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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Attah, Ibori, Tinubu, others renew call for resource control
THE quest by states to control their resources received a fresh impetus from governors and other prominent stakeholders in Lagos yesterday.
Those who renewed the call during the launch of a book entitled Attah on Resource Control included Governors Victor Attah, (Akwa Ibom), James Ibori (Delta), and Bola Tinubu (Lagos). Others were the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, Prof. Itse Sagay and former Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ebitimi Banigo.
Ibori said that the book which is a collection of Attah's memorable speeches could not have come at a better time than now when the people of the Niger-Delta were yearning for the control of their resources.
He stressed that the book has put the struggle for the control of resources in a permanent form. He recalled that since the struggle began most of the governors in the South-South geo-political zone had suffered one form of deprivation or another, which was aimed at whittling down the agitation.
Ibori said: "The book couldn't have come at a better time. It has kept the agitation for resource control drive, because it has succeeded in putting the struggle in a permanent form. Since the struggle began, South South governors have suffered one form of political deprivation, or another. Obviously, some have suffered than the others."
He added: "We are mere messengers of the people and we shall continue to carry the message because we represent the people. Even if we are down, even if we are no longer governors, we will continue with the battle because if we don't, posterity will judge us. "We enjoin well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support us, because we have a commitment not to allow our people to live in abject poverty. The agitation for resource control is to enable us to rescue our people from poverty."
Speaking in the same vein, Oshiomhole stated that it was high time the issue of resource control was enshrined in the Constitution to ensure that justice reigned in the country. While noting that no leader could decree peace, he stressed that the reign of justice would only be possible when those fighting for its enthronement did not give up.
Oshiomhole who enjoined the South-South governors not to relent on the agitation for resource control, reiterated that the support for resource, equity and stability. He promised to use every opportunity to support the struggle.
Oshiomhole said: "You cannot decree peace by might or force. The enthronement of justice is possible when those fighting against injustice do not give up. Don't give up because we know you have invested a lot. There is still a lot to be done. The ruling class will continue to do everything to ensure that the battle will not continue. The support for resource control is the support for justice, equity, stability and fair play. But those who are benefiting from the imbalance or lack of resource control would want the status quo to continue."
Attah restated his belief that resource control would enable the states to give adequate employment and other infrastructures to youths in the Niger Delta. The governor, who spoke amid thunderous ovation, noted that in a federal system of government, revenue was supposed to flow from the federating units to the centre, but stated that this was not done in the country.
According to him, the oil producing states could do more if they had judiciously expended the 13 per cent derivation they are currently entitled to. He stressed that he would not surrender the battle until the ultimate aim was achieved.
Attah noted: "I want to assure that the oil-producing states can do a lot if we are allowed to control our resources. With 13 per cent derivation, we are already doing great things. We will do more if we are allowed to control our resources. We are not fighting a war but we are hopeful that with constant dialogue, justice will be done."
The governor recalled that when the struggle for resource control began, a lot of misconception was brought in by north. He noted that the situation had however, changed with the support of many northern governors after much enlightenment on the issues.
He said: "When the battle began, there was a lot of misrepresentation because the North felt that it was a scheme against them. But support is now coming from them after a series of seminars and workshops. They have realised the need for states to control resources available to them."
According to Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Pedro who represented Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the call for states' control of resources amounts to insistence on true` federalism.
Tinubu stated that while resource control might be synonymous with Attah, the call for true federalism was synonymous with Tinubu. Resource control is an aspect of true federalism, as such, there is no other place more suitable for the book launch than Lagos State, which has been in the vanguard of the struggle for true federalism", he said.
But Itse Sagay, who reviewed the book told The Guardian in an exclusive interview that one of the major factors militating against the full achievement of resource control was the attitude of the South-West which he said was contradictory to its call for true federalism.
And while Tinubu stated that the people and government of Lagos State, and by extension the whole South-West, did not only support the call for resource control, they also endorsed the ideas in the book. Sagay insisted that while the North antagonised resource control for selfish reasons, the South-West only paid lip service to true federalism.
His words: The major element mititating against the struggle is obviously the hostility of the major nationalities. Of course, apart from the Igbo nationality, the two other nationalities have not been supportive. Nigeria tends to celebrate injustice. If the other man is being oppressed and you are the one benefiting from it, that is alright. That is the attitude of the leaders of these zones."
Describing the position of the South-West on autonomy as contradictory and opportunistic, Sagay said: "...It is an opportunist thing. In other words there should be true federalism, there should be autonomy, there should be restructuring in everything except for the oil in the Niger-Delta, because that one we don't have. It is selfishness."
Criticising the North for its interest only in what it could benefit and ignoring the injustice done to others, he said: "People should learn to be just. They should learn that justice to every part of Nigeria is the only way to survive as a country."
Other personalities on the occasion were: Senator Felix Ibru, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Chief Dubem Onyia, former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator John Azuta Mbata and former Cross Rivers State governor, Chief Clement Ebri amongst others.
Two Northern governors, Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe) and Adamu Muazu of Bauchi were equally represented.
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