The people of the oil producing areas of Bayelsa State have written to President Goodluck Jonathan protesting against the alleged continued neglect of their area by the federal government.

The elders therefore raised the alarm on the rising anger and impatience of the people especially the youths against multinational oil companies operating in the area.

In a letter which was signed by Emeritus Professor E. J. Alagoa , Professor Youpele Beredugo, Alabo Jikekuma Ombu-Kieri, Sir C.T Ikelemote, Dr. Young Dede, Ms. Ruby Iwoyefa Nyananyo, Chief Nengi James and Chief Howells Aburuku, among others, they declared that in spite of over 50-years of old oil exploration and 10-year per cent of nation's oil and 15 per gas production, the federal government had failed to deliver on road construction promised the Nembe communities 40 years ago.

The position of the elders which was read at the weekend during the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Nembe Se Congress by the Bayelsa Commission for Environment, Mr. Inuruo Wills, argued that the relationship between Nembe territory and the country had been one sided as the territory had only been good for economic exploration, extraction of resources and an export terminal for extracted resources.

The angry elders and respectable academics in the letter warned against the rising anger and impatience with Oil multinational companies operating in the area and the federal government over alleged deceit on the construction and completion of four major road projects in the area including the 66 years old Yenegwe-Kolo-Nembe-Brass road project.
The Nembe elders noted with concern that Nigeria is infamous for its callous neglect of the Niger Delta region particularly the Nembe territory which is the most tragic example of that neglect. “The starkest metaphor for this age-long neglect is that along the Akassa kin, Obioku through the Okoroma sector to the towns of Nembe and into Okoroba, Oluasiri and Mini-Ikensi sectors remain till today unconnected by road to the hinterland,” the statement said.

They listed among the proposed and abandoned road projects in Nembe communities to include Yenegwe-Kolo-Nembe-Brass road by the federal government since 1973; the Otuegila-Amurekeni-Amutoro-Emago/Kugbo-Oluasiri-Okoroba-Biokponga-Nembe road by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); the Akpilai/Ogbia-Nembe road proposed by the first civilian government in Bayelsa State and the 22 kilometre-Ogbia, Nembe road by the state government.

"Aside from the commitment handed by the present administration to get the SPDC, NDDC and the contractor-Setraco limited-to complete the road within the rescheduled deadline of the end of 2014 or early 2015, none other has been delivered. The federal government, SPDC and the past administrations of the state have failed in their road promises.


"What is the fate of these road projects? How do we get our various stakeholders to keep faith with their legal and social obligations to Nembe? Has SPDC tricked us and finally abandoned the Otuegila-Emago-Oluasiri-Nembe road? Is the Ogbia-Nembe road the only serious project NDDC intends to do for the entire Nembe communities with quota that we contribute to the commission which is roughly N300billion yearly budget? Will the federal government prove to us through concrete infrastructural evidence that it now cares about the people and territory of Nembe?

"Whilst it takes the federal government the better part of the century to connect us by road, there exists a vast and expanding network of oil and gas pipelines across our territory connecting prolific oil wells to flow stations to export terminals and so on. In some 40 to 50 years of oil and gas production, the Nigerian government has in league with the oil companies virtually drilled the life out of our communities,” the forum stated.

The group continued: "Our rivers as well as groundwater have been massively poisoned through the worst case of cumulative oil pollution in the world. Gas is continually flared at several points like some oversized Olympic touches at the expense of the people lungs."


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/bayelsa-elders-write-jonathan-we-are-not-feeling-the-impact-of-govt/166658/

They should ask their governor and LG Chairmen what they have been doing with the JUMBO federal allocation to their state.

^^^
Very true

They should get ready to face treason charges.

Bayelsans have all joined APC.

This is the season of letters to the president. I hope to write mine soon. I have so many questions for him.

They are pro-APC. they have also decided to go into alliance with the North and SW. They must be arrested.

Letter bomb

The guy no go even read all dis letters

Hmmm, this seems to be the season of letters..............
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Make me sef go write my own sharply.

No need to complain. "Their son" is there and doing wonderfully well.

If these people say they're not feeling the impact of government in spite of the huge allocations that have gone to their state and LGAs, NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta, in addition to the FG, where are the people in this country that are feeling the impact of government?

The other day, a Bayelsa community that has never had a hospital cried out.
https://www.nairaland.com/1488425/bayelsa-community-never-health-centre

Trouble dey o.

If pesin criticize Jonathan (either as Bayelsa ex governor or current President), now dem go say you be APC or Tinubu pikin or Boko Haram or you be hater.

Trouble dey o.

Wake up o Oga Jona.

