The triumph of Wike demonstrates the power of political determination to transform the Niger Delta.

He worked with the world community to stop the hanging of the Ogoni eight and late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa under the rule of Gen. Sani Abacha.

Through his attorney, Femi Falana, the Niger Delta activist sued the military administration to have the dredging of the River Niger from Warri to Abuja stopped after the execution of the Ogoni leaders (SAN).

At a celebration honoring June 12 as Democracy Day, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), headed by Aare Kankanfo of Yorubaland, Otunba Ganiyu Adams, presented him with the Hero of Democracy Award in 2016 in appreciation of his contributions to the fight to restore democracy to Nigeria.

In this interview with ONYEDIKA AGBEDO, he discusses the recent admission by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State that the Federal Government has released 13% derivation funds owed to states since 1999, the beginning of commercial production of crude oil and gas from the $3 billion Kolmani Integrated Development Project along the fields of Gombe and Bauchi States, and the N48 billion oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The Niger Delta activist discusses a variety of topics, including President Muhammadu Buhari’s most recent appointment of board members for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).