IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL
WORLDWIDE
PRESS STATEMENT
May 23, 2014
REJECTION OF THE MINORITY REPORT OF ANN-KIO BRIGGS ON RESOURCE CONTROL BY THE NATIONAL CONFAB: TYRANY OF THE MAJORITY
The National Confab at its plenary on the 22nd of May, 2014 rejected the minority report by Ann-Kio Briggs to the National Confab on resource control. The IYC regards this decision as tyranny of the majority and a demonstration of a preconceived position on the vexed subject of resource control. The National Conference which is supposed to be a platform to design a new Nigeria is fast metamorphosing into an instrument for the continued oppression of the minorities in Nigeria by the majorities; hence we have lost confidence in the conference.
The IYC make bold to state that the National Conference was wrong to have rejected the minority report prepared by Ann-Kio Briggs without subjecting it to debate. The mere fact that majority has arrived at a decision at the Committee level should not exclude those with minority position from submitting their position to the plenary for debate as such minority report would enhance deliberations at plenary.
The Niger Delta people are disappointed in this sudden disposition by the national conference to maintain status quo at all costs. It is retrogressive for the ongoing conference to insist on maintaining the status quo of 13% when the Obasanajo’s Political Reform Conference had in 2005, about nine years ago recommended the increase in derivation from 13% to 25%. The Niger Delta people had expected that nine years after the Political Reform Conference recommended 25% derivation, this conference of 2014 would not have any difficulty in accepting the 50 derivation which the Ann Briggs minority report advocated for the Niger Delta people.
The rejection of the Ann-Kio Briggs minority report is a dark chapter in the history of our people. However, the Niger Delta people would not be deterred with this set back as it would only be temporary. We shall continue with the agitation for resource control and fiscal federalism and our collective will to control our resource would eventually triumph as it is in the interest of a productive Nigeria. While commending the efforts of Ann-Kio Briggs, the Niger Delta people would go back to the drawing board and decide on the next line of action.
Signed for Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide:
Eric Omare
(Spokesman)
