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MY PROJECTS SPEAK FOR ME, UDUAGHAN TELLS CRITICS, REVEALS SECRET TO PERMANENT PEACE IN NIGER DELTA
He said that the numerous projects executed and ongoing were there to convince doubting Thomases that his government was a prudent and focused one. The governor immediately, after a press chat, Wednesday, took journalists on a tour of the new Government House complex. Before embarking on the tour, the governor said “as part of this media briefing, I will take you to see just one place our money is going into.” Governor Uduaghan also revealed that in a bid to permanently end the Niger Delta crises and give future generations of the country and in particular, those in the zone, some hope and a future, South -South governors in the country have appealed to the Federal Government to divest 19 percent of its shares in the NNPC Joint Ventures with multinational oil companies in the country Dr. Uduaghan said 10 percent from the fund would go to the host communities, five percent to the beneficiaries and four percent to the rest of Nigerians . "What we suggested is that there would be a Trust Fund where the money would be kept. It would be managed by either local or international fund managers. Interests on the money would be much because the money is much," he said. Uduaghan also said that if the Fund is well managed, the profit would be much. "We are going to use Norway and Alaska, United States model. The principle from the money remains the same, and future generations would benefit from it. These are the models which we suggested to the National Assembly and Federal Government,” he added. Uduaghan while assuring that the arrangement would work out well, observed, "They have been relating with themselves over the years and they would use the structures of the oil companies. There are host and satellite communities.” Speaking on the Amnesty programme of the Federal government, the Governor said the programme was quite successful in Delta State, stressing that all known militants in the State dropped their guns and are now moving freely. He noted, "The chain of command in Delta was quite known and to break it was quite difficult." He further disclosed that the challenges of the post amnesty era were quite enormous and "we are working seriously for the programme to be sustained". He further disclosed that the ex-militants were being rehabilitated in camps which have been provided in Delta at Agbarho, and Igbokodo. "The Federal Government planned for 1,1000 ex- militants and Delta State government alone has over 20,000 and the number was grossly under estimated. The camps in Delta could no longer accommodate the ex-militants and the problem was compounded by the transfer of some ex-militants from Ondo and Edo States to Delta,” he said. Governor Uduaghan also challenged an Itsekiri group to show evidence of payment of post-amnesty packages to some notable Itsekiri youth leaders. Some Itsekiri youths had earlier addressed the press, alleging that some of their leaders negotiated and diverted to themselves post-amnesty packages meant for Itsekiri youths who surrendered their arms and keyed into Federal Government’s amnesty. Speaking to newsmen at an end of year media chat at Government House press center, Asaba, Governor Uduaghan said Itsekiri did not have militants, even though they submitted some weapons which they claimed were used in self-defense during the Itsekiri/Ijaw ethnic crisis. He said some youths had threatened to burn down his residence in Warri and stated that he had, therefore, resolved to also deal with them according to the law, saying he could no longer tolerate unnecessary molestation and harassment from some persons with hidden political agenda masquerading as freedom fighters from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality.   
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