Lagos — Governors of the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone resolved unanimously last night to distance themselves from the amnesty deal granted militants in the oil-rich region by President Umaru Yar'Adua unless the Federal Government withdraws the new Petroleum Industries Bill which is before the National Assembly.
Rising from a marathon meeting in Asaba, Delta State, the governors took a swipe at the Federal Government for what they called anti-people policies of the administration. In a four-point communique issued at the end of the meeting, they stated that the Minister of Petroleum, Rilwanu Lukman, is anti South-South. Beside the Petroleum Industries Bill which they claim is anti-community and a slap on the long-suffering indigenes of the zone, they also frowned at the proposed relocation of the University of Petroleum from Effurun, Delta State to Kaduna.
Sources at the meeting informed Daily Independent that the Governors are equally irked that President Yar'Adua did not articulate any definite post-amnesty plan for the Niger Delta.
"They resolved to meet the President on Monday with their demands before the Bill comes up for debate on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday. Their demands are straightforward and unambiguous. They are demanding that the University of Petroleum be brought back to Effurun; that the Petroleum Industries Bill which takes away the total royalty of the people of the Niger Delta without recourse to the environmental hazards suffered by the people be withdrawn immediately. They are also demanding a post-amnesty programme for the region," said our source.
The meeting was attended by Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo State), Liyel Imoke (Cross River State) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta State). The Governors of Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states sent delegations to the meeting.
The new Petroleum Bill which erodes all benefits to the communities by canceling the five percent, 25 percent and 70 percent allocated to the community, state and federal government respectively in the old Bill has ruffled many feathers in the region which continues to bear the brunt of the hazards of oil exploration in the country. The Governors contend that the substitution of the old Bill is an act of insensitivity.
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The FG is becoming so inconsiderate to the plight of the Niger Delta, it seems that they are not ready to end the anarchy in the Area
The FG is becoming so inconsiderate to the plight of the Niger Delta, it seems that they are not ready to end the anarchy in the Area
The Nigerian government of the North, as it is currently constituted is going down. This hausa-fulani oligarchy miss-rule for 42 of Nigeria's 49 years of independence that has brought our dear fatherland into ruination must not be allowed to continue, indefinitely. Today, it is 6 states of the south south, tomorrow, it will be another 6 of the southwest, - once the Yoruba's commonsense sinks in. Pretty soon, the other 6 Igbo states will follow suit. Perhaps, Emperor Yar and his thieving cabinet will see clearly the handwriting on the wall. PRONACO now or never as one nation, again.
Needed: A Southern Nigeria that can say no to the North.
Many koodos to the South-South governors for standing up to the North.
From now on, the South must stand up to the North in any shape or form. Since independence, the North has been parasitic on the South. In the same period, the North dominated all aspects of Nigerian lives using all vices at her disposal.
The North destroyed Nigeria because they monopolised political power from 1960 till the time Abacha died even though the northerners did not have the skills to rule. As of today, I do not think that the northerners have the skills needed to run the North productively, and much less the skills to run an entire country called Nigeria. The North must wake up to discover the classroom as the only way out. And until the North does, the South should no longer allow the northerners to gamble with our natural resources.
Honestly, to prevent Nigeria from hitting the brick wall, we must move fast to turn the entire country into a true Federation. This is the only way for different cultures to coexist together with no group dominating any one.
Like Nigeria, the former Soviet Union was a contrived union of many nationalities to be dominated by Russia. So when the other 18 States of the Union got tired of Russia's arogance and domination, they quit the Union. Then the Soviet Union died unceremonously, Russia's nuclear arsenal notwithstanding.
The South must also remind the North that if this Union separates, the North would certainly be worse off. In the same vein, a unified Southern Nigeria would emerge as a modern and powerful country instantly because the South has an abundance of natural and skilled human resources which the North lacks.
As for Mr. Luckman's arogance to the South-South, I would not be surprised. The entire world witnessed the arogance of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. Mr Abubakar had no respect for his boss,the President,Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo. To the entire South, I say "Verbum sat sapienti est" (A word is enough for the wise).
By Dr. Gregory I. Umukoro,CCP
Los Angeles,Calfornia,United States.
Dr Imukoro,
I am very disappointed with your call for a civil war in Nigeria while living in the UNITED states of America. Sure the resources of the USA are not evenly distributed and yet they are a UNITED states. What are they doing that keeps them together is what I expect you to suggest to Nigerian Politicians to copy, instead you are calling for a division of the country.
You may need to read my earlier comment above to see that as a Northerner, I am not in agreement with Lukman , but that the South -South representatives in the senate and the Federal house of Assembly should be up and doing in their representation of the south-south.
The governors are threatening to pull out of the amnesty deal. The question is "What are they pulling out from?" Who are the Militants? Does this mean the governors are the militants and are pulling out from the amnesty deal? Why can't the governors own up and tell Nigerians that they are the ones terrorizing this nation? Why can't they table this at their monthly National Executive Meeting, that they want their own country in order to control their resources instead of subjecting the youths to hardship and destroying their lives and future? Dr Greg, build Nigeria and not destroy it. You are enjoying the peace and fruits of other people's sacrifices in America, so do same for the generations yet unborn in Nigeria. They need to come to a country that is stable, caring and has things built for them by people like you and I.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
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