The Bayelsa Bayelsa State Government has intensified its protest against the exclusion of the state from the recent appointment of ambassadors, saying that such actions would not augur well for the Nigerian economy.

The Secretary to the State Government, David Serena-Dokubo Spiff, raised the issue during the ongoing 56th Bar Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

The panel of discussion was headed by a former President of NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakogba (SAN); Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Chinwe Aguma (SAN), Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN) and Mrs Sally Mbanefo.

The SSG stated that the appointment of Ambassadors “without a single candidate from Bayelsa State, despite contributing over 30 per cent of oil revenues and 40 per cent of gas revenues to the Nigerian economy is the height of injustice.”

He said: “Such non-inclusiveness will not augur well for the Nigerian economy when there is urgent need to calm frayed nerves in the Niger Delta. Such non-inclusiveness will not augur well for the Nigerian economy when there is urgent need to calm frayed nerves in the Niger Delta. If we fix the Niger Delta, then we would have fixed the Nigerian economy, where do we begin? Let’s begin from the beginning. We cannot set the economy right.”

The Bayelsa SSG insisted that in the absence of justice, equity, and fairness in the Niger Delta, mere palliatives would not solve Nigeria’s economic problems.

He said the Niger Delta has contributed immensely to the sustenance and development of Nigeria, adding that “as such, the region is very committed to One Nigeria. But justice, equity, and fairness should be the conditions precedent in the doctrine of one Nigeria.”

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