Diri calls for upward review of 13% oil derivation to Niger Delta
Thegovernor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayadeaccused the federal government of neglecting the south-south geo-political zone saying the region “the region lays the golden egg yet suffers unspeakable deprivation in the Nigeria project.”
The governor stated this while receiving his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki in his office in Calabar.
The governors implored the people of south-south to come together and speak with one voice on injustices done to the region, especially the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.
“The south-south is in crisis. We are the greatest generators of the revenue of this country, yet you cannot come from Uyo to Calabar by road. We must tackle such fundamental issues.
“Our carnival is suffering because people cannot come in. Our seaport is suffering because it cannot be dredged. We cannot, as a region, sit back and watch this happen,” Ayade said.
He pledged to work towards the revival of the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta (BRACED) commission, a regional body of the six south-south states to grow the region.
Similarly, the governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Douye Diri, stressed the need for Niger Delta governors and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to work together to move the region forward.
Speaking in Yenagoa when he hosted the PANDEF delegation led by its national chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.), Diri noted that over the years, individuals from other regions had exploited the division in the Niger Delta to further impoverish the people.
He said the time had come for Niger Deltans to speak with one voice.
In a statement by his spokesman, Daniel Alabrah, the governor lauded the formation of PANDEF, which he said would help unite people of the region and foster development.
He further stated that the synergy between the governors and PANDEF would address the developmental challenges of the region, and appealed to elders of the region to intervene in the conflict between Ijaw communities in Bayelsa and neighbouring Rivers State to amicably resolve the issues.
On the request by PANDEF for governors to ensure the Water Resources Bill before the national assembly is killed, Diri said the governors were already taking steps in that regard and expressed optimism that the bill would not sail through.
The governor renewed his call for an upward review of the 13 per cent derivation to Niger Delta states to promote fairness.
