Akure — AS the controversy over the signing of the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy bill by President Olusegun Obasanjo rages, a former Power and Steel Minister, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, has called for understanding, sincerity and dialogue by stakeholders in the oil rich states. Dr Agagu at a press conference in Akure specifically on the raging controversy expressed concern over the controversy aroused by the passage of the bill which is raising political temperature following non-signing by the president. According to him, there should be a national compromise for the bill to be workable.

The former minister explained that if the president should sign the bill, the way it is, some Northerners would go to court and the court would rule that the bill is illegal. "It will be grossly irresponsible for the president to sign that bill the way it is now, the end product would be worse than what we have now, let us stop playing to the gallery. "In fact, if care is not taken, this controversy might end up scuttling democracy and this is our concern.

"I am sure we don't want a situation whereby the bill is now signed and the Supreme Court would in turn make it a nullity, because this will again generate more tension and may cause anarchy. "There should be no reason for this needless confrontation, let us reach a consensus and find a way forward to the crisis," Dr. Agagu stated. "He, however, noted that "the insistence on 200 nautical miles limits has tangible advantage to any of the affected states. On the other hand, he continued: "If we allow rationality to prevail and if we do not allow sentiment to blot the good intentions inherent in the bill as proposed by the president, we in the littoral states stand a better chance of immediately claiming our entitlement to natures gift to this great nation.

Dr. Agagu pointed out that the boundary of 24 nautical miles spanned by the contiguous zone being proposed in the bill would go a long way in addressing the critical concerns that make the bill justifiable. According to him, the grounds for holding their conviction include:

*Economic activities within the littoral states hardly extend that far.

*Virtually all of the oil and gas currently produced are found within the contiguous zone proposed.

*Records of environmental impact on littoral economic activities show that mining activities beyond the contiguous zone will not adversely affect the host communities. "My immediate concern is the fact that controversy aroused by the passage of this bill is raising political temperature over a process that requires national compromise in order to be workable. "In other for us not to embark on a journey backward or return to square one if the president signs and the supreme court makes it a nullity, then on the oil dichotomy, there is need for understanding, sincerity and dialogue on the part of stakeholders, in the oil rich states," Dr. Agagu pleaded.