Traditional rulers in the Niger Delta have threatened to stop the flow of oil from the area to other parts of the country if the leaders from the North continue to insist on the downward review of the 13 per cent derivation.
The threat came just as youths from the region also staged a protest at the Port Harcourt premises of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited protesting against the non-remittance of three per cent of the company’s annual budget to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The traditional rulers, under the aegis of the national executive committee of Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON), at the end of their meeting yesterday in Port Harcourt, expressed dismay that northern delegates at the ongoing National Conference were striving to ensure reduction of the 13 per cent derivation in the revenue sharing formula.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of TROMPCON, Mene Suanu Baridan, said delegates from the North were bent on reducing the 13 per cent derivation, scraping of the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
“If the North persists, we will not allow our oil to leave the region. It is not a threat: that is what we will do,” he said.
Baridan said they had earlier told delegates from the Niger Delta to insist on 100 per cent control of resources from the region but had to back down to 50 per cent.
He explained: “We had told our people at the conference to insist on full control of our resources while we decide what to give to the centre. At the worst case, requested for 50 per cent. Now that the North wants to reduce even the 13 per cent, we have no option than to resist that,” Baridan said.
Earlier, in the communiqué issued at the end of its second quarter National Executive Council meeting, TROMPCON endorsed the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying his administration had recorded landmark achievements and it was also his constitutional right to do so.
They listed the revival of the railways, massive construction and rehabilitation of roads across the country, remodelling of airports and establishment of more universities as some of the achievements of Jonathan’s administration.
The communiqué, which was signed by the association’s National Chairman, Eze Akuwueze Raphael Ikegwuruka, and the Secretary, Etinyin Okon Effanga Edem, said: “TROMPCON with optimism calls on President, Jonathan to shun all distractions and run for second term in 2015, clearly, as it is his constitutional right to do so. To this end, TROMPCON pledges its unalloyed support and encouragement.”
The traditional rulers also lauded the federal government for its various developmental efforts in the Niger Delta region, especially, the establishment of a Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State, and the continuous sustenance of the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The association however expressed shock over the call by Northern delegates in the ongoing National Conference for the proscription of the NDDC, and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as well as serious downward review of the 13 per cent derivation fund, and urged them to listen to the voice of reason and retract their request.
The communiqué read in part: “TROMPCON observes with keen interest the setting up of the National Conference, which has indeed added to the chains of achievements of the present administration and therefore encourages all participants to be positive minded in ensuring a one Nigeria agenda.
“However, we note with surprise that while the president and his cabinet are on the progressive lane, some leaders of the northern bloc tend to be on the reverse, particularly judging from their call for proscription of the NDDC, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, serious downward review of the 13 per cent derivation fund, and other obnoxious, grave and unrealistic demands.
“TROMPCON therefore seizes this opportunity to call on all the concerned leaders to listen to the voice of reason and immediately retract their unpalatable request.”
At the NLNG premises, the youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Stakeholders Forum, said they embarked on the protest to impress on the management of the NLNG to remit three per cent of the company’s annual profit to the NDDC as stipulated in the Act establishing the commission.
