By Austin Ogwuda
ONE of the prominent personalities from the Niger Delta region and a strong advocate for equity and justice and Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ned Nwoko said he was personally relieved following the restoration of the Niger Delta Ministry.
He told The Town Hall Media, in reaction to the announcement from the Presidency assigning a Minister for the Niger Delta Ministry, saying that it was indeed, a welcome development that could have inflamed the region if not addressed.
The Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) Ajuri Ngelale had on Sunday night stated that “following clamour from the Niger Delta region over omission of the Ministry in the apportionment of portfolios to Ministers-designate last week, President Bola Tinubu has named Engr. Abubakar Momoh from Edo State as substantive Minister for Niger Delta Development
According to Senator Nwoko “after the announcement of the scrapping of the ministry, there were barrage of protests from law makers and Niger Delta people
“It really was the case that there were no consultations before the announcement. It was going to set the region on fire. NDDC is clearly not a substitute for the ministry
“I am relieved that the President listened to the protests. It shows that he is aware of what is happening outside the Villa. We are grateful to his advisers”, he added
Senator Nwoko is one of the outspoken persons in the region championing the Niger Delta cause over the age long suffering of environmental degradation and exploitations.
Aside that, Nwoko is a reputed for fighting injustices globally.
Few days ago, the Idumuje-Ugboko born Prince wrote the Colonial Powers in a letter titled,  ‘A DEMAND FOR APOLOGY AND REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENTS AND EXPLOITATION OF AFRICANS AND AFRICAN RESOURCES
Part of which reads
“I urge for reparations of at least $5 trillion dollars, not as an act of vengeance, but as a pathway to healing and restoration.
“A comprehensive framework for reparations must be established, to meticulously assess the damages inflicted by centuries of injustice
“Furthermore, I beseech former colonial powers to invest in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic empowerment within African nations, especially those that have borne the brunt of exploitation”, he wrote.
