Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, the Minister, Niger Delta Affairs, on Monday in Abuja decried the destruction of oil facilities by Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The minister, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that no matter the provocation, it was wrong for the avengers to destroy the environment that bore the people`s heritage.
He maintained that the region was everybody’s business, adding that no personal or collective interest was worth the destruction of oil pipelines in the region.
“Let’s come together as one to protect our communities; let’s preach love, peace. tolerance, patience and dialogue with one another.
“Let’s convince ourselves that it is our region and that we have nowhere to go to, if we destroy it.”
He further urged the people of the region to support the President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that they had benefitted more from it him, than any other Nigerian president.
Usani said it was regrettable that no project had been commissioned or completed since the establishment of the ministry in 2008, except a cassava processing plant in Ondo State by the present administration.
The minister added that measures were being put in place to ensure due process and accountability in the ministry, with regards to project implementation, especially in the Niger region.
He, therefore, urged people of the region to task themselves and take responsibility of their collective heritage.
“Henceforth, we must refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of our history.
“Let’s embrace our heritage which defines our identities and values,” Usani said.