Former President Goodluck Jonathan has attributed the persistent underdevelopment of the Niger Delta to weak political will and the personal ambitions of political office holders.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday at the launch of The Hidden Treasures, a 202-page book authored by former Delta State governorship aspirant Chris Iyovwaye, Jonathan said political rivalry and the scramble for power have repeatedly undermined progress in the oil-rich region. He was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe.
The former president recalled several abandoned regional economic initiatives that could have spurred growth, noting that past efforts to coordinate South-South governors and federal lawmakers were often derailed by personal ambition.
“A lot has been said in the past and even now. But when you don’t bring action to it, it will remain a potential. Deep inside here, we can have tonnes of gold, diamonds, and uranium. But it will remain zero until they are mined and brought out,” Jonathan said, stressing that competition for power had stalled collective development.
He cited his experience as deputy governor between 1999 and 2007, when attempts to strengthen a regional commission collapsed due to political infighting. “At one point, everybody in the Niger Delta wanted to be the vice president to an unknown president,” he recalled, explaining how ambition overshadowed regional priorities.
Jonathan expressed cautious optimism about the revival of the South-South governors’ commission but warned that only “practical action” backed by genuine political will could unlock the region’s potential. He urged leaders to create structures that would identify and market investment opportunities across the Niger Delta.
“The Niger Delta is supposed to be the economic hub of this country, with the potential to build the biggest seaport in Nigeria. From the Niger Delta, you can reach every part of the country, particularly the Middle Belt and the North. There is a need to harness our resources at this point in time for proper and physical development,” he said.
