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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Why Osun, Ekiti, Oyo back oil law suit, by commissioner
AN insight was given yesterday into why Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states joined the 19 Northern states in the onshore/off-shore oil dichotomy law suit, which is currently at the Supreme Court.
The action of the three South West states has been hinged on the need to allow all citizens access to the nation's natural resources.
To Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Gbadegesin Adedeji, the decision by the three states was based on the principle of "Commonwealth of ownership and enjoyment of natural resources."
The South South geo-political zone and the human rights community in the North have opposed the suit filed by 22 states of the federation.
Adedeji explained that oil-rich states were not being challenged because of their wealth, but "for the sake of togetherness."
He ruled out the possibility of withdrawing the suit from the Supreme Court. "We are in court already. Withdrawing the case means it is improperly done. It was well-considered and we thought over it thoroughly before going to court in the first instance. So, there is no basis to withdraw the case".
When told of the series of protests by indigenes of the Niger Delta against the suit and the danger it may portend for the country, the Osun Attorney General said: "Of course such protest is expected. It is like a privilege being taken and undue concession being withdrawn.
"You expect reactions knowing full well that they were being challenged over this immense or stupendous wealth. But what we are saying is that Nigeria is one being family and each member of the family should be treated very well," he added.
The commissioner disclosed that Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states were only protecting their interest as "you can see that we are also at a disadvantage in this regard.
"What we want is that the litoral states should only take what belongs to them and not more. So we want a return to status quo ante for posterity and a better future.
"I do agree that environmental pollution and devastation are being suffered by people from the oil rich states, but funding this should be from the common purse. You don't destroy the people for the sake of oil. The level of the damage should determine the funding as well," he stated.
On his ministry's effort to track down the eight suspected killers of the state House of Assembly's former member Odunayo Olagbaju, who are said to have escaped from the state, the commissioner said everything was being done to encourage the police to re-arrest them.
He said: "When suspects have a feelings that they are about to be caught by the law, the actual thing is they run away from justice. But they can only run, they cannot escape. Our ministry is determined to scout and search for these suspects and make them face justice."
And following the interest of the public in the case, he disclosed that the state government had engaged a private prosecutor to handle the trial. "All we can do is to encourage the police to be more alive to their duties."
However Adedeji commended Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola for ensuring the "revival" of the ministry because "more or less, we found out that nothing much was done before this government."
He said the state initially had the least number of legal advisers in the country and only had some old law books inherited from old Oyo State in its library.
The Human Rights community in the North yesterday accused the 19 Northern States governors of allegedly using the suit to bargain for the return of the Presidency to the North in 2007.
The President of the group, Human Rights Congress and Leader of the Human Right Coalition in Northern States, Malam Shehu Sani said in Kaduna that investigations by the Rights community had showed that "they the (Northern Governors) are bringing about the abrogation of the bill at this very time because they want to hold President Olusegun Obasanjo and the South South Governors to ransome so that their ambition for a Northern President in 2007 would be realised".
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