The leadership of the National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS) and the National Youths Council of the Ogoni People, yesterday issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over what they described as neglect and marginalization of their people.
The youths accused the NDDC of being sentimental in the award of projects, arguing that while more than 30 projects were executed in Bayelsa State, the home state of President Jonathan, only a few were executed in Ogoni and Rivers State, adding that more than 10 projects claimed to have been executed by the NDDC in Ogoni are either abandoned or non-existent
Speaking while addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, NUOS President, Comrade Emmanuel Bie, said the youths would embark on a protest march to the office of the NDDC on Monday.
He said that series of letters had been sent to the NDDC office, informing the commission of the plans by the youths to protest the injustice and marginalization against Ogoni.
According to Bie, “Today, we are here to tell the world that the neglect and marginalization meted out to Ogoniland and its people by the NDDC cannot be tolerated again. After the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum, we shall carry out a massive protest against the commission.
“We are ready for dialogue before the expiration of the ultimatum. Don’t forget we have written series of letters to the commission, but all our efforts to make peace fell on deaf ears. So we have no choice but to close down the commission office during the protest.”
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