Former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon says the Nigerian government has not been fair in its treatment of Niger Delta communities, The Cable reports.
Gowon said this on Thursday as the special guest of honour at the premiere of Oloibiri, a movie about the Niger Delta, which held at the Muson centre, Onikan.
The former head of state the communities have been neglected, as he acknowledged the mistakes of the government.
“Watching through the movie, I cannot help but feel with the plight of Oloibiri and all other oil producing communities and their people in the land. I agree that the movie mirrors a clear manifestation of the collective negligence and failure of leadership in successive governments in our country”, said Gowon.
“Looking back today, I must confess here that the people of Oloibiri have felt badly neglected and of course, they are hurt.
“We must, however, acknowledge as a nation and as a people that along the way, we have made mistakes, clearly Oloibiri community has not been treated fairly, they deserve or sympathy, consideration, and collective resolve to develop this once vibrant community.”
He apologised on behalf of the government, as he pleaded for forgiveness from the Oloibiri people.
“I move as a former head of state to offer the nation’s profound regrets and my personal apology to the good people of Oloibiri with the prayers to the present and future government at all levels in the land to work towards redressing the wrongs of the past to these people.
“I also request the people of Oloibiri to forgive the oversight and mistakes of the government and the corporate government of Nigeria.
“I have great faith in our youth in the Delta region. The future is yours if you keep it whole, you will be able to build a better country than we would leave to you today. It is up to you to love your country, defend it whether good or bad but try to make it right.
“In the Delta region, do not go on destroying all these facilities that you would need to develop, for God’s sake, stop doing that because you are hurting yourself and you are hurting the nation as a whole.”
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
I think you people were born to rule. Infact your looking for who you will decieve, talk to your brother Buhari.