Press Conference On State of the Nation
1st of June, 2018
Gentlemen of the Press
Considering the democratic shenanigans associated with the present Government at the centre, there is an urgent need to address the press on some unfriendly events. This press conference is therefore informed by the inimical policies of the present Government led by His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari towards the Niger Delta region.
On the water resources executive Bill currently in the NASS, the position of IYC is that the said Bill is another neo-colonisation agenda by the Federal Government to annihilate and subjugate the destinies of the Niger Delta people thereby subjecting the people to eternal colony. We reject the Bill in its entirety as it will only end up causing disaffection between the Niger Delta people and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
We have perused the spirits and letters of the said Bill clause by clause. There is nothing in the proposed law that will benefit the Niger Delta people. This is a clear departure from the sacred constitutional requirements of enacting laws which are for the public good, public morality and public safety. A Bill that is designed to divest the people of natural resources in their domains cannot bring peace and good governance to the people.
IYC therefore is of the view that the National Assembly should as a matter of public good and for the sake of our corporate coexistence reject the Bill outrightly or in the alternative, remove the clauses that seek to control the surface and groundwater resources including river beds and banks. The management of the water resources should be left with the states. We on our own part will do everything humanly position within the ambit of the law to resist the passage of the Bill. This is our destinies and we will collectively tackle the Government to ensure that we control our destinies from the clutches of the foreign invaders.
There is no doubt that the passage of this inimical Bill will pitch Niger Delta communities against her visitors. We do not want a repeat of history in the region. This is a surreptitious means to reintroduce the butch cattle colony. Niger Delta people will resist it even with the last drop of our blood.
On the compliance of the IPOB’s sit-at-home order by a large number of people in parts of the Country in commemoration of the declaration of the defunct Biafra Republic, our position is that the demonstration of the people to the call of IPOB for the sit-at-home order should be seen as a baleful sign that our ego-boasting unity in diversity is a mirage. There is urgent need to address the yearnings of the people, especially the call for true federalism and resource control should be implemented.
IYC therefore lends its voice to the historic demands for resource control and true fiscal federalism. The Ijaw youths adopt the position of the South South Governors and other sociopolitical leaders across the divides in the Country over the raging demands for resource control and true federalism. Nothing can save Nigeria from the ethno-religious crags that have been befuddling our polity. Let Nigerians exercise ownership of resources found in their domains.
On the President’s Democracy Day broadcast pertaining to the development of Niger Delta region. Though we need peace at all times in the region, the peace we need should not just be the peace of our time. We need a lasting solution to the region’s intractable conundrums. While the present government is celebrating the peace of the season, we wish to register our displeasure to the lacklustre of the Government to implement the conditions for the peace.
To us, there is no development in the Niger Delta when the oil companies are yet to relocate their corporate headquarters to the region in spite of the presidential directives. We cannot join the Government in the blaze of the celebrated victory for peace when the cardinal demands of the people have not been heeded to. Niger Delta region is suffering from political-cum economic colony through the instrumentalities of the obnoxious and draconian legislations that have denied the people of their rights to exercise control of their God-given wealth.
We need a commensurate sociopolitical and economic developments in the region. We have being strangulated economically. No Niger Delta indigene can boast of having a oil block. Even appointments in oil corporations in the Government are skewed to favour some parts of the country in flagrant disregard to the debilitating plight of the host communities. Until the Government addresses these issues adequately, its vainglory victory for peace is just a celebration of political gimmick.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill in relation to the host communities. IYC discovered that only 5% is voted for the host communities as against the earlier 10% equity share for the oil communities. The Council rejects the 5% and demand that the lawmakers should increase it to 10% which was the position in place. We also call for the speedy passage of the Bill before the 2019 general elections. A situation where the Bill will be used as a campaign tool by politicians to woo voters in the 2019 general elections will not be accepted. If the Government mean well for the host communities then let it pass it into law as quickly as possible.
Thanks and God bless,
Signed:
Pereotubo Oweilaemi, Esq,
President, IYC Worldwide
