Rejection of oil firms relocation bill, a call for unrest in Niger Delta Groups

PAN Niger Delta Civil Society Groups (PNDCSG) has warned that the rejection of the bill on the relocation of oil companies’ operational and administrative offices to the Niger Delta at the House of Representatives may spark another round of unrest and anarchy in the region.

The fears were expressed by the groups in a statement signed by Dickson Bekederemo Esq., President of Niger Delta Security Watch Organisation of Nigeria (NDSWN), Comrade Austin Ozobo, President – Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) and Alaowei Ebikonbowei Cleric Esq.

National President, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC) which was made available to journalists on Thursday in Warri, Delta State.

“The decision by the House of Representatives to reject the motion sponsored by Hon Goodluck Opiah for the relocation of oil companies’ operational/administrative offices to the Niger Delta region is not only unpatriotic but also vexatious and provocative as such is capable of fanning the ember of unrest and discord in the region.

A motion of this nature at this critical time of our existence ought to be appreciated by all and sundry.

If Nigeria must continue to protect her unity then we must be our brother’s keepers.

It is a fact that the Niger Delta people are subjected to bear the brunt of the environmental despoliation and degradation from the years of unfavourable oil productions.

Regrettably, others in the far northern and western regions are enjoying the benefits of the oil productions.

These are the reasons why successive Nigerian governments are facing aggressive youth’s restiveness in the region for over the years.

Speaker, Yakubu Dogara’s comment in the House that he cannot be forced to site business in an environment that is not safe is to say the least demeaning.

That is an insult to the people of the Niger Delta who are feeding the nation. Niger Delta environment is safe for all kinds of businesses to thrive.

Is it the oil companies’ corporate headquarters that are not safe to be sited in the region?

Why the company’s oil platforms are safe for the companies to engage in daily productions?

Only yesterday, being the 2nd of May, 2017, the NNPC boss, Mr Maikanti Baru while addressing State House press at the Presidential Vila said daily oil productions have hit two million barrels.

How did the NNPC achieve these figures? Can it be achieved in an unsafe and a non-business friendly environment as alleged by the Speaker?

People should not be driven by their personal interests or ambitions to instigate another round of avoidable crisis in the region.

We have not recovered from the bloody oil war that is gradually giving way to peace as a result of the Buhari government’s timely intervention.

The NASS cannot be a government of its own. Its part and parcel of the Federal Government and thus it should key into the executive arm’s initiatives.

The Reps’ callous and inconsiderate action will not do any good to President Buhari’s efforts in restoring sanity to the region.

The action of Yoruba reps at the Green Chamber was very annoying and provocative.

Though we are not surprised at their objection to the motion, what they should know is that it was not a Bill that took IOC headquarters to the South-West and they equally need no bill to relocate back to their operational domains.

They should equally know that what goes up must surely come down. It is not a right for the oil multinational headquarters to remain in the South West.

We laud south south, south east and other reps for staging a walkout because it is really annoying to sit down and watch such treacherous and lopsided hearings.

The Yoruba lawmakers at the Green Chamber should know that relocation of oil companies’ headquarters to the Niger Delta region is one of the key conditions for peace in the region and the Government has accepted it already.

What we expect the House of Representatives to do is to complement the efforts of the executive arm.

They can’t be at cross purpose with the executive arm or run a different government.

Such will jeopardise the prevailing peace in the region. Let the House take a cue from the Senate, who in their wisdom, introduced and debated the Bill for the establishment of the National Maritime University at Okerenkoko in the Gbaramatu kingdom,” the coalition group stated.

The group, therefore, called on the House to revisit the motion they have unceremoniously rejected, in order to promote peace in the country.

It also called on the Senate and the Buhari led-executive arm to prevail on the House to key into the Federal Government’s olive branch, noting that the survival of the country was anchored on the House’s decision on the bill.

It will be recalled that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while president in acting capacity in March, directed oil multinationals to relocate their administrative headquarters to the Niger Delta region in line with one of the demands for peace.