From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
A group, the Niger Delta Progressive Alliance (NDPA) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its preferred candidate for the 2027 Presidential Elections.
The group said Tinubu’s reforms has shown that he has the boldness to tackle the demands of the Niger Delta people.
Convener of the group, Amb. Nse Victor Udoh, made the declaration at an event organised by the group in Bayelsa State to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence with the theme:
“The Legacy of Bold Reforms: Evaluative Review of the Tinubu Reforms in Three Years in Relation to the Quest For Sustainable Development for Niger Deltans”.
He said people of the Niger Delta are currently demanding 25 percent derivation, adding that from all the frontline presidential candidates, only Tinubu has the boldness to take such difficult decision in the interest of the region.
Udoh said the group is supporting Tinubu also because the First Lady of the country, Senator Remi Tinubu is a daughter of the region.
“From all indications, all human beings are political animals, and we have seen that political decisions and participation, guide all the management of the resources in our region.
The Niger Delta people are asking for the upping of our resource derivation formula from 13% to 25%. And we see that it’s a difficult decision to take.
“We have looked at the three front-line candidates in the forthcoming elections and we think that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the boldness that he has displayed, the decisions that he has taken from removal of oil subsidy and the rest of them, that are very tough, it is clear that he is the one that can align with this kind of decision.
“So, as moved by the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the Niger Delta Progressive Alliance and the entire hall responding in unison from all angles, it’s clear that the Niger Delta people, through the Niger Delta Progressive Alliance, a community-based organization relating with the lowest people at the grassroots, have given the thumbs-up to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform and are endorsing him for 2027 Election because of two major reasons; his reform possibilities and the fact that the First Lady is one of our daughters, ” Udoh stated.
He added that President Tinubu’s decision especially with the removal of fuel subsidy has ensured that there is money for the government to embark on infrastructural development in the country.
He said the president in three years has proven what he can do for the country, assuring that the Niger Delta people would respond by voting massively for him in 2027.
“Niger Delta people are interested in real reality and the real reality that has guaranteed availability of funds for infrastructural development is what we will go with.
“The second one is that all of the candidates are only saying what they will do.This president in three years has demonstrated what he can do through tough decisions. And that tough decision is what will guarantee the development of our country.
“All nations of the world that has developed before, developed on tough decisions.
“Like the president said last week that the days of decisions are over. It’s now time for prosperity. Niger Delta people from all over our communities, we will report back at the elections, ” he declared.
He assured that in 2027, aside the North-West, the Niger Delta region will bring back the second highest votes as it was during the 2007, 2011 and 2015 elections.
Udoh said the group is already putting in place structures to comb the entire region in canvassing votes for President Tinubu.
Also speaking, Chief Jato Abido, a stakeholder said Nigerians before now knew what was wrong with the country but lacked the boldness to take those decisions.
He said Tinubu’s bold decisions had ensured that governors including those from the Niger Delta States have more funds to carryout developmental projects.
He also pointed to some Tinubu’s decisions in the region to include the support for the Presidential Amnesty Project (PAP) the establishment of the Federal University of Environment Technology in Ogoniland, the ongoing Ogoni Clean-up Exercise embarked upon by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the completion of the Bonny-Bodo road amongst others.
The National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council (NANS-JCC) Chairman, Bayelsa State, Comrade Lucky Michael, said Tinubu’s decision to institute the National Education Fund (NELFUND) which has now made students who couldn’t afford their fees to go to school has been a blessing to the students community in the region.
He noted that before now, several students had to drop out of school because of their inability to pay their fees but the scheme has given them assurance of completing their education.
The students’ leader, however, appealed to the government to resolve the delays encountered by some students who have applied and are yet to access the funds.
“We are grateful to the Federal Government. We are grateful for this initiative to empower Nigerian students and appeal that this should continue and be sustained.
“And as many that have applied, the delay process should be sorted out because some schools don’t allow them to write exams, so we are pleading with the Federal Government and to the bodies in charge of this, to look into it and see that those things are taken care of,” he said.
On the controversial issue of fuel subsidy Ambassador Udoh said; “We reject the return of fuel subsidy because of it’s massive fraudulent process, as we supported subsidy removal during President Goodluck Luck Jonathan’s administration, our position has not changed”.
