In a push to enhance the call for decisive governance, bold reforms and to confront the issues of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta, as well as other pressing matters head-on, the National Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Super Comrade Joseph Evah, on Saturday 15 February, 2025 convened over 2,000 Niger Delta women to pray against leadership incompetence and perfidiousness of Niger Delta Governors.
According to Comrade Evah, the Niger Delta region is significantly poor and underdeveloped due to bad governance, poor leadership, lack of development visions and programmes and corruption on the part of contemporary governor’s who use a combination of power politics and economic exploitation to exploit their own people despite receiving substantial allocations and 13% derivation from the federal government.
As a critical force demanding change in the Niger Delta region, the foremost Niger Delta activist asserted that it is unfortunate funds gotten from the federal government are misused and diverted for personal gains by the governors rather than being utilised for the development of the region.
“The situation in the Niger Delta region today is frightful, the level of maladministration is terrible. This is a stark contrast with the past. Our past Governors were men of vision who left a landmark in history in their states. Something is fundamentally wrong with our governors today. There is a spirit behind all of this development. Yes! It is spiritual, and need a spiritual intervention.”
Highlighting the purpose of the event, the convener Comrade Evah explained that the special “spiritual deliverance” prayer service, tagged “Niger Delta Governors Spiritual Deliverance Service Day” was purposed to “deliver the governors of the Niger Delta states who are Senator Douye Diri of Bayelsa; Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta; Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom; Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo; Bassey Otu of Cross River; and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state from the spirit of poor governance, lack of development idea, poor economic policies and corruption that may have possessed their minds.”
Evah expressed that the nine Niger Delta Governor’s have failed the people, and thus, are now observed as spiritual patients in need of deliverance, noting that despite the fact that the region produces the largest portion of the country’s oil wealth, the people lack access to basic services like healthcare, education, potable water and sanitation facilities.
“Given the magnitude of the issue we are out to address, i have gathered our praying mothers. We understand that mothers have a natural and divine calling to pray for any situation. We are here to seek divine guidance and wisdom for our governors. Truly the situation in the Niger Delta is dire but it can be changed through prayers. Our mothers have done it before and we are confident their prayers can do it again for the region,” Evah said.
Outlining some of the notable achievements and legacies of past Governors of the region such as HRM. Alfred Diete Spiff, Chief Udokobo Jacob Esuene, and Chief Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, Evah decried the lack of development vision of today governors, adducing that the former drove ambitious industrialization and implemented magic formulas, prioritized developmental projects and social welfare programs to improve the lives of the people.
Addressing a press conference shortly after the deliverance prayer service, Comrade Evah admonished Niger Delta Governors to emulate the governance virtues of past Governors of old bendel and Lagos states. Adding that the event aside lamenting about the failures of the Governors, was aimed at inspiring the them to take bold steps to address current challenges and restore the region’s lost glory.
He urged the governors to broaden their economic focus and explore the region’s untapped potential beyond oil and gas.
While emphasizing the prospects in the fisheries, agriculture, culture and tourism sectors, Evah said the Niger Delta region is the most blessed region in the country but poor and backward due to maladministration.
“We call for greater fiscal discipline, sincerity, honesty, transparency and accountability, trust and efficient management of resources by our governors. This is the only way they can identify the abundant potentials of the region. We have the required sand for glass production, we have the raw materials for the production of plasticware, textiles and footwear, but where are the industries. Our governors in the past established industries that provided numerous jobs for our people. We want that back. We have the resources,” Evah added.
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Joseph Evah expressed as unacceptable the wanton killing of Niger Delta people especially farmers by fulani herdsmen who have continued unabated overrunning communities, attacking, maiming and killing the people. He bemoaned the lack of cohesion by Niger Delta Governors like their South West counterparts who have improved and strengthened the security of their states and region with the establishment of the Amotekun security outfit.
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He declared that the advocacy for the development of the Niger Delta and demand for accountability from the governors will continue until the region experience real development, inclusive governance, peace and security.
The “deliverance” prayer service featured intercessory prayer, strong words of exhortation and encouragement and the distribution of over 2,000 bibles.
