North can’t survive without N’ Delta – Maku

Sun News

23 Feb 2011

North can’t survive without N’ Delta – Maku

The Minster of Information and communications, Mr. Labaran Maku has said it will be difficult for the North to survive without the resources from the Niger Delta. Maku disclosed this on Monday at the Lokoja township stadium while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the presidential campaign rally.

He stressed that except Kano State, no state in the North had the capacity to conveniently pay the salaries of its civil servants without resorting to the monthly allocation of the Federal Government, which was largely proceeds from the oil derived from the Niger Delta.

The minister stressed the need for the northern leaders to support President Goodluck Jonathan in his bid to become the next president during the April polls, saying he stands as a symbol of justice for Nigeria.

He explained that the people of the Niger Delta region had always voted for the northerners, stressing that in the first republic they voted for Tafawa Balewa and had never deserted the North for once.

“When that regime collapsed in the coup of 1966, they identified with General Yakubu Gowon. They didn’t go with Biafra, they went with General Gowon who was from the North-central to fight for one Nigeria and that denied Biafra access to the sea, which made it possible for Nigeria to win the war,” he pointed out.

The minister, who was on the campaign train of President Jonathan/Sambo in Lokoja, pointed out that in the second republic the people from the region supported President Sheu Shagari unconditionally. He now wonders why some leaders in the North were bent on opposing Jonathan’s candidacy.

“Now for the first time in 50 years, the son of this Niger Delta region, which since about 1960 has been contributing more than 90 per cent of the national income

“If you go to Niger Delta today, they cannot fish because their rivers are polluted; they cannot go to farm because their environment is polluted. Now they have suffered this pollution and are contributing more than 90 per cent to national income

“The salaries you pay to your primary schools teacher and civil servants in Kogi is from Niger Delta. The salaries that are paid all over the North; in all our schools, our teachers, our civil servants, our traditional rulers, our community leaders are from Niger Delta, so why must we kill the hen that lay the golden egg?” he asked...