• Allege plot to stifle Niger Delta growth
• Insist on resource control
IRKED by the failure of the national conference to agree on acceptable derivation principle, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) have alleged of a plot to stifle the development of the Niger Delta.
The groups noted that the failure of the rest of Nigeria to agree on an upward review of the derivation principle smacks of a deliberate resolve not to appreciate the peculiarity of the Niger Delta environment, human capacity, physical and infrastructural developmental challenges.
INC spokesperson, Victor Burubo told The Guardian in Port Harcourt that the decision of the conference to refer the unresolved issue of derivation to the Federal Government was to ensure continuation of the quasi- federal system and deny the people of the Niger Delta their aspiration for resource control or the quest for fiscal federalism. According to him, if the conference had agreed on returning Nigeria to the path of fiscal federalism, the existing logjam and disaffection it has created would have been averted.
Burubo argued that the issue of resource control or upward review of the derivation principle is so pertinent to the people of the Niger Delta and if not urgently addressed might eventually lead to the resurgence of a more crimson militancy. He observed that it was quite disheartening that the country has continued to erroneously assume that the injustice meted out to the oil producing states of the Niger Delta would be sustained forever.
“The vexed issue of derivation is one of the fault lines of the Nigerian peculiar federation and it will continue to be because there are still some people who think they can continue to run a federation based on the principle of unfairness, imbalance, injustice, cheating and mindless intolerance. We want fiscal federalism, that is the only solution to this unnecessary argument about derivation. Every state should control its resources and pay taxes to the Federal Government. That is the way a federation is run and that is the way to go,” he said.
He argued that it was disheartening for some sections of the country to remain insensitive to the plight of the Niger Delta people whose resources sustain the Nigerian nation, in a time when the country’s unity is been threatened by insurgence in the North East.
He accused those opposed to resource control or upward review of the derivation principle of pursuing a separatist agenda, adding that those who are not ready for fiscal federalism should feel free to opt out of the union.
“This conference should have been an opportunity to say this federation is not working and simply correct the imbalances, but there are some people who are trying vehemently to drag us back. They are merely postponing the evil day. Separatist tendency is already working itself out, yet, we have refused to learn. This injustice cannot be sustained as it must collapse. We cannot continue to run Nigeria like this. We need resource control and that is our stand,” he said.
Burubo observed that the current system where the federal government collects all the proceeds from oil and gas and at the end of every month shares it with the federating states is the reason most of some states have remained economically unviable and unable to increase their internally generated revenue base. He also argued that states that cannot sustain themselves should consider merger with more viable states in the country instead of being parasitical and stifling the growth of others.
On his part, MOSOP spokesperson, Bari-ara Kpalap accused the delegates opposed to resource control and upward review of the derivation principle of a deliberate attempt to stifle the development of the oil producing states whom he said have been subsiding the rest of the country.
MOSOP said that the alleged insensitivity of the delegates to the plight of the people of the Niger Delta is frightening and a pointer that the oil producing areas are not wanted within the Nigerian federation. The group urged the Niger Delta to begin to reconsider their existence within the Niger Delta or continue to be suppressed.
Source: GuardianNG
