Prof. Aziza Laments The Neglect Of Niger Delta Region

...Says 80% Financial Resources For Nigeria Progress  Is From N/D States

Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin

Former Deputy Vice Chancellor in Administration, from 2015 to 2019 of the Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Roseline Oro Aziza, has expressed fear and lamented the backwardness and neglect  of the Niger Delta Region, and added that the Region is responsible in creating more than 80% of the financial resources that keep Nigeria growing.

Prof. Roseline Aziza who was the Acting Head, Department of Languages and Linguistics in 2000 to 2005, and two-time Associate Dean, Postgraduate School from 2005 to 2006, and from 2009 to 2011 made her presentation in an event organized by the National Point/Foreword Communications Limited, Port Harcourt, River state, at Niger Delta town hall meeting with the theme:" Ensuring Electoral Accountability and Inclusive Governance, in Warri, Delta state.

According to Prof. Aziza who has been a lecturer for most of her working years teaching English, Linguistics and Urhobo course in various institutions of higher learning posited that it is because of the abandon of the Region, which  has nothing to show in terms of infrastructural developments, and that it had led to marginalization of the region .

The university don who had served as Chairman/Member of several University Committees said due to the violances and underdevelopment of the region said women including girls, and the people living with disability are more  vunlrable and had suffered from this bad governance emanated from the Region.

Prof. Aziza whose area of specialization is based on descriptive linguistics said," the Niger Delta Region is made up of six States of the South South geo-political zones. While two states are from the South East, and one state from the South West. Although, the Region is the engine room for Nigeria, responsible for providing more than 80% of financial resources that keep Nigeria growing.

" It has even or nothing to show in terms of Infrastructural development amenities. And this process had led to the marginalization of the region and his people. That is my rightful agitation concerning the region, which is traceable to injustice, because where there is no justice, there cannot be peace.

" We are here trying to address this crucial issues, in order to ensure there is a pathway in ensuring electoral accountability and inclusive governance.

"The Niger Delta Region which is blessed with abundance resources and cultural disverity has the potentials that brings different type of progress and prosperity to Nigeria. But, this potentials had been overshadow by the history of neglects that have led to violences, electoral malpratices, and exclusion from governance.

" We (women) including girls with the people living with disability are  vunlrable and had suffered from this bad governance. Can we continue like this? And I believed we are all here to say no, enough is enough.

" We must look forward to a peaceful environments and good governance by ensuring justice and inclusiveness of all citizens, irrespective of gender or status, so that we can achieve a better future of the Region.

The first elected female Dean of a Faculty in Delta State University, Abraka, said,"in the first place we did not real prepare for the election because that is the core in any functioning democracy. Democracy is a process and that process start with achieving a credible elections. Elections that everyone can trust and elections  that everyone will be given the opportunity to participate in.

  " Along the road after the 2023 general elections, Nigeria government wanted to conduct census. For those of us that have partook  in the past censuses in this country before know what, we are talking about . 

"This result of the previous censuses conducted before are not accurate. For we to have a credible elections in Nigeria nobody should be left out. The Constitution of Nigeria says, once you have attain 18 years old, you can be voted for, and can also vote. Every Nigerian should be able to vote, and be voted for," she stressed.

In her speech, the Managing News Editor of the National Point, Chief Constance Meju urged the media participants at the event to always hold our leaders representing the region responsible for the underdevelopment of the Region.

Chief Meju said oil fund from the Niger Delta is what the Nigeria economy depends on and appealed to Niger Delta media to wake up from their slumber to address the issues confronting the Region. 

She therefore disclosed that the media should not praise any politician especially from the Region,  but urge them to do more to advance the Niger Delta Region.