalists at his residence.
“The fact remains that at the federal level, there is nothing to write home about. Ndokwa is grossly marginalized at the federal level. Look at the Bill that was read before the floor of the House, second reading even at the state level. At the verge of approval.
“The third reading at the State House, Ovie Omo-Agege came in and manipulated all the processes. Ndokwa has never had any higher institution except for prison yard. Ndokwa happens to be one of the largest second ethnic nationality in the South-south region and with the largest gas deposit.
“If you go to Ndokwa, you will see so many multinational oil companies. In my community, you will see them in Okpai but the federal is only interested in milking us by not developing Ndokwa region. The federal government has been the one marginalizing Ndokwa Nation”.
He reiterated that the federal government only comes to take away from Ndokwa Nation by exploring oil from the land yet, no plans to develop the area.
He disclosed that Ndokwa east local government area, needs the attention of the government compared to Ndokwa west and Ukwuani local government areas.
Hear him: “there are places in Ndokwa east that you cannot drive into and I don’t think in Ukwuani and Ndokwa west local government areas, there is a place or community that you cannot drive to. There are places even motorcycle cannot reach except they drop somewhere and crossover”.
In terms of Social Corporate Responsibility of the multinationals, he said the companies are doing nothing, “the NDDC has drifted from their dreams. The reason why the NDDC was created is for the oil states but today when you go to the northern part, you see NDDC constructing 25 kilometer roads but when it comes to regions, the communities that produces the oil, there is nothing”, he said.
He disclosed that a shore protection and Jetty under construction by NDDC have been abandoned, pointing out that before Abala to Ossissa junction another project by the NDDC have been abandoned, “there are other NDDC projects in Ndokwa east, all have been abandoned. There is no viable NDDC project that is in existence today in Ndokwa east or in Ndokwa Nation”, apart from one kilometer road in Kwale or Ukwuani or renovation of a classroom block.
Speaking on the way forward, he called for unity and relating with Deltans especially the Ndokwas at the federal level, expressing fear that other ethnic nationalities are biased towards the region.
“Look at what the Deputy Senate President has done to Ndokwa people. There was no interest of Orogun. Urhobo has federal and state institutions and because you know that Ndokwa is at the verge of getting it, we have nobody that can speak for us. The only person that can stand and talk in favor of Ndokwa was Ossai Ossai, who argued that Orogun Bill again because it is not possible for the federal government to approve two federal institutions.
“But Ndokwa was at the verge of getting it, Ovie Omo-Agege just came in and he projected his own”, alleging that Ossai Ossai was intimidated, threatened and insulted.