They have been bought by Tinubu.

nairaarea: WHAT HAS FG DONE FOR NIGER DELTA

THE OGONI PEOPLE ARE STILL DRINKING BENZENE POLLUTED WATER 2 YEARS AFTER UNEP GAVE JONATHAN A REPORT THEY DESCRIBED AS THE WORST CASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION THEY HAVE EVER SEEN

we will charge you for treason for saying that.

Where are all the allocations from the FG, NDDC, ministry of Nigerdelta etc going to? What is governor seriaka dickson doing with all these funds? With the huge federal allocation it receives and the low population density therein, Bayelsa state ought to be the dubai of Nigeria. Alimosho local government in Lagos has a higher population than bayelsa state

superstar1:

we will charge you for treason for saying that.

superstar1:

we will charge you for treason for saying that.

hahaha FG's latest threat. If that will stop the injustice and genocide cause by the pollution of Ogoniland then they should charge for treason.
Mandela was On US terrorist list till 2008. Enough of the "our son" slang. Now i understand what Amaechi was lamenting about.

I laugh in Ibani language. So Bayelsa know how to write letter? Your people in Port Harcourt won't stop the hate on Amaechi for speaking his mind.

Jonathan massive development in Bayelsa has only been concentrated only in Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government. This community has a University, Hospital, Church, roads, technical school. Even the road leading to the headquarter of Ogbia is bad. Ogbia as a whole is bleeped bar Otuoke.

I have Nembe friends and not all of them are happy with our President especially after abandoning Brass-Nember road by Dickson since Sylvia left office.

The Brass NLNG is turning to a mirage.

Those saboteurs will be banished from niger delta for daring to critisize our son

superstar1: They are pro-APC. they have also decided to go into alliance with the North and SW. They must be arrested.

Exactly my thougt!
Because any South southerner agaist Gej must be labelled as a saboteur.

The collaborators from the SE would soon labeled these elders as traitors....

odua boy: Those saboteurs will be banished from niger delta for daring to critisize our son

They are all saboteurs.

In Tukur's voice, 'the letter is unexpected and unfortunate'.

In Abati's voice, ' the letter is self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land, President Jonathan has directed that none of his aides or any government official should join issues with Bayelsa Elders over it'

In Okupe's voice, 'this letter amounts to treason'.

And The Punch and Nation newspapers and Sahara Reporters better thank their stars that they were not the ones that published the 'FAKE and TREASONABLE' news.

If the Elders had been Rivers states indigenes, they would have been accused of 'subversion and disloyalty' or acting the 'script of Amaechi'.

In fact, Asari Dokubo has to deal with these Elders!

ilugunboy: The collaborators from the SE would soon labeled these elders as traitors....

The Elders were sent by Sanusi and Buhari.

But on a serious note, I expect more and more groups to begin to find their voices in the days ahead. It looks like more and more people are realizing that the country lacks cohesion and coordination and they don't know which way things may go politically.

Obasanjo started Bonny-Bodo road in Rivers State, Yaradua inherited and move it a little. GEJ after three years in office. Nothing has been done on that road.

jamace: They should ask their governor and LG Chairmen what they have been doing with the JUMBO federal allocation to their state.

You spoke well . . . .

@OP

Throughout the history of mankind, betrayal artists never end up in good notes socially. They have always died a miserable death or in a state of chilly penury.

Shameless elders
They should ask their governor
Bayelsa state is so thug friendly
Jobless persons riding latest cars
Thugs smiling out of the state house
Yet these elders dare say trash
Please if you haven't been there, then don't comment ignorantly on this thread

kel4soft: Obasanjo started Bonny-Bodo road in Rivers State, Yaradua inherited and move it a little. GEJ after three years in office. Nothing has been done on that road.

my brother na this one pain me pass.as strategic as bonny is to the nation, no single road connects PH to bonny.you go by boat or helicopter.pity! Meanwhile rivers people have turned a blind eye to the the ogoni-andoni-opobo unity road being done by amaechi the man they call a traitor.god dey.

DerideGull: @OP

Throughout the history of mankind, betrayal artists never end up in good notes socially. They have always died a miserable death or in a state of chilly penury.

that is beyond my level sir.

kindly break it down, so that i will know what i am agreeing to.

Coz this might result in us being arrested or being charged with treason now

Kx: Bayelsans have all joined APC.

The first thing on my mind!

DerideGull: @OP

Throughout the history of mankind, betrayal artists never end up in good notes socially. They have always died a miserable death or in a state of chilly penury.

What's betrayal in erring their view? When development is concentrated in Otuoke and other part are left out. Is that betrayal?