LAGOS—GOVERNOR James Ibori of Delta State yesterday in Lagos said none of the governors of the Niger Delta states would be deterred, even if it meant his being removed from office on account of his agitation for resource control. Ibori made the remark at the launch of the book entitled: “Attah on Resource Control,” which is a collection of speeches made by Gov. Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State and compiled by Samuel Ajayi. Ibori said the would continue to support the agitation for resource control whether in or out of office.
Commenting on the suit recently instituted by 19 northern governors and two from the South-West, asking the Supreme Court to quash the on-shore/off-shore abrogation an act, Ibori said the suit was an attempt to subject the people of the region to undue temptation.
In his comments, Gov. Attah expressed the hope that the Supreme Court would reverse itself on its earlier judgement in which it declared that the Federal Government own crude oil and other natural resources found on the country’s continental shelf. The Akwa Ibom chief executive said he would continue to champion the resource control crusade until it was actualised, adding that the people of the area needed to control their resources so that they could provide employment for the youths.
Chairman of the occasion, retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Mohammed Bello, lamented that security of lives and property were no longer guaranteed across the country. He urged the government of the federation to provide the basic amenities of life for Nigerians and commended Attah for his consistency in demanding justice and equity in the country.
In his remarks, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, called for justice and equity for the people of the Niger Delta region.
In his review of the 124-page book, Professor Itse Sagay, said Attah in one of the speeches contained in the book, identified the 1999 Constitution which provides for only 13 per cent of the federally collectible revenue to be shared based on the principle of derivation, as a deviation from the Independence Constitution which was adopted by Nigeria’s founding fathers.
Sagay identified another speech in which Attah argued that prior to the drilling of crude oil in commercial quantities in the Niger Delta, when agricultural resources were the main revenue earner for the country, 50 per cent of the federally collectible revenue was reserved for the area which produced the resources.
Among the dignitaries who attended the occasion were the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr Femi Pedro; former Governors of Cross River and Kaduna States, Chief Donald Etiebet and Alhaji Balarabe Musa respectively. Others were Professor Kimse Okoko, Senators Azuka Mbata, David Brigidi Martins Yellowe and Chief Ebitimi Banigo who was the chief launcher of the book.
