...As Niger Delta Votes Will Go to Leaders Who Listen, Wibani Warns

Raymond Nwibani, President of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People, was welcomed to the podium with loud applause as he addressed a gathering of Niger Delta youths and leaders in Port Harcourt. 

Speaking as the leader of the youth movement for the survival of the Ogoni people, Nwibani said the time had come for the people of the Niger Delta to speak out about their suffering and demand fairness. He said the region could no longer continue to suffer despite having rich oil resources in its land.

He questioned why outsiders continue to control resources that belong to the people of the Niger Delta. According to him, the people of the region should not remain poor while others benefit from their oil wealth.

Nwibani also remembered fallen heroes of the Niger Delta struggle, saying many innocent people lost their lives because of the battle over oil resources. He said those deaths should not be forgotten and accused authorities of ignoring the pain of the people.

The Ogoni youth leader stressed that his group was not against the government awarding contracts, but insisted that communities should be allowed to control activities connected to their own resources. He called for Ogoni, Andoni, and other Niger Delta communities to manage contracts and projects in their own areas instead of outsiders taking over.

He questioned why people from outside the region should control operations in communities they do not understand. Wibani also demanded answers over the handling of surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta, saying the youths deserve to know the truth.

Speaking emotionally, he said the Ogoni people have suffered years of betrayal and hardship. According to him, many communities in the region continue to face poverty, violence, and neglect despite the wealth produced from their land.

Nwibani said women and youths in Ogoni are dying while the government continues to focus only on oil production. He accused leaders of benefiting from contracts and living comfortably while ordinary people continue to suffer.

He also criticised politicians for returning during elections to seek votes from hungry and struggling citizens. According to him, Niger Delta youths are tired of promises that never bring change.

The youth leader warned that if the government fails to address the demands of the Niger Delta people, resistance may grow against oil activities in the region. He mentioned the deaths of Ogoni activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and others, saying the people are no longer afraid to defend their rights.

Nwibani insisted that oil extraction should not continue unless the government does what is right for the people of the region. He maintained that capable individuals from the Niger Delta can manage surveillance contracts and other responsibilities better than outsiders.

He further complained that many influential figures from the region have failed to protect the interests of their people despite benefiting from government deals and opportunities.

According to him, violence, fear, and suffering have become common in Ogoni communities. He alleged that women are abused and youths are killed while authorities ignore the cries of the people.

Nwibani called for surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta to be decentralised so that every community can benefit fairly. He said the people are not fighting anyone but only demanding what rightfully belongs to them.

He also declared that the support and votes of Niger Delta youths would only go to leaders willing to listen to their demands and address their problems.

Ending his speech, Nwibani said the people of the Niger Delta deserve justice, fairness, and control over their own resources. He warned that if their demands continue to be ignored, the region’s youths will no longer remain silent.