Niger Delta Can’t Develop With Bad Leaders, Says Publisher

• Fubara, Diri, Dickson, Utomi, Speak At FirstNews 4th Anniversary

Dr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Bayelsa State, believes that for the Niger Delta to develop, the right set of leaders must be elected, and the Federal Government’s enthronement of mediocrity must end.

According to him, the advice became necessary because it appeared for far too long that only the worst people in Nigeria rose to power through hook or crook.

He said this in a statement marking the fourth anniversary of FirstNews, a publication he founded to protect the rule of law, democracy, and good governance.

Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State and his Bayelsa counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, are among the dignitaries expected to attend FirstNews’ 4th Anniversary Public Lecture, according to the publisher and CEO.

He stated that renowned economist and management expert Prof. Pat Utomi will deliver the keynote address at the event, which will be held on October 4, 2024, at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The event’s theme is “Building the Niger Delta of Our Dreams: With or Without Oil.”

Iworiso-Markson also explained why the theme was chosen, which he believes is timely given the Niger Delta’s long history of neglect.

He stated, “Reflection on the squandered opportunity to develop the region, as well as the imperative to do something about it rather than lament and hand-wringing, informed our decision to organise a public lecture to commemorate the fourth anniversary of our online newspaper, FIRST NEWS.”

“Prof. Pat Utomi, renowned Political Economist and Founding Senior Faculty, Lagos Business School, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, and some of the engaged figures on the challenge of development in the region and beyond have been scheduled to speak at the event.

“The various speakers and crack team of experts at the panel sessions in the October 4th FIRST NEWS annual public anniversary lecture will engage our audience in meaningful conversation and dialogue, stimulating new ideas and solutions on how to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta.”

“It bears repeating: there is no better time than now to rethink the region’s future, looking back to when we were a thriving economy, long before the discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1956. That is when the white man arrived with his oily business. Then, our people were perplexed by his preoccupation with oil and allowed him to exploit our land mercilessly. Now that he has sucked out the black gold, our land has been severely degraded and despoiled, leaving whatever remains to their local interlopers.

“Why could not the Niger Delta develop like Dubai, which grew from an unremarkable fishing town to the Middle East’s business, tourism, and culture epicentre in two decades, right in front of our eyes?

“Building the Niger Delta of our dreams will necessitate a similar level of focus and determination. The first step is to identify and be deliberate about the leaders we put in positions of power, because bad and corrupt leadership is at the root of our region’s underdevelopment.

“If the Niger Delta is to develop, it is critical that we elect the right set of leaders and defy the national tendency to elevate mediocrity.” For far too long, it appeared that only the worst among us gained power through hook or crook.

“Leaders in the Niger Delta should make a concerted effort to provide resources to help ordinary people meet their basic needs. Your good roads and bridges are meaningless if the people are living in abject poverty and unable to pursue a means of livelihood that will allow them to live with dignity. It makes no sense to have children roaming the streets rather than in school classrooms learning. It means nothing if the majority of your youth population is not gainfully employed, empowered, and equipped with the necessary skills to support themselves.

“For us in the Niger Delta, our future and prosperity now depend on our ability to look beyond oil, a depleting resource that has caused more harm than good.

“The magnitude of the damage caused by oil exploitation to our environment, as well as the attendant effects on our people’s lives and health, has yet to be fully appreciated.”