How Niger Delta leaders squandered our resources – Youths cry out

Youths from the nine states of the Niger Delta region, on Monday,
blasted leaders from the oil-rich region of squandering trillions of
naira that accrued to the area over the years.

The youths, under the auspices of the Pan Niger Delta Youth Leadership
Forum (PANDLEAF), said poverty in the region was curious, unthinkable,
unfortunate and worrisome when compared to the amount of money
appropriated to the region by the Federal Government.

The President, PANDLEAF, Richard Akinaka, spoke after meeting with
Presidents of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Urhobo Youth Council
(UYC) and Itsekiri Youth Council (IYC) as part of his ongoing
engagements with ethnic youth leaders in the region.

Akinaka said PANDLEAF met with Eric Omare of IYC; Ahbateyiniro Weyinmi
of Itsekiri, and Festus Igherebuo of Urhobo.

He lamented that the region had nothing to show for the years of huge
budgetary appropriations from the federal government, agencies and
states.

Akinaka said: "For instance, after the first two to three years of the
establishment the Niger Delta Development Commission, the agency has
perpetually become an instrument in the hands of those who control the
region from Abuja to finance elections.

"Leadership is not given but it is a responsibility taken and as such
we have to wake up now. Our region is not without resources or
institutions, but our region only lacks accountable leadership.

"The major problem of the region is that of perennial leadership
failure. We are embarking on this engagement with ethnic youth leaders
in the region to instil a renewed sense of responsibility to peace,
harmony and common development.

"We are here to talk to ourselves to promote ethnic harmony, peace as
a generation, to advance a common economic, political and social
agenda through objective political participation of youths."