Ijaw, most disadvantaged ethnic nationality in Nigeria —former NDDC boss
A former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Ziakede Aginighan, has described the Ijaw ethnic group as the most disadvantaged nationality in the country, adding that its means of livehood had been destroyed for about 50 years in the course of national development.
He said this in his keynote address, titled “Walk in the Footprints”, at a seminar organised recently in Port Harcourt by the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Eastern zone.
Aginighan, who was also the founding secretary of the INC, said the economy of the Ijaw people was destroyed in the process of exploiting oil and gas resources for the sustenance of the Nigerian economy.
“To those who wish to challenge my claim, this is my answer; we are the ethnic nationality whose means of livelihood have been systematically destroyed for upwards of 50 years in the process of exploiting our God-given oil and gas resources for the sustenance of the Nigerian economy.
“Yet our people cannot find the petroleum products to buy at pump price, subsidy or no subsidy. Over 80 per cent of the Ijaw territory remain inaccessible by road. Let me not bore you with the endless list of indices of the underdevelopment of the Ijaw territory”, he said.
He however expressed delight that the Ijaw people in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States have resolved to take their destiny in their hands in the highly competitive politics of Nigeria.
He mentioned prominent Ijaw leaders who he said selflessly fought for the political, social and economic freedom for Rivers people and Nigeria; the late nationalist, Mr Ernest Ikoli, His Royal Highness Pere Dr Harold Dappa Biriye and the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, among others.
He therefore called on Ijaws to take advantage of the unfolding political development in Rivers State by participating fully in the electoral process in the state.
http://tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/7354-ijaw-most-disadvantaged-ethnic-nationality-in-nigeria-former-nddc-boss
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