Niger Delta “A Treasure House of the World,” Says Prince Adewole Adebayo at Book Launch
Abuja — Elder statesmen, diplomats, political leaders, and scholars gathered in Abuja this weekend as former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, delivered a powerful address at the public presentation of The Hidden Treasures of the Niger Delta, authored by Deacon Chris Iyovwaye.
The event was graced by His Excellency Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, former President of Nigeria, ably represented by Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, former Chief of Staff to the President.
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Chairman of the occasion, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd.), a distinguished diplomat and elder statesman, was in attendance, as was revered nationalist and scholar Professor Jerry Gana, whom Adebayo described as “a chief patriot of Nigeria and a leader I have clapped for consistently for 40 years since the days of MAMSER.”
Adebayo praised Deacon Iyovwaye and his wife, “the Deaconess,” for convening a gathering of substance around an important literary work that places the Niger Delta at the centre of national reflection.
“Niger Delta Is the World’s Hidden Treasure”
Prince Adebayo, drawing from history, economy, governance, and personal experience, described the Niger Delta as one of the richest and most misunderstood regions in the world.
“Everyone dreams of finding hidden treasure somewhere. The Niger Delta has proven over time to be that treasure. If there was no Niger Delta, no one would have come here to create the entity we now call Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that the region’s vast wealth remains underutilised, sometimes because of failed leadership.
“A hidden treasure requires effort—you must dig for it. To a blind person, every treasure is hidden; perhaps some of the Niger Delta’s treasure is hidden because we have had blind leadership.”
Adebayo asserted that the Niger Delta is “teeming with human, material, surface, solid, semi-solid, liquid, and gaseous resources,” adding that “it is impossible to be poor in that paradise.”
A Century of Family Ties to the Niger Delta
The SDP leader traced his family’s deep relationship with the region:
“My family has lived and worked in the Niger Delta for over 100 years. My grandparents, uncles, and aunties made their fortunes there.”
He added a personal revelation:
“I found my own fortune in the Niger Delta because I married my wife from there—and my life has been better ever since.”
“The Niger Delta Holds Wealth 18 Times Greater Than America’s 250-Year Productivity”
In one of the most striking parts of his address, Adebayo declared:
“The wealth of the Niger Delta is 18 times all the productivity of America from 1776 to date.”
He argued that this explains why both local and foreign powers often seek to influence the region.
“People want to rescue us because they know what is there.”
A Call for Better Leadership
Prince Adebayo applauded Deacon Iyovwaye for producing what he called “a prophetic guide” that reminds the nation of its responsibilities to the region.
“A leadership obsessed with collecting rent from foreign interests and appropriating surface wealth is not the shepherd God sent to this land.”
He likened the Niger Delta to a metaphor for the entire nation:
“What is true of the Niger Delta is true of the whole of Nigeria. Every square inch of this country holds hidden treasure.”
He emphasized that the greatest treasure is the human capital of the Niger Delta:
“Because of the plankton-rich environment and other natural resources, the people of the Niger Delta are extremely brilliant, comical, jovial, hospitable, and kind. They are the glue of this nation.”
Nigeria Will Endure, Says Adebayo
Prince Adebayo concluded with a message of hope and unity:
“The greatest treasure Nigeria has is faith in God and love for one another. Nothing will separate us. Nigeria is a going concern.”
He paid glowing tribute to General Ike Nwachukwu and the generation that fought to keep Nigeria united:
“General, we know what you and your generation did during the civil war to keep us together. We will not disappoint you.”
The launch ended with widespread commendations for Deacon Iyovwaye’s book, hailed as a timely contribution to national dialogue on resource utilisation, leadership renewal, and development.
