Apparently not satisfied with the consensus reached by the Committee on Devolution of Powers on resource control, Ijaw Youths from the coastal communities of the Niger Delta, have asked their delegates to the National Conference not to return home.
The Committee had reached a consensus that the Federal Government should retain ownership of “mines and minerals” while States where such are deposited would be involved.
But, Ijaw youths are not satisfied with this position, saying it raises more questions than answers. Consequently, they have asked their delegates to remain in Abuja should they fail to get a better deal.
A statement issued by Ijaw Youths Council Publicity Secretary, Eric Omare reads, “If the federal government would retain the right to ownership of petroleum resources, then in what manner would the states where oil deposits are found be involved or participate?
“What is the nature of the participation? Would the participation be at the whims and caprices of the federal government or it would be defined in an act of parliament? Can a state where resources are deposited initiate the process of exploration and exploitation?
“By the modification, is the federal government obliged to consult with a state before embarking on granting licences or entering into Joint Venture Agreement? These are other questions are begging for answer!
“The demand of the Niger Delta people for the control of their resource entails having control of the way, manner and rate at which the petroleum resources or any other resources found in their land are explored and exploited.
“This cannot be achieved by the Niger Delta people, communities and states being ordinarily participants in the process of petroleum or resource exploration without having control.”
Also, a joint statement issued by the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative(IPDI) and National Association Of Izon-Ebe Law Students,(NAILS), urged “the region’s delegates to stage a work out in the confab if the north opposes the Niger Delta quest for resource control, as such is open declaration of war against the South.
“They as well warned against betraying the region by the delegates for money, and selfish political gains. The delegates should not gamble with their plight and avoid anything that will undermine the determined and collective efforts of the region to control her God given resources.”
“The region is bigger than anybody’s personal interest, and this should be a sound warning to their delegates in the ongoing confab, because at the end of the day, if they found out that they have been betrayed by their delegates, they would definitely tackle them squarely, and such delegates shall never know peace for mortgaging their future.”
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