The Ijaw Youth Council (Worldwide) has called on Southern delegates at the ongoing National Conference to demand for total resource control during the debate on the report of the Sub-Committee on Devolution of Power.
The IYC said that it was not yet uhuru for the issue of resource control, adding that it would continue to push for total control of resources derivable from the Niger Delta region.
The Obong Victor Attah-led Confab Committee on Devolution of Power had said both Southern and Northern delegates to the ongoing National Confab have agreed and resolved the contentious issue of resource control by retaining Item 39 of the Exclusive Legislative List, which relates to mines, minerals, including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas.
The report also added a modification to the item that the Federal Government in exploring for petroleum resources in any part of the country would involve the states where the resources are deposited.
But in a reaction on Thursday, the IYC raised some posers to the committee’s report, urging Southern delegates and others who are sympathetic to the cause of the Niger Delta to demand for total resource control during the debate on the report of the Sub-Committee on Devolution of Power.
The statement by the IYC’s spokesman, Eric Omare, a lawyer, said: “The IYC wish to states that the resolution arrived at by the Committee raises more questions than answers and does not address the aged long demand of the Niger Delta people for the control of their resources.
“If the federal government would retain the right to ownership of petroleum resources, then in what manner would the states where oil deposits are found be involved or participate?
“What is the nature of the participation? Would the participation be at the whims and caprices of the federal government or it would be defined in an act of parliament?
“Can a state where resources are deposited initiate the process of exploration and exploitation?
“By the modification, is the federal government obliged to consult with a state before embarking on granting licences or entering into Joint Venture Agreement?
“These are other questions are begging for answers!”
According to the IYC, the demand of the Niger Delta people for the control of their resource entails having control of the way, manner and rate at which the petroleum resources found in their land are explored and exploited.
The statement added: “This cannot be achieved by the Niger Delta states being ordinarily participant in the process of petroleum exploration without having control.
“The IYC wishes to state that it is not yet Uhuru for the Niger Delta people as far as the struggle for resource control is concern.
“The IYC would continue with the demand for total control of petroleum resources in the Niger Delta.
“This is the only way the future of the Niger Delta people can be guaranteed.
“We therefore call on Southern Nigeria delegates and all delegates who wish Nigeria well to demand for total resource control during the debate on the report of the Sub-Committee on devolution of power.
“The recommendations of the sub-committee on Devolution of power are obviously not far reaching enough.”
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