The Niger Delta Peoples Movement (NDPM) has called for the promotion of equity in the world and particularly in Nigeria as the world marks the 2023 International Women’s Day urging for unity towards a more equitable and just world for all especially for the girl child and women.
Besides, the group called on the federal government to do more than it is currently doing to bring development to the Niger Delta area in Nigeria which it said despite being the goose that lays the golden egg has been neglected.
The Convener of NDPM, Mr. Ejiro Ineneji in a statement to mark IWD said it was time for a “huge embrace, it’s time to take action and give equity the attention it deserves. Let’s work together to create a more equitable world where everyone has a fair chance to succeed. We all can play a part.”
“Embracing equity is the right thing to do. Equity is not just a buzzword, it is a fundamental human right. It is time to embrace equity and make it a priority in our lives and our communities.”
Meanwhile the group in its recently concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) frowned at the slow pace of clean-up in Ogoni land calling for an expedited action just as it commended the federal government for releasing the arrears of 13 per cent owed to states from the region since 1999
Part of a communiqué issued by the group at the end of its AGM with the theme “Bridging the gap between the past, present and future of Niger Delta” held in Benin City, the Edo State capital called on the federal government to up its efforts in the region.
Part of the communiqué signed by Mr Emmanuel Enemudo, the AGM Committee Chairman, Andrew Okonzuwa, the worldwide President of the group, Ejiro B. Ineneji, Convener, Ms Ruth Adedeji the Public Relations Officer and Collins Azuike, the National Secretary of the group said Nigeria belonged to all the nationalities irrespective of how they come to be known as a country and therefore have equal stake and must ensure that it remained one country.
It said that “The Federal Government of Nigeria has not done enough with the clean-up of Ogoni Land and has therefore kept the people in perpetual squalor and degraded environment; the association, as an environmental protection group, calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately mobilize adequate resources and men for the clean-up of Ogoni Lands and its environs affected by bad oil production practices.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria and the State Governments of the States affected need to take urgent steps to compensate victims of the recent flood disasters in the Niger Delta Region and to take deliberate actions aimed at forestalling future occurrence in the Niger Delta as well other parts of the Country, Nigeria.
“While appreciating the Federal Government of Nigeria for the release of the 13% derivation funds owed the region for many years, the Association calls on government to not only release the monies but also promote measures aimed at ensuring that states that received the money does something tangible towards the development of their peoples and state.”
Besides, the communiqué which also had as signatories, Edafe Sodje, BoT Chairman, Anthony Osakunih, National President and John Ighedosa, Coordinator called the government and all well-meaning individuals “especially those in the corridors of power and men of means and resources and influence within the Niger Delta Region, indigenes and friends to rise above partisanship and parochialism, to run to the rebuilding and Urbanization of the entire Niger Delta Region.”
The “NCEDO-NDPM is ready to partner and work with the government and her agencies charged with the responsibility of dealing with these issues, in ameliorating the suffering of our people, the grassroot masses of our dear Niger Delta Region.”
