The division among Senators from Bayelsa State over the 3 per cent development funds in the Petroleum Industry Bill thickened on Friday with the Senator representing Bayelsa East, Biobarakuma Wangagha Degi-Eremienyo, warning ex-Governor Henry Seriake Dickson to stop instigating violence in the Niger Delta.
The disagreement comes as a militant group styling itself as the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC), has threatened to resume attacks over the same matter of three per cent for host communities in the Bill.
According to the senator, if Dickson was not cautioned his comments could lead to civil unrest in the Niger Delta region.
He was reacting to a press conference by Dicskon on Thursday where the former governor accused the Minister of State (Petroleum resources), Chief Timipre Sylva of allegedly causing senators to change their minds on the development funds in the Petroleum Industry Bill for host communities from 5 per cent to 3 per cent. Degi-Eremienyo said the choice of 3% was a collective decision by the National Assembly.
But the militants said its commanders have returned to the creeks of the Niger Delta region, waiting to strike.
In a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, W.O. 1 Izon-Ebi, the militants condemned the three per cent as well as the 30% for exploration of frontier basins in the passed bill.
The statement titled, “We Will Defend Our God Given Resources”, reads in part, “For 56 years, the region has suffered desecration of its sacred places like worship centres, lands, streams, lakes and the severe environmental degradation without remediation.
“While the government and people of Zamfara state are allowed to control 100% of their gold resource (fiscal Federalism applying in Zamfara state), what the people of the Niger Delta region could get from their own natural resource is a paltry 3% for host communities and in contrast, a whopping 30% for exploration of frontier basins.
“This is an economic coup against the people of the region; it is an insult, a daylight robbery and betrayal by the Nigerian government.
“The region embraced peace because it was the most civilized thing to do in order to give way for proper dialogue, genuine government commitment and re-idealogical construct about the Niger Delta region.
“Unfortunately, about 11 years of giving peace a chance in the region, the Nigerian government has rather become ruthless to the region through obnoxious statutes. This are our genuine concern and our grievances.
“Therefore, we have directed our commanders in the region to go back to the creeks and wait for further directive on the next line of action. We will defend our resources and protect our region from further mindless pillage of our God given resources.”
The group described the PIB as a coup against the people of the oil-rich Niger Delta by the Nigerian State.
Meanwhile Senator Degi-Eremienyo accused Dickson of contributing nothing to the realisation of the PIB and development of host communities as Governor, saying he was only interested in his village with derivation funds.
He said the comments by Dickson smacked of envy, mischief over the rising profile of Sylva.
Dickson had on Thursday alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari had proposed 5 per cent development funds in the PIB but was changed by Sylva.
But Degi-Eremienyo in a statement titled: “PIB and 3 per cent for host communities: Stop instigating violence in Niger Delta, Degi cautions Dickson”, said such comments by Dickson was “highly regrettable considering the tireless efforts put in by the Minister in actualising this long awaited law.”
He said, “The true story was that the PIB as an Executive Bill was represented to the National Assembly proposing 2.5 per cent of the total operational cost as host communities development trust fund.
The lead debate was hot and protracted in both chambers. Lawmakers from the Niger Delta region including myself spoke, argued for upward increase commensurate to our contributions and sacrifices.
“During the public hearing at various centres, host communities canvassed same postion. After rigorous and painstaking process from plenary to conference committee, the National Assembly put the host comm funds at 3 per cent.
“This was the decision of the National Assembly and not that of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
“One wonders how and why Dickson would drag Sylva into this. Observers would be tempted to ask what efforts Dickson made to achieve the utmost desired as the Bill was presented to the National Assembly when he was still Governor.
“Other Governors from the Niger Delta region rallied round their people and even lobbied lawmakers from other regions to support increase in the host communities development funds.
“Ex-Governor Dickson did nothing as he was contented with spending 13 per cent derivation on aggressive development of his own villages which are not host communities, leaving the oil and gas producing host communities to suffer their fate.
“It’s ridiculous to see him fighting pretentiously for host communities. Dickson lacks moral grounds to criticise or attack Sylva’s innocence.
“I can see that Dickson is just been envious, mischievous and intimidated by the astronomically rising profile of Sylva.”
