Dekawei Writes FG, IOCs, Others On Hopelessness Of Ijaws Living In The Creeks

By Binebai Princewill

President general of a leading revered Niger Delta socio cultural group under the aegis of Delta Ijaw Youth Movement For Political Advancement (DIYMPA), Amb. John Dekawei has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to break record by looking into the hopeless situation of Ijaws living in the creeks of Niger Delta.

Amb. John Dekawei in a powerful press statement issued to newsmen in Warri yesterday, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspaper had decried the level of wanton neglect meted out on these people living in the creeks of Niger Delta. 

The activist stated that life in the creek is hellish and terrifying as those living there have been subjected to abject poverty and unbridled hardship foised on them by both successive governments. 

Dekawei said the level of suffering his people have been grappling with over the years despite hailing from oil bearing areas has become unbearable as the people are not happy with the Federal Government, State Governments, International Oil Companies Operating In the area and other relevant agencies.

He particularly accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of not implementing any favourable policy to truly care and carter for the rural dwellers. 

John Dekawei also noted that while the Federal Government have mercilessly forgotten about the existence of these people, he said the story of the multinational oil companies operating in the area is also same if not worse in alaying the fears of the people. 

Speaking further, Dekawei said the various state Governments housing Ijaws in the Niger Delta region have also failed in no smaller measure by not doing anything to take care of these people.

The activist further lampooned the various local government councils where these set of people are living of not contributing anything meaningful in ameliorating their sufferings.

The DIYMPA president stressed that there is no hope for children and all those living in the villages of the creeks who have been exposed to all sorts of dangers. 

In his words: “As a boy from the creeks of Niger Delta, I have seen it all, our people are suffering, there are no proper adjectives to really describe what life is all about.

“Apart from the unabated level of abandonment meted out on the people, the people grapple daily with multiple issues,  ranging from environmental pollution, lack of schools, no water to drink and lack of all basic social amenities that will make life better for the people. 

“They have continued to suffer all forms of deprivation  as the goose that lays the golden egg for the economic viability of the country Nigeria. How  could these people and their villages be relegated,  dejected and neglected in this manner?
“As every day rises and falls, the man from the creek have become  an endangered specie with multifaceted problems hence he is an embittered man, the man from the creek is that man that has a grim and bleek future, his future has been tampered with.

“I am taking the pain to write this press statement because I am a product of the creek, I really know what is happening and it seems the federal government of Nigeria is not aware of the sufferings of these people. The narratives has to be changed. 

“Something has to be done to make these people have a sense of belonging in this country before it will snowball to a point where these people will revolt in demanding for their rights for hosting critical oil and gas facilities in their domains. 

“It makes no sense for a people that feeds the nation to be treated as foreigners and a conquered people, they have been reduced to nothing. Producing oil and dying in poverty with no end in sight is the practical situation of those living in the creeks. 

The statement also called on the United Nations and other regional and international bodies to wade into the plights of these people as all is not well with the man from the creeks of Niger Delta.  
The Liberator Newspaper can report that Amb. John Dekawei is the founder and chairman of the John Dekawei Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that he has used in transforming lives across the globe.