AGAIN, Stakeholders Demand Equity Over Exclusion Of Edo South From 2024 Budget
Bu Kabir Akintayo
POLITICS DIGEST- In a continuous effort to address the exclusion of Edo South from the 2024 Niger-Delta Projects in the state, the Benin National Congress Worldwide (BNCW) has again writes to the speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas to wade in.
This is even after the group wrote Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki who is also the chairman of South-South states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED).
The group also copied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other federal authorities, seeking intervention to rectify the perceived injustice and imbalance in the allocation of projects to Edo South Senatorial District.
In a recent petition addressed to the Speaker, Amb. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, President of BNCW, and Comrade Maxwell Uwagboe, Secretary General, raised concerns about the allocation of projects in the 2024 Budget of the Ministry of the Niger-Delta.
The focus of the complaint is the perceived exclusion of Edo South Senatorial District, an oil and gas-producing area, from major projects.
The letter, dated January 24, 2024, initially expressed surprise and disappointment at the lopsided allocation of projects exclusively to Edo North Senatorial District.
The representatives sought to draw attention to what they believed to be an unintentional oversight by the Ministry and the Honorable Minister of the Niger-Delta, Engr, Abubakar Momoh who justified the allocation by stating it was a common practice among his predecessors.
The controversy escalated when the Minister defended his decision in response to the petition. Citing the actions of past ministers, he asserted that starting projects from one’s immediate constituency was a norm.
Momoh emphasized the distinction between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Niger Delta Development Ministry, addressing the concerns raised by Elder Asemota and his group.
His response further fueled the dispute, as he accused the representatives from Edo South Senatorial District of tribalism and inefficiency in contributing to the Ministry’s projects.
BNCW, however countered these claims, urging a thorough review of the Ministry’s budget to rectify the alleged unfair distribution of projects.
See the petition below:
7th February, 2024
Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, The Rt. Honorable Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Thro,
Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi, Honorable Member, Representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, Three Arms Zone Abuja, FCT
The Most Distinguished Speaker,
PETITION WITH RESPECT TO THE ALLOCATION OF PROJECTS/AMENITIES
BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF THE MINISTRY OF THE NIGER-DELTA-THE
CASE OF UNFAIR EXCLUSION OF EDO SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.
In our letter of January 24, 2024, to The Chairman, BRACED Commission Council, Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Edo State Governor’s Office, Government House, Benin City we raised the complaint with respect to the undeserving, unfair and macroscopically obvious discrimination leading to the exclusion of Edo South Senatorial District from the allocation/siting of projects in this year’s Budget of the Ministry of the Niger-Delta.
We had In our letter of December 21, 2023 which was addressed to HRM, Omo N’Oba
N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II CFR, the Oba Of Benin, expressed our surprise about the lopsided allocation by the Ministry of the Niger-Delta in its distribution of projects to be executed under the 2024 Budget, when all the 5 major projects under his Ministry were allocated/sited exclusively in his do North to the exclusion of other parts of the Niger-Delta Communities, especially do South Senatorial District – being the area with oil and gas production basin of the Niger-Delta
In our assumption that it was a mistake, we didn’t believe that it could have been an intentional oversight, and we therefore sought to draw the attention of the Ministry and the Honorable Minister to this lacuna in its 2024 Budget projects distribution. The document also highlighted the major projects included in the Federal Government’s proposed 2024 National budget favouring Edo North For instance, N1.50b is allocated to the construction of 45km Okpella North, Ibie – Agenobode Road, Phase 1 in Edo State. The Federal government also allocated N800m for the construction of classrooms in the 9 Niger Delta States (global); design and construction of Ekperi Osomegbe Road, amounting to N545m. Other projects to be executed in Northern Edo State are the construction of Ihievhe – Ihievhe Ogbe Road and the N500m construction of lyukwu – Atte Road in Akoko Edo, LGA.
