Rejection of Anambra as NDDC state part of continued marginalization - Ohaneze

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By Madu Obi

The youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has described the Senate’s rejection of a bill seeking to include Anambra State as one of the member states of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as part of continued marginalisation of Igbo.

Recall that the Senate had last week, thrown out the bill, with the argument that Anambra is not part of the Niger Delta region.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who threw out the bill sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye representing Anambra North through voice vote, said NDDC was created to address the environmental degradation in the region following the oil exploration activities in the zone.

He said that although Anambra is now among the oil-producing states and is getting 13% derivation from the Federation Account allocation, it cannot be part of NDDC because it would go contrary to the purpose for which the Commission was established.

Reacting on the Senate's decision, the acting youth leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu said it was part of the strategic steps to continue the marginalization of the South East.

According to him, if environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration was the reason for membership of the Commission, then Anambra should be included, since parts of the state where the oil deposit is explored, will suffer the same environmental impact.

While dismissing the argument that Anambra is not in the Niger Delta region, the Ohaneze youth leader insisted that there was no big deal in including Anambra in the NDDC since the state borders most of the states that belong to the Commission.

He said: “What we are saying is that Anambra has met all the requirements to be included in the NDDC. The 13% derivation which makes the state an oil-producing started coming since 2022.

“There is also the proximity between Anambra and NDDC member-states and host communities where the natural resources are deposited will definitely suffer the same impact from exploration.

“What then is the rationale behind throwing out the bill, if not to continue the systematic deprivation of the South East region?

“The benefits for Anambra, if it is included in the NDDC, are much and the people are expectant. So, the Senate should endeavour to do the right things."

“We cannot, as a country, claim that the marginalization of the South East region is not happening. In the entire region, there is no single blue line, no federal government project."

“Till date, the South East has only five states, whereas some other regions have as much as seven states. This breeds inequality in the distribution of democratic dividends among the people."

“These are low hanging fruits which the establishment of the South East Development Commission will get for the region before we look at the bigger picture.”

Okpalaezeukwu further argued that if the Senate would not grant Anambra’s bid for inclusion in the NDDC, it should expedite action on the establishment of South East Development Commission, within the shortest possible time.

According to him, the Commission, if established, would begin to right a lot of wrongs in the South East.