Governor of Katsina State and Peoples Democratic Party Presidential flag bearer in the 2007 general elections, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua, yeterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, unveiled his integrated programme for the Niger Delta and pledged that, if elected next year, his presidency would give first line attention to the region.
Yar’Adua who spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while on a courtesy visit to Governor Peter Odili, described the Niger Delta region as “strategic” to the nation and which if he was elected President, would ensure that the people of the area enjoyed life commensurate to their contribution to the nation�s development.
He expressed his conviction that the region was getting less than it deserves which he said would propel him to address it for justice and equity to prevail especially due to the degradation which it has suffered environmentally.
“My programme for the Niger Delta is as a region that needs to be secured. Secured not in the military sense, no. Secured as a place that would have peace in terms of people who are satisfied and living harmoniously and enjoying peace and prosperity. That means dialoguing with the leaders of the Niger Delta to see what the Federal Government can do to ensure that there is equity and justice and good opportunity.
“It will be a good opportunity for all the people in the region to see how unambiguously the government will address, equitably and very sincerely, the environmental problem caused by the activities of the oil companies.
“I am convinced that the Niger Delta region is getting less than it deserves, that is why I am saying that the region is strategic. That is why the entire nation has to look at the issue of the Niger Delta as strategic to the nation. By saying it is strategic, it is a statement that the Niger Delta ought to get more than it is getting now”, he said.
On the programme of power by the Rivers State Government, he said he would buy into it and would declare “energy emergency” in the sector with a view to concentrating the resources of the nation in it and attain stable and even excess power generation that the nation needs.
Asked what specifically he was in the state to do since he had not visited it before, he said he came to spend the Christmas with his friend and to reaffirm his friendship and brotherhood between them.
Asked his view on the sacking of Vice President Atiku Abubakar by President Olusegun Obasanjo, he parried the question and quickly relied on the fact that the matter was in court saying it would be subjudice commenting on it.
Odili had on stepping down at the party convention in Abuja on December 16, 2006, came back to the state to declare his support for the candidacy of Yar’Adua and Bayelsa State Governor, Goodluck Jonathan.
He pledged to work with them and to extend his support to ensure that they capture power in the 2007 elections. Odili had expressed happiness that the nation was now taking the Niger Delta into the political calculation of the nation.
When asked by newsmen of his own view of the visit, Odili said he supports the views expressed by Yar’Adua before both of them boarded the official vehicle of the governor for a ride to the airport where Yar� Adua departed the state.
Dec292006