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In giving credence to the exclusion of do South Senatorial District, Senator Oyofo felicitated with the Honourable Minister for these projects given to his area, (Edo North Senatorial District) but the same cannot be said of Edo South Senatorial District that has the absolute population majority and land mass of the State. We are dismayed to read that the Honourable Minister probably did this on purpose stemming from the justifications he had sought to give for concentrating all major projects within his constituency, which is not an oil and gas producing area of Edo State, knowing well that Edo State is Niger-Delta, because Edo South sits on the bight of Benin and other Niger Estuaries such as Gelegele, and Edo South Senatorial District is the oil and gas producing District of Edo State. What further other parameters could have excluded Edo South Senatorial District from qualifying for any of the Ministry of the Niger-Delta projects, for which the Honourable Minister so blatantly excluded us?
In a publication in This Nigeria newpapers https://thisnigeria.com/stakeholders-slam-n-delta-minister-for-siting-2024-edo-projects-in-his-senatorial-zone/
the Honourable Minister referring to our letter above, opined: “reacting to the development, a reliable source said the minister has noted that he has not made any mistake, claiming that he did it because all the previous ministers who headed the ministry started projects from their immediate constituencies.” The source also said that the minister maintained that the likes of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, when he was the Minister, also did the same”. “According to the source, “I called the Minister, Dr Abubakar Momoh, and he confirmed that he sited those projects in Etsako, in Edo North, because he needed to start from his immediate community.”
While reacting to the letter on the same matter from Edo State chapter of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the Honourable Minister said interlia: Edo State PANDEF Claims Debunked: A Detailed Look At Niger Delta Ministry’s 2024 Budget https://bushradiogist.com/edo-state-pandef-claims-debunked-a-detailed-look-at-niger-delta-ministrys-2024-budget/it is essential to address the concerns raised by Elder Asemota and his group, who seem to champion a Benin agenda to the perceived detriment of other senatorial districts in Edo State.” “Firstly, we want to emphasize the critical distinction between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Niger Delta Development Ministry. The DDC focuses on oil-producing areas, whereas the Ministry encompasses the entire region, aiming to address comprehensive developmental needs.” “However, the danger lies in prioritizing a narrow Benin agenda over the overarching development of Edo State. This approach not only risks undermining principles of fairness and equity but also fosters division among senatorial districts” “We strongly urge Elder Asemota to conduct a thorough inquiry into the actions and initiatives executed by both the State Government and the Edo Representative in the NDDC.
Notably, these representatives not only originate from Benin but are also situated in Benin. The inquiry should particularly center on their utilization of the direct derivation funds earmarked for the development of the oil-producing community in Edo State”.
“Additionally, the ministry’s budget reflects the allocation of almost three billion naira to constituency projects by some members of the National Assembly representing Edo North.” “This is a key factor contributing to the perceived concentration. If Representatives from Benin had pursued a similar course of action, they would have witnessed a substantial increase in projects within the Benin area, supplementing the existing developments.”
His numerous reasons include that the Distinguished Senate President, H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON acted similarly when he was Minister of Niger-Delta. That the NASS Members from his Edo North constituency area contributed their Constituency Projects whereas those from other senatorial districts, and in particular do South didn’t and where either stingy or not wise enough to contribute theirs to his Ministry. That we are being parochial tribalistic and dispendious in the use of the resources allocated to Edo State under the Oil and Gas Producing Areas contributions. We are in receipt of a news media publication by the Honourable Minister in furtherance of his affront on the psyche of Edo South people.
We humbly request that the Budget of the Ministry of the Niger-Delta be revisited to enable the needful corrections I’m the allocation of projects to include Edo South Senatorial District being the largest by land mass, the largest by population, the only District in Edo State that is oil and gas producing with its well known environmental degradation to stave off the anger over this unmerited deprivation.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation
Yours Sincerely,
Amb. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo AmbP-UN, President, Benin National Congress worldwide
Comrade Maxwell Uwagboe, Secretary General,
Benin National Congress worldwide.
СС:
His Excellency,
Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Presidential Villa, FCT, Abuja
His Excellency,
Senator Godswill Akpabio GCON,
Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone Abuja, FCTC.
The Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, GCON, House of Representatives , Building National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone Abuja, FCT.
