NATIONAL AWARD: YOUR ACTION WAS A CALCULATED ATTEMPT TO SCORE CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS AND DIVERT PUBLIC ATTENTION

 June 12th, 2025

* Press Release * 

*NATIONAL AWARD: YOUR ACTION WAS A CALCULATED ATTEMPT TO SCORE CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS AND DIVERT PUBLIC ATTENTION*

*_Hon. Nwafor Richard Nwali Blast His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu Over His Failed Broadcast At The Joint Session Of The National Assembly_*

_...Describes exercise as National embarrassment and misrepresentation of fact and resilience of all Nigerians in a failing Democratic Governance in Nigeria_

Addressing newsmen in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, The PDP spokesperson expressed disatisfaction with the manner and way Bola Ahmed Tinubu(President of Nigeria) is handling the issue of security, well-being of all Nigerians and his disconnection from reality on the economic misfortunes of the country, Stating "Democracy will not  thrive in Nigeria, When Tinubu and his cabals continue to oppress citizens and opposition Parties, while the enemies of the country dine and wine with the president on the guise of cabinet" reiterating his commitment to national development. Hon. Nwafor pinpointed some states of the federation currently under siege by gunmen like Benue, Imo,Plateau, Ondo, Zamfra, Sokoto and Bornu State while the president claims to have defeated/downgraded Bandit and armed Herdsmen. 

Highlighting programmes been carried out in Ogoni land, were the federal government has fallen short to fully implement, like the OGONI CLEAN-UP as an ongoing project aimed at restoring the environment and livelihoods of Ogoniland in Rivers State, Nigeria, due to severe pollution of over 50 years of oil spills. The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is leading the clean-up efforts, which began after a 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the devastating environmental impact. He said, "Assessment and Remediation, has commenced on the polluted sites but till date, no tangible progress has been recorded, with remediation works ongoing at various stages in over 100 polluted communities, when government abandoned such monumental project after previous administration of His Excellency Muhammad Buhari (Former President of Nigeria)".

"Corruption has become a recurrent decimal on the clean-up process also marred with more focus on political theatrics than actual progress, There's a need for greater transparency and information on the project's progress to rebuild trust with impacted communities, Independent Monitoring Organizations like Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) are working to provide independent assessments of the clean-up progress, promoting transparency and accountability but of no avail as their efforts have long been frustrated by the government due to collapse in democratic governance in Rivers State under Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara as governor of Rivers" 

The PDP scribes cited the case in Rivers State were His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu grounded democratic governance while claiming to be beckon of hope for growth of democracy in Africa. He called on the Tinubu to concentrate on National development, reinstate democratically elected governor and shun cloud chase of 2027 presidential ambition, "The President should preoccupy himself with governance at this critical time, when Nigerians barely feed or afford basic needs or carter for their families, as well reinstate Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara".

On the National Award conferred on Comrade Ken Saro Wiwa by the president; Hon. Nwafor Richard described the actions of the president as misrepresentation of fact when Ken Saro Wiwa was murdered in cold blood and other activist demanding their rights and privileges, " The award by Mr. President does not in any way Connotes any hope and relieve to Ogoni's that have continued to bear the brunt of natural disaster in their land while federal government milk the mineral deposit in Ogoni land.

He called for drastic/ holistic measures to develop Ogoni land and it's hidden potentials instead of conferring National honour on Ken Saro Wiwa that ends on pages of national dailies without any tangible effects on those directly devastated by the actions of the federal government of Nigeria. Policies and programmes geared towards restoring the glory of ogoni people have been hijacked by high ranking politicians, while the people wallow in illusion of National honour on their legendary activist Ken Saro Wiwa and 9 others murdered by military dictator Sani Abacha on November 10th 1995. 

He encouraged Ogoni people not be swayed by National honour but main peace in their domain as the Peoples Democratic party-PDP will write the wrongs immediately assuming mantle of leadership in 2027