Chris Awhawha
Annkio Briggs, an environmentalist and human rights activist has taken a swipe on all the Niger Delta Governors blaming them for not showing up in a Pan- Ijaw economic summit where issues concerning the Niger Delta was discussed.
She particularly mentioned Douye Diri of Bayelsa State whom she said abandoned what she called a very important programme adding that the future of the Ijaws about blue economy was discussed.
Speaking on Friday in Yenagoa during the summit, she argued that there was no reason why Governor Diri shouldn’t have come yet he didn’t send a representative.
Recall that Governor Diri has been moving around the world allegedly looking for investors to invest on the blue economy and even created a ministry of blue economy.
Briggs also maintained that 65% percent of all proceeds gotten from the riverine areas should be given to the state they were gotten stating that the resources are all gotten around the riverine communities.
Briggs said:” I see no reason why the senators, the house of reps, what on earth can they be doing in Abuja that is more important than what is being done here today.”
“If the politicians fail the children that are yet to be born, I know that they will not include me in the people that they will blame because I’m doing my best. They will blame people like the governors, the senators.”
“I see no reason why they won’t be here when the future of Ijaw people are being discussed even Governor Diri is not here and this not fair.”
“There can be no blue economy without the people in riverine areas became that is where the blue economy is, the Isam, the Ngolo, periwinkle ,the fish and aquatic resources,,
“Do you know that there are Chinese people coming in here to fish, taking our fish away and they are not paying for it because there is nobody stopping them? The Navy is not stopping, them the state government is not stopping them.”
“The waters that we own goes to 200 nautical miles outside of Bayelsa shore and Rivers shore even Delta shore. Anything you find there belongs to us so when Chinese people come in and they are fishing, they are stealing and our governors and senators see nothing wrong in that happening to our people.”
“Our women are now picking Isam and Ngolo that is polluted by oil and because they are not doing the right things, we have to do the right thing.”
“All we are saying is that we want to control own our resources and pay tax to federal government.”
“We must make sure that the blue ceremony 65% of it should belong to us. And the blue and Marine economy, we are now being told that 65% of what the government called the blue economy is within the riverine areas therefore, we own the blue economy. 65% of that blue economy areas, we should have it.” She said.