By Francis Sadhere
Prominent Itsekiri Leader, Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebo yesterday gave the Delta State Government a seven day Ultimatum to abolish the New Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) law which was recently signed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Speaking on behalf of the Itsekiri nation during an occasion organized by Host Community of Nigeria (Oil &Gas), Itsekiri Chapter, Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebo, said they were calling for the abolition of the law because it ran counter to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it does not favour the host communities.
She noted that though the DESOPADEC bill has been passed, it runs contrary to the derivation principal enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, warning that no governor has the right to divide or take money from the local government allocation or derivation.
According to her the derivation principles or laws says: “The President, upon the receive of advice from the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, shall table before National Assembly proposals from Revenue allocation from the federal account, and in determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take into account, the allocation principles especially those of population, equity of states, internal revenue generation, land mass, terrain as well as population density; provided that the principles of derivation shall constantly reflect in any approved formula as been not less than thirteen percent of the revenue accruing to the Federal account directly from any natural resources.”
Rita-Lori revealed that about 5 billion naira comes to the state each month as derivation, lamenting that despite such huge amount of money that come to the state, the people are still living in abject poverty.
She therefore, warned that any attempt to take money specifically allocated to oil producing areas in the state will be met with stiff resistance by the people, saying such action is criminal.
“The constitution that supersedes all laws has laid emphasis on derivation and the intention of the Federal Government is clear on those issue. Hence, the Revenue Mobilization, Allocstion and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has allocated clearly the amount of money that should go to derivation like it has dome to Local Government, States and Federation, she added.
Also Speaking, the Delta State Chairman, HOSTCOM, Hon. Benjamin Iwetan said the Press Conference was convened to Let the people know about the evil being perpetrated by the Delta State government for the past 16 years.
He describe the presence of Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori Ogbebor at the press briefing to give credence to the occasion, saying she serves as a voice to the voiceless could lend her voice to the Federal Government to the grass-root people whose lands are being polluted with oil exploration and exploitation especially as it relates to the stealing of derivation monies belonging to the people after all their pleas to the Government failed.
Former Commissioner for Youth & Sports in Delta State, Mr. Omolubi Newuwumi called on stakeholders to take a critical glance at the DESOPADEC Bill with a view to making their contributions, lamenting that the new law was to made to shortchanged the oil bearing communities as representation in the DESOPADEC is now based on senatorial district.
Omolobi further explained that majority of the oil bearing communities in Delta State are all in one senatorial district and that going by the new DESOPADEC law, they will have only one representative in the commission.
