BNC says Edo South merit more, tells Niger Delta Affairs Minister

By David Lawani, Abuja

The Benin National Congress (BNC) has again lambasted the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Abubakar Momoh over alleged marginalisation of the Edo South Senatorial District from the 2024 capital projects of the Ministry saying the region merit more projects.

In a letter signed by its President and Secretary General of the group, Amb. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo and Comrade Maxwell Uwuilekhue-Uwagboe, noting they dismissed the publication of the 2024 Appropriation Act, after it was scripted intentionally to deny Benin people of their entitlement.

The group stated that the Benin nation guides its dignity jealously and intolerable of any act calculated to tarnish or undermine her land and people.

“Sequel to the publication of the 2024 Appropriation Act, the Benin National Congress and other Progressive forces of Benin Nation discovered to their shock that the appropriation was scripted deliberately, not only to deny Benin Oil Communities of their natural entitlements, but more particularly to spite and/or sideline the collective intelligence and sensibilities of our people, culture and heritage,” the letter partly read.

It therefore condemned how efforts to draw the attention of stakeholders to the “monumental error” by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs have not yielded desired results.

“The BNC leading the pack immediately launched a “war of letters” to relevant institutions, authorities, and persons. There were concomitant barrage of press statements and/or conferences to sensitize the public of the brazen deployment of executive and legislative powers to take away a people’s birthright.

“Our protest attained the desired attention when it hit the floor of the House of

Representatives, which eventually committed it to its Public Petitions Committee based on its acclaimed merits.

“On the shifting of battle to the National Assembly – following the presentation of

the BNC ‘s petition by Hon. Murphy Omoruyi (Member, representing Egor/IkpobaOkha Federal Constituency) on the 8th of February 2024- a team of the BNC interfaced with the House of Reps. Public Petitions Committee on 7th March and 18th April, respectively.

“The BNC was present, but Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs was absent and was not represented. It is, however, not our lot to enforce the summons of the National Assembly. If the National Assembly cannot contend for itself nor defend its honour; so be it!” BNC said:

Highlighting the case presented before the House of Representatives, the group noted that; “That Edo South Senatorial District account for 100% of the crude oil/gas from Edo State.

“That Edo South Senatorial District is the reason for crude Oil/Gas special benefits whatsoever and however accorded to Edo State.

“That Edo State, other than by Geography, a focal State of the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs because of the crude oil/natural gas in Edo South Senatorial District (Benin Land).

“That the appointment of Mr. Abubakar Momoh as Niger Delta Affairs Minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is directly proportional to the ‘grace’ of the oil and gas producing potentials of Edo South Senatorial District – being the oily senatorial district with oil and gas in Edo State. And it is noteworthy to underline that we bear no grudge against the Minister over President’s exercise of his prerogative.

“That Edo South Senatorial District must take priority over and above the other two (2) Senatorial Districts of Central and North in terms of benefits accruing and/or deriving from crude oil/natural gas production.

“That is was criminal to appropriate for capital projects of the ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs with virtually 95% (Ninety Five Per Cent) of the projects to be located in oil-dry Estako Land.”

BNC, therefore, resolved that “We are indebted to the past and the future in this historical task to be vigilant and relentless in the matters pertaining to the protection of our patrimony.

“We are strengthened by the knowledge of the fact of history that nations or powers

that have attempted the snobbery of Benin nation do so with eternal regret.”