Niger Delta Group Tackles Buhari Over Dwindling Economy, Threaten To Do This Next

A socio-economic and political pressure group, the Niger Delta Development Initiative on Thursday berated President Mohammadu Buhari for the worsening economic crisis in the country.

It criticised the president for the failure of his anti-corruption war claiming that his All Progressives Congress has become a cover for desperate politicians to run to after being indicted by the anti-graft agencies.

In a statement in Uyo, by its President and Secretary, Mr Ernest Ukpe and Tom Buma, the group noted that corruption has increased rather than reduced.

“We are surprised that the President is campaigning with corrupt politicians who have been enmeshed in misappropriation.

“All corrupt” PDP bigwigs have now been sanctified after their defection to APC. Recall that Akpabio was charged with over N180 billion money laundering case.

The statement alleged that the President’s five-point agenda and his economic policies have failed and that the present administration has borrowed more than the Obasanjo, Yaradua and Goodluck Jonathan’s administrations in three years while electricity generation and distribution has worsened.

“Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world overtaking India with more than 50% living in extreme poverty, while the UN predicts that Nigeria needs 11.9 people per minute to escape extreme poverty, but presently has a deficit of 6.8 people every minute, i.e. 6.8 people enter into poverty every minute.

“According to statistics by NACCIMA, more than 800 companies shut down within the three years of this current administration further denying Nigerians of the much-needed employment opportunities and ruining the livelihood of many families.

“Under the present administration, Nigeria has become the 2nd worst electricity supply nation in the world. The country has not added more than 1,000 MGW to its supply bank while Egypt in less than two years has added 14,500 MGW of electricity, enough to provide uninterrupted power for over 40 million people.” It said.

The group said it would only mobilise support for a presidential candidate who has genuine plans to restructure the country and put in place true federalism.

“As we welcome the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari for the flag-off of his Presidential Campaign in Uyo on Friday, we will want to remind him that the Niger Delta people will only support a President who will give us restructuring, true federation and who will truly fight corruption.

“That the Niger Delta people will only support a President who will build our battered economy and who will support investments, develop the Niger Delta region and Akwa Ibom in particular.