Edo South deserves better, group tells Niger Delta Affairs Minister

Edo South deserves better, group tells Niger Delta Affairs Minister

A group, under the aegis of Benin National Congress (BNC) has again called out the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Abubakar Momoh over alleged marginalisation of the Edo South Senatorial District from the 2024 capital projects of the Ministry.

In a letter signed by the duo of President and Secretary General of the group, Amb. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo and Comrade Maxwell Uwuilekhue-Uwagboe respectively, they faulted the publication of the 2024 Appropriation Act, noting it was scripted intentionally to deny Benin people of their entitlement.

BNC further stated that the Benin nation guides its dignity jealously and intolerable of any act calculated to tarnish or undermine her land and people.

“Sequel to the publication of the 2024 Appropriation Act, the Benin National Congress and other Progressive forces of Benin Nation discovered to their shock that the appropriation was scripted deliberately, not only to deny Benin Oil Communities of their natural entitlements, but more particularly to spite and/or sideline the collective intelligence and sensibilities of our people, culture and heritage,” the letter partly read.

The group therefore decried how efforts to draw the attention of stakeholders to the “monumental error” by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs have not yielded desired results.

“The BNC leading the pack immediately launched a “war of letters” to relevant 

institutions, authorities and persons. There were concomitant barrage of press 

statements and/or conference to sensitize the public of the brazen deployment of 

executive and legislative powers to take away a people’s birthright.

“Our protest attained the desired attention when it hit the floor of the House of 

Representatives, which eventually committed it to its Public Petitions Committee based on its acclaimed merits.

“On the shifting of battle to the National Assembly – following the presentation of 

the BNC ‘s petition by Hon. Murphy Omoruyi (Member, representing Egor/IkpobaOkha Federal Constituency) on the 8th of February 2024- a team of the BNC interfaced with the House of Reps. Public Petitions Committee on 7th March and 18th April respectively.  

“The BNC was present, but Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs 

was absent and was not represented. It is however not our lot to enforce the summons of the National Assembly. If the National Assembly cannot contend for itself nor defend its honour; so be it!” BNC said

Highlighting the case presented before the House of Representatives, the group noted that; “That Edo South Senatorial District account for 100% of the crude oil/gas from Edo State.

“That Edo South Senatorial District is the reason for crude Oil/Gas special 

benefits whatsoever and however accorded to Edo State.

“That Edo State, other than by Geography, a focal State of the Ministry of 

Niger-Delta Affairs because of the crude oil/natural gas in Edo South 

Senatorial District (Benin Land).

“That the appointment of Mr. Abubakar Momoh as Niger Delta Affairs 

Minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is directly proportional to the 

‘grace’ of the oil and gas producing potentials of Edo South Senatorial 

District – being the oily senatorial district with oil and gas in Edo State. And it 

is noteworthy to underline, that we bear no grudge against the Minister over 

President’s exercise of his prerogative.

“That Edo South Senatorial District must take priority over and above the 

other two (2) Senatorial Districts of Central and North in terms of benefits 

accruing and/or deriving from crude oil/natural gas production.

“That is was criminal to appropriate for capital projects of the ministry of 

Niger-Delta Affairs with virtually 95% (Ninety Five Per Cent) of the projects to 

be located in oil-dry Estako Land.”

BNC therefore resolved that “We are indebted to the past and the future in this historical task to be vigilant and 

relentless in the matters pertaining the protection of our patrimony.

“We are strengthened by the knowledge of the fact of history that nations or powers 

that have attempted the snobbery of Benin nation do so with eternal regret.”