Bayelsa State Governor Goodluck Jonathan, has attributed poor governance and corruption as the factors responsible for underdevelopment in the Niger Delta.
This, he said, has made it difficult for the citizens to enjoy the region�s wealth.
Jonathan said overcoming these obstacles required both the political and technical support of the partners and friends of the Niger Delta.
He stated that over the years, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the oil and gas companies, had taken crucial steps to reverse the decades of marginalisation of the Niger Delta people.
Jonathan therefore pointed out that there had been a determined drive to enable Niger Deltans to benefit more from the wealth from their region.
The governor was speaking at the Government House, Yenagoa on Saturday, at the launch of the Bayelsa Partnership Initiative.
He noted that after so many years of neglect, the people of Bayelsa were understandably impatient.
Jonathan further pointed out that the BPI was about enhancing the Bayelsa government�s role in development and a vehicle for sustainable human development, that would complement the government�s work on social issues.
He said, �The fundamental assumptions of the BPI are that wealth creation and prosperity for Bayelsans, will result from restoring the confidence of individuals in the communal system and affirming public confidence in good governance.�
Obasanjo, who earlier launched the BPI, as part of the programmes lined up for his three-day official visit to Bayelsa, on Sunday morning, admitted that the many years of neglect was responsible for hostage taking, youth restiveness and militancy in the Niger Delta.