Emma Amaize
28 August 2008
(Page 2 of 2)
His words: "For every company that is coming to be involved in the national gas master plan in Delta State, some equity must go to the host communities. If you are coming to be involved in exploration, as part of the gas master plan, laying of pipelines or construction of the Central Process Unit or whatever company that will come out of it, some equity must go to the community and I stand here as Governor to say that when that happens, the state government is going to be involved on behalf of the communities in getting such equity."
He said part of the reasons for the Niger Delta crisis was that the communities lack equity participation in the companies exploring oil and gas in their areas, saying that if the situation on ground is that whatever profit the companies declare, the communities are entitled to some percentage, they would, no doubt, help in checking the activities of criminals vandalizing the oil facilities.
"I don't think we are asking for too much. I am only suggesting a long term measure to solve the problem. Currently, the Federal Government holds 60 per cent equity and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) hold 40 per cent, if you take five per cent from the Federal Government and five percent from the IOCs and give it to the host communities, what is that?" he said.
He said some people were against equity shares for the communities on the grounds that the people would fight among themselves, adding, it was better to give the communities equity shares and let them sort out the other aspects themselves than to deny them such equity.
"I have been called a militant and sponsor of militants but I believe and I insist that military force will not solve the Niger Delta problem. The military may win the fight but the military will not win the war.
And that simply means that if you order the military into the creeks today, you can destroy militant camps and villages but at the end of the day, it does not require too many people to do the damage to oil facilities.
Destroy the camps, destroy the villages, just three of these boys will enter into Warri and start doing damage to Warri, which you cannot control," he said adding: "Our current Constitution is not friendly to the people of the Niger Delta. The Constitution removed our land from us and everything in that land, one of these laws is the Petroleum Act, they have to be reviewed.
"Let me say it, you don't need to amend the Constitution of the country to deal with the issue of derivation, the constitution simply says not less than 13 per cent, all the National Assembly has to do is to say 50 per cent, it does not require constitutional amendment. All these issues have to be looked at; our laws have to be looked at," he said.
He said the state government inaugurated the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and was funding it with 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation and so, there was nothing wrong for the National Assembly to increase derivation to the oil producing states to 50 per cent, as the question of not managing the funds well has no bearing in Delta State.
According to him, leaders and members of the host communities were the ones managing the 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation to the DESOPADEC and it is only the project that the people ask for in their areas that the commission is authorized to execute for them.
The governor said the oil companies did not help matters with their attitude but singled out the Chevron Oil Company for some improvements so far in the state, though, he observed that "there is still a long way to go".
Why True face of Delta - Djebah
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah who welcomed the participants to the summit said the government opted to tell the world about the true face of Delta State because if it failed to do so, people would continue to manipulate and give it a name that is not what it is.
He said a little over two weeks ago, many leaders of the region attended a two-day Legislative Retreat, sponsored by the Vanguard Newspapers Limited, they issued a communiqué that outlined what they thought should be the solution to the problems in the Niger-Delta region in addition to other recommendations on the way forward for the region.
The Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien; the Orodje of Okpe, His Royal Majesty, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd.); Brigadier-General Dominic Oneya (rtd.); Itsekiri leader, Chief Gabriel Mabiaku; Senator Francis Okpozo; and other eminent Deltans who featured in the special documentary on the "True face of Delta" scored Uduaghan.
Those who attended the ceremony included Governor Uduaghan, one time military administrator of the state, Air. Commodore Ibrahim Kefas (rtd.); former deputy governor of the state, Sir. Benjamin Elue; Senator James Manager; chairman of The Punch Newspapers, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Okonta; and traditional rulers from across the state.
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If Yar's adminstration is sincere about resolving the Niger Delta crises peaceably, I can't think of a better candidate to chair the effort than Chief Anyaoku, as a well regarded sons of the soil. Not only did he serve his country creditably as the Commonwealth SG, his diplomatic brilliance is renowned worldwide, unlike Gambari's failed diplomacy in Burma as reported in yesterday's Washington Post editorial. but then, do yar ever had a vision talk less of attaining the 20/20 vision of OBJ. Besides, Gov Uduaghan is right to demand 50% derivation not only for the Niger Delta states but for all 36 states of the country so each state can set aside a portion of their revenue on R&D to find and develop untapped resources for each state's comparative advantage so each region or state grow at its own pace without one region or state holding the rest back