…observes Boro’s Day

Emotions ran high as the Western Zone of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) marked the 57th Boro Day Celebration in solemn reflection of the region’s enduring hardships.

The ceremony, held in memory of Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, was as much a tribute as it was a wake-up call to both the federal government and regional stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, MOSIEND Western Zone Chairman, Comrade Abulu Graham, decried the alarming state of affairs in the Niger Delta despite decades of sacrifices.

According to him, the hopes of Boro and other Niger Delta patriots have been betrayed by successive governments, who continue to neglect the region despite its vast contribution to the nation’s economy.

“We are celebrating Boro Day with tears in our eyes,” Graham declared. “The same issues that led Boro to take up arms—poverty, underdevelopment, gas flaring, environmental pollution—are not only still with us, but have tripled.”

He highlighted the suffering of rural dwellers, especially in oil-producing communities, where people face life-threatening illnesses, lack of access to clean water, and the absence of basic amenities.

MOSIEND called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate genuine commitment to his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating the implementation of development projects across the Niger Delta. The group also urged the Federal Government to fulfill the promises made under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which encouraged many ex-agitators to embrace peace.

In his remarks, MOSIEND’s National Legal Adviser, Barr. Afoegba Goodyear, emphasized the urgent need for youth-focused initiatives. “We need jobs, empowerment, and capacity-building programs that will equip our young people to contribute meaningfully to the development of our communities,” he said.

Goodyear further aligned his statement with the Rural Urban Renewal Policy of the federal government, calling for a deliberate drive toward infrastructural and human capital development in the region.

Present at the press briefing were key members of the MOSIEND Western Zone Executive Council, including Vice Chairman Kenneth Amaebi Johnny, Secretary Engr. Godstime Daniel Ayetan, Assistant Secretary Diyerin Wodu, CSO Penakeme Emeze, and others, all of whom expressed solidarity and commitment to continuing the struggle for justice and equity in the Niger Delta.

As the curtain fell on the commemorative event, the message was clear: the spirit of Boro lives on, and the Niger Delta will not relent until development, justice, and peace are achieved.