Revisiting the Struggle: A Clarion Call to the Niger Delta People
A Clarion Call to All Well-Meaning Niger Delta People
Time to Rethink and Revisit What Truly Led to Our Struggle for Self-Actualization
Once again, I do not write as a desperate man seeking pipeline contracts or Amnesty slots, as some may think. The continuous flow of articles is not for personal gain, but rather a passionate and genuine contribution to the transformation of the Niger Delta region. I write to awaken the consciousness of our people and call them back to the very purpose that birthed the Niger Delta struggle — resource control and self-actualization.
It is heartbreaking that we, the true custodians of Nigeria's oil wealth, continue to live and die in poverty. Decades of oil exploration have brought nothing but environmental degradation, poverty, and systemic neglect to our region. This isn't just a call to reflect — it's a wake-up call. We have slept too long.
What exactly are we enjoying? A few contracts here and there? That’s enslavement dressed as reward. There is no real development in our communities. The Niger Delta remains impoverished despite contributing the lion’s share of Nigeria’s revenue for over 56 years. And yet, we remain spectators, even slaves, in our own homeland.
Back to the Roots: The Real Struggle
Let us journey back in time and ask critical questions: What really led to the Niger Delta struggle? Who were the real forerunners? Before pipeline surveillance contracts and disarmament programs, there were brave souls who sacrificed everything for justice — Ken Saro-Wiwa, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, and others. The Kaima Declaration of 1998 was not just a political event — it was a bold assertion of our right to self-determination.
The formation of bodies like the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) was anchored on these ideals. Sadly, the legacies of these heroes are being betrayed. The movement is being hijacked by selfish interests who have abandoned the cause for crumbs.
Wake Up, Niger Delta
Every well-meaning Niger Deltan must rise. The federal government continues to exploit our resources while offering us token surveillance contracts. That is not development. That is not justice. Why should the gold in Zamfara belong to the state, but our oil belongs to the federal government? We cannot keep silent.
The 2025 budget of over ₦54 trillion is built on our oil. What did we get in return? No industries, no bridges, no modern hospitals or schools. Just crumbs and a few contracts. Are we truly okay with that? Our ancestors are watching. The gods of the Ijaw nation are weeping. We have become complicit in our own oppression.
Let Us Reignite the Movement
It's time we refocus on the core struggle — resource control. We must demand what is rightfully ours. We must stop allowing our oil to be guarded for the benefit of outsiders while our people die of hunger, lack of clean water, and poor health facilities.
No longer should we reduce the Niger Delta struggle to contracts and appointments. That is not what our heroes fought for. It is time we stand up again — united, determined, and strategic. The Ijaw Nation must lead this revival. Let us drop the unnecessary dichotomy and come together as one people.
Let us begin a fresh chapter. A new Niger Delta struggle — peaceful, organized, and loud. We must take our message to the press, to the streets, to international platforms. The world must know that Niger Delta is rising again.
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