Chief David West, a community leader from Buguma in Akukutoru LGA, Rivers State, and Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organization, Bayelsa State branch, discusses the ongoing challenges in the Niger Delta. In this interview with Gifted Markson, he emphasizes the devastating impact of pollution, widespread poverty in the region, and the urgent need for unity and leadership reform. Chief West advocates for Niger Delta communities to take charge of their destiny through intellectual confrontation and collective action, calling for an end to imposed leadership and a focus on long-term solutions that transcend oil dependency.
Chief David West, this is your second time attending a public lecture organized by FirstNews. How would you compare this lecture to the one you attended in Yenagoa?
Yes, this is my second time attending one of these public lectures. The first was in Yenagoa, with Bishop Martin Kukah as the keynote speaker—it was explosive. This one, with Pat Utomi, is just as explosive and highly educative. The focus on the Niger Delta is critical, especially given the issues we face. The region is polluted—highly polluted with hydrocarbons. Beyond the environmental degradation, the people of the Niger Delta are severely impoverished, and this has to change.
The theme of today’s lecture was “Building the Niger Delta of Our Dream: With or Without Oil.” How do you think this theme applies to the Niger Delta?
It applies directly. The Niger Delta is a region rich in resources, yet its people live in extreme poverty. This should not be the case. The discussions we’ve had here today need to be translated into action. We can’t keep talking about poverty in a land full of resources without taking steps to change the situation.
What steps do you think need to be taken to address these challenges?
First and foremost, the people of the Niger Delta must unite. We need to remove greed from our minds and come together to choose our leaders. Right now, we have a situation where a small group of people—five or six individuals—gather in a room and impose leaders on us. These leaders often lack the vision, capacity, and care for the Niger Delta. That era must end. We need leaders who genuinely have the region’s best interests at heart.
So, you’re saying leadership reform is key to solving these problems?
Absolutely. Collectively, we must choose our own leaders. The time when politicians would come and impose leaders on us—people who are short of ideas—should be over. If we want to move forward as a region, we must take responsibility for our leadership choices and ensure they have the capability to govern us effectively.
Apart from leadership, what other actions do you believe the people of the Niger Delta should take?
We must stand together to defend our environment. If we don’t take responsibility for protecting the Niger Delta, we will remain stuck in the same situation we’re in now—complaining about stolen oil, destroyed environments, and ongoing poverty. We need to take our destiny into our own hands and work towards a future beyond oil. Engaging and empowering our youths is critical to this process.
You mentioned “taking our destiny into our hands.” Could you explain what you mean by that?
When I talk about taking our destiny in our hands, I’m not calling for violent confrontation. I’m talking about intellectual confrontation—using our minds and resources to fight for what is rightfully ours. The only way we can emancipate ourselves is through knowledge, unity, and collective action. It’s time to move beyond oil dependency and start thinking about the future we want for our children and their children.
What role do you think the youth of the Niger Delta should play in this process?
The youth are the backbone of the Niger Delta. We must engage them, educate them, and involve them in the struggle for a better future. They need to understand that the decisions we make now will shape the Niger Delta for years to come. It’s their future at stake, and they must be part of the solution.