Kwale Indigenes of
Ndokwa nation have lamented what they described as the continued
marginalization of the ethnic nationality by the Federal Government. Some of
the indigenes who staged a peaceful protest at Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa
West Local Government Area of Delta State, decried the absence of federal
presence in the Ndokwa nation and the non-appointment of their people by
successive administrations of the Federal Government.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Engr.
Chinedu Ofulu noted that no indigene of the Ndokwa nation had ever been
appointed into the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC since
the inception of the commission, pointing out that the Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko and
Itsekiri ethnic groups in the state had all had their fair shares of
appointments in the commission. He said “Despite the huge revenue generation
from Ndokwa land through abundant oil and gas deposits, our people are
continued to be marginalized by the Federal Government both in political
appointments and physical infrastructural projects.”
Ofulu said the various Ndokwa communities had
been “in perpetual darkness, whereas the independent power plant, IPP,
providing light for the country is located on our land, as well as the
Kwale/Okpai Gas Plant which produces gas for the IPP.” He appealed to President
Muhammadu Buhari to give Ndokwa people their fair share of appointments and
recognize the principle of Federal character.
Source: By Ochuko
Akuopha, (Vanguard News)