No To Ekaette's Sponsorship Of N1.7b Boxing Tournament

A recent revelation that the Ufot Ekaette led Niger Delta Ministry still struggling to map out a direction is planning to sponsor an international boxing tournament between Nigeria's Bash Ali and Gunn of the United States portrays a ministry with a warped sense of its responsibility.

A recent revelation that the Ufot Ekaette led Niger Delta Ministry still struggling to map out a direction is planning to sponsor an international boxing tournament between Nigeria's Bash Ali and Gunn of the United States portrays a ministry with a warped sense of its responsibility.
The Niger Delta Ministry represents President Umaru Yar'Adua's understanding of a need for a higher body to manage the affairs in the troubled Niger Delta region to bring about peace, development and consequently enough trust in government to calm restiveness there.

Since it came on board last year, it has been tours, promises but no action from the ministry. The most noticeable act last year was a co-hosting of a trade fair and in Abuja where the vast majority of unemployed Niger Delta youths have little access to and this year another jamboree, a sports fiesta to put Bash Ali's name in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the oldest boxers to win a tournament. This is definitely a clear indication that the minister does not fully understand the sensitivity of his ministry, perhaps having been buried in bureaucracy for too long.

Spending a whooping N1.7billion to fund a boxing tournament in honour of one assumed Edo man from a budget of N52 billion is sheer abuse of office. N52 billion is what the country has earmarked for the development not entertainment of the Niger Delta. That means, manpower development for the mass of its uneducated, unemployed including those from his Akwa Ibom who his state governor, Godswill Akpabio is trying to re-direct their lives; providing basic infrastructure like water, good roads, light and industries to improve life in the long neglected oil producing areas. Experts say N1.5 billion can effectively set up a thriving industry which can turn around the lives of many. Spending that sum therefore on a sporting activity in honour of one old boxer is a serious deprivation of the millions of people waiting on the ministry to work at changing things in the zone.

If the International Boxing Union has a problem over funding such a tournament, the right place to direct its plea for support should be the sports ministry or the presidency. One expects the presidency and the National Assembly especially the latter which has been castigating the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC over inaction to call the ministry to order. It is therefore surprising to read that they are all part of this unabashed attempt to further rob the Niger Delta people of the little fund approved for their welfare. Rather than bash billions on Ali, Niger Delta would be better off grooming it's youths in a boxing academy.

Ekaette must be made to understand that only a massive development of the Niger Delta, the setting up of small scale industries, micro-credit schemes and related industries to open up the Niger Delta should be his mandate. This office should be seen as an opportunity to contribute to peace not aggravating restiveness by engaging in schemes that will cause the blood to boil. He should be the voice urging the federal government, governors, local government councils and the federal government amnesty committee to exhibit decency by doing what should be done and on time.
For these reasons, he should stop dreaming and traveling all over the Nigeria Delta without a dim, settle down and think Niger development. The issue is not for award winning or Guinness Book of Records. The reality is how to chase away darkness, hunger and poverty from the zone that breeds Nigeria's wealth and that is a serious responsibility.

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Hardtalk:


Spending a whooping N1.7billion to fund a boxing tournament in honour of one assumed Edo man from a budget of N52 billion is sheer abuse of office. N52 billion is what the country has earmarked for the development not entertainment of the Niger Delta. That means, manpower development for the mass of its uneducated, unemployed including those from his Akwa Ibom who his state governor, Godswill Akpabio is trying to re-direct their lives; providing basic infrastructure like water, good roads, light and industries to improve life in the long neglected oil producing areas. Experts say N1.5 billion can effectively set up a thriving industry which can turn around the lives of many. Spending that sum therefore on a sporting activity in honour of one old boxer is a serious deprivation of the millions of people waiting on the ministry to work at changing things in the zone.

OBJ deceived this man until it was too glaring, he will not sponsor. Now it is the turn of Niger Delta Minister. We are waiting!.