The Niger Delta region will continue to suffer a moral burden after the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan: who is from the region. The Niger Delta self acclaimed leaders would suffer the burden of a moral question. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was not the vision bearer of the Niger Delta. So, his presidency was never a blessing to the Niger Delta. Those parading themselves today as leaders of the Niger Delta are not selfless. Selflessness is an act of fully focusing on the needs of others rather than on personal needs. Those who constitute the Pan Niger Delta Forum are rather incidental leaders.

Regretfully, the Niger Delta does not have born leaders after the demise of Harold Dappa Biriye and Isaac Boro. A leader is born when an individual is awakened to a human need: that becomes a personal obsession and a driving passion, igniting a commitment and a dedication that become more important than self preservation and cultivating a will for personal sacrifice. The moral question is that: where were the members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum during the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan? And why were the contents of the 16 points requests to President Mohammed Buhari not presented to President Goodluck Jonathan?

Yes! The political oxygen Nigeria needs now is political righteousness. Political will is the currency for national development. I belong to the moralist breed of political thinkers and I have no apology for it. John Adam, America’s first Vice President and second President said; “If we ever cease to be moral, democracy will destroy this nation”. Democracy is not a proof of justice. Ochlocracy is the government of a confused majority. A political majority can be oppressive of a political minority. The key to the future of Nigeria: is our unwavering faith in God not in our politicians. We should be guided by our integrity than by circumstances. J. Oswald Sander said “eyes that look are common eyes that see are rare”. Lenders who are not under the rulership of God are nothing but political reprobates.

There is a dilemma in our political psychology. The pride of man flourishes where there is rivalry for position instead of services. Great movements start with great men who have great faith in God. Great countries are founded on the productive ingenuity of a godly and zealous people; who seek a better life as the common good of all citizens. Robert Freeman said “Character is not made in crisis it is only exhibited”. The members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum are proving to be political hypocrites. As opinion leaders of the Niger Delta, they did not engage Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during the pendency of his presidency to fast track the development of the Niger Delta. They were rather picking crumbs, in Aso Rock as his political associates.

Evidently, Political Parties are temples of Political Idolatry. The issues raised in the 16 points demands of the Pan Niger Delta Forum had existed for a long time. The Niger Delta region had voted massively for the People’s Democratic Party since 1999 till the Last 2015 elections. Presently too, the PDP controls five States out of six States in the South-South geo-political zone. The members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum should make an explanation: why they did not make a presentation to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan when he was the president of the Country. They should explain to the peoples of the Niger Delta the benefits the region derived from their parties.

However, Governance is a continuum. President Mohammed Buhari is the Chief of State; and the country is desirous of a solution to the economic terrorism of the Niger Delta Avengers. Most of the issues raised, in the 16 points demand; Presented to the President are still lingering because of poor policy initiatives and lack of procedural integrity. As a Leader, it is expected that President Mohammed Buhari would consider the 16 points presentation of the self acclaimed Niger Delta leaders. Some of the issues raised need Legislative amendments because of some extant laws, that created the said problems. The passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill will address some of the 16 points demands. Legislators from the region should give studied analysis to the demands and collectively sponsor bills that will remedy the identified problems.


In conclusion, the presidential amnesty proclamation for ex-agitators of the Niger Delta was made 2009. It had been wrongly managed as a retirement program for the ex-agitators. Eight years after, the critical components of the program was ignored by previous government. The disarmament and demobilization phases were implemented without any exit strategy. It is right to suggesting that; the program should be revisited to providing for a robust exit strategy. The beneficiaries of the program should be effectively reintegrated. The federal, state and local governments in the Niger Delta should work out job placement program to creating employment; for those who had undergone one form of training or the other.

Force Bray is a citizen journalist

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these useless old men led by Clarke should go and die. The are the problem of Ijaw nation and Niger Delta. They can never be the solution.