Bishop laments poor development in Niger – Delta

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

The Bishop of Western Izon Diocese in Delta State Rev. Victor Ebipade Okporu has expressed regrets over poor developmental strides in the Niger Delta region.
Okporu however, called on the people of the region as well as the Ijaw nation to rise up to challenges of being self sufficient as the Federal Government was not ready to employ its citizens or committed towards developing the region
Speaking with Journalists yesterday, in the area on the state of the nation, the Bishop said there is no need for the people to fight against themselves as the Region needs self sustainability.
He adds: “We have observed that President Mohammadu Buhari is not ready to make Niger Delta region great, and we are therefore consoled in the fact that God will continue to give us the courage to do it ourselves.”
The cleric also noted that it was unnfortunate that the Western Izon Diocese that cuts across Delta and Bayelsa states had only seven priests that are of Ijaw origin.
“ I went into ministry with the passion to serve God and as one of the 31 children of my late father, I was announced Bishop elect, and today by the grace of God, I have been enthroned as the Bishop of Western Izon Diocese.
“ And as a Bishop, I will not sit in Patani here but will need a boat to be planting churches in every nooks and crannies of the Diocese as part of our activities to promote and preach the gospel.
“We have a common fight and goal, when I looked at the Diocese, I discovered that about 90 percent of our archdioconary is in the water and we must travel in the water because my Bishop did not teach me to be an armchair Bishop. I will not sit down in Patani I need a boat to move because the gospel must be preached”, he stressed.