Victor Ezeja
His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff has signed the Niger Delta Peoples Charter for resource control, political/economic autonomy, and self determination.
According a statement by the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), National Spokesperson, Barr. Ovunda Eni, king Diete-Spiff signed the charter on Thursday, 3rd February, 2022.
Being the king of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State, HRM Diete-Spiff’s signatory represents that of the Nembe/Brass ethnic nationalities in the State.
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King Diete-Spiff was the first governor of Rivers State, after it was created out of the old Eastern Region, Nigeria. He held the office between May 1967 and July 1975 during the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon. He is currently the Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers.
President of NDC, Nubari Sataah had in a statement in November, disclosed that no few than 70 signatories including representatives of ethnic nationalities were expected for the proposed Niger Delta Peoples Charter.
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“The Niger Delta Peoples Charter will continue its journey to other Niger Delta states to collate signatures. It is expected that 70 persons will sign the charter, including representatives of ethnic nationalities in the region and pan-Niger Delta groups,” Sataah had stated.
The Niger Delta Peoples Charter was drafted by members of the NDC which consist of people from ethnic nationalities in the oil-rich region, on October 8, 2021 to press for some demands which they consider as their “inalienable rights”.
The draft contains five critical demands including review of the Nigerian constitution (1999) on resource control, political and economic autonomy, and self determination.
The charter is scheduled for unveiling on February 23, 2022 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the declaration of the Niger Delta Republic by the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
