The glaring underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region has left in deep lamentation, a top traditional ruler in Bayelsa State. King Bubaraye Dakolo, Ageda IV, Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, expressed his pain while addressing journalists on Monday at a pre-book launch briefing in Yenagoa.
King Dakolo further expressed disappointment at the injustices meted out to the region in spite of its huge contributions to Nigeria.
He said that the region was still wallowing in abject poverty, deprivation, underdevelopment and environmental degradation.
The launch of the two books, “Once A Soldier”, an autobiography detailing his childhood and life as a soldier, and “The African Voice”, a look at the persisting influences of western civilization on Africa, were slated for Tuesday, July 11 in Yenagoa
King Dakolo who authored the widely acclaimed book, “The Riddle Of The Oil Thief” in 2022 is fast being acknowledged as one of the gifted writers in the region as he had earlier published other titles.
Dignatories expected at the launch included Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri and a host of others among whom are army generals, traditional rulers, politicians and captains of industry.
Speaking of the dignitories, King Dakolo described the list “as endless” and wondered whether the venue would “accommodate everybody”.
On what motivated him to become a writer, he said there had been a lot of unfair treatment and injustices metered out to the Niger Delta region that needed to be articulated being still unknown but deserving international attention.
King Dakolo listed lack of available printing press, inadequate publishing, funding and marketing as the bane of publishing industries and budding authors.
