Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State governor says it is discriminatory for the Federal Government to restrict oil-producing states in the southern part of the country from controlling their mineral resources while allowing the north to control theirs.
This follows the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to buy gold Zamfara State after the state said it was going to set up a gold-backed reserve.
Okowa who is the chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, said Asaba yesterday that resource control and devolution of powers had become necessary in lieu of the development.
“The South-South governors have been in the forefront for the devolution of power to states and local governments,” Mr Okowa was reported as saying by The Southern Examiner. “Restructuring, resource control and security of the country, especially in the Niger Delta will be a major topic of discussion at the presidential parley coming up in Port Harcourt.”
“We cannot apply laws in such a manner that it becomes discriminatory because you cannot mine solid minerals somewhere in Zamfara and you can’t allow Niger Delta to manage their oil,” Mr. Okowa said.
