The Niger Delta Congress says the news of the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill by both Chambers of the National Assembly does not come to it as a surprise.
NDC in a statement by Barr Ovunda C. Eni, its Acting Spokesperson, the bill, as expected, is only a “new legislation to be added to other legislations that have been used as tools to plunder our land and resources, and to further enslave our people; and a new addition to the plethora of reasons for the upcoming Niger Delta Peoples Conference slated for 8th and 9th October 2021.
“Notwithstanding the absence of surprise, we find it contemptible, and an act of aggression. We also take note of the treacherous active and passive roles played by the political leadership of the Niger Delta in the facilitation of this disrespect to our people; this, we find embarrassing and sad.
“Just like the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, the PIB to us, is a criminal document since we’ve never assented to it, and its enforcement can only happen by force and not with the cooperation of our people.
“We’ll also use this opportunity to remind oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that what they’re engaged in is legalised robbery which is also an act of aggression.
“The NDC calls on the people of the Niger Delta to focus on the upcoming Niger Delta Peoples Conference where we will collectively decide on our future as a people, and not be distracted by the antics of honourable thieves and their appendages in our midst”.
