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Suit against 13
Suit against 13% derivation : Northern
govs fuel fresh crisis
-N.
Delta monarchs
SEGUN
JAMES, Warri
TWENTY-two
state governors suing the Federal Government over the controversial 13 per cent
derivation principle, risk the wrath of spiritual leaders of oil states unless
they withdraw their suit.
Traditional leaders of all nine
oil-producing states say that the governors whom they called
"conspirators" must not take the Niger Delta communities for a ride
any longer.
Rising from their meeting in
Warri, Delta State, yesterday, the royal fathers warned that the governors’
suit was generating fresh tension in the Niger Delta, with the threat of further
agitation there.
Meeting under the aegis of
Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON),
the leaders stated their views in a communique, threatening that they may cave
in under pressure by restive youths, for fresh confrontation.
The nine oil mineral bearing
states are Delta, Imo, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, Abia, Cross River, and Akwa
Ibom.
Anambra and Ogun states, in which
commercial quantities of crude oil have been found, are yet to be formally
listed as oil-bearing states.
"This grand conspiracy by
these complaining governors is indeed to take our people for another ride, which
we shall collectively resist.
"Their unguarded public
utterances, attitude and actions (over this matter) betray a lack of readiness
to embrace the time-tested system of civil governance," the leaders
charged.
While making clear that their
group is apolitical in its actions, the royal fathers in their communique,
signed by 17 royal fathers including HRM Pere Charles Ayemi-Bolu, national
chairman; HRH Eze Ikegwuruka, national secretary; HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff ,
and HRH Prince (Dr.) E. Akenzui, among others, insisted that the 13 per cent
derivation policy remained a right of their people which they would not
relinquish.
"It is unfortunate that the
Derivation Fund which is regarded as pittance, is being challenged by these
people who do not wish this country well at this point in time, when the new
agitation for further increase to 50 per cent is being championed, in order to
confront headon the multi-faceted problems of environmental pollution,
ecological degradation, pervasive poverty (and other maladies) that have over
the years made life unbearable and unworthy of living (for our people)",
they said.
While inviting those against the
13 per cent to take a guided tour of the Niger Delta region in order to
appreciate the enormity of the plight of the people, the royal fathers further
warned the protesting governors to withdraw their suit in the interest of peace
as the consequence of their action may signal disaster for the nation.
"TROMPCON has been working
day and night to avert the likely violent reaction that would trail this
unpatriotic act" they warned.
They asked the Federal Government
to continue to resist the actions of the governors as "peace and harmony
can only be achieved if the governance of the country is predicated on justice,
equity and fair play."
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