The Niger Delta Congress (NDC) has expressed displeasure following the signing into law of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as an act of tyranny by the government.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesperson of the Congress, Barr. Ovunda Eni said that it will be dubious to think that the Niger Delta will consent to legislation whose very first clause strips the people of rights to their resources.
The statement reads, “The Petroleum Industry Act recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari does not come as a surprise to the Niiger Delta Congress.
“It would be incredulous for anyone to think that the different ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta will assent to a legislation whose first clause is to dispossess the people f their right to their resources and by extension, land.
“Bearing this in mind, we believe it will be a total waste of time discussing the contents of the Petroleum Industry Act. Nonetheless, we appreciate the revelations on the obvious tyranny and lack of empathy by the majorities for the region, and also the indolent role played by the political leaders of the Niger Delta region in preparation and eventful passage of this bill into law.”
It enjoined all ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta to call for a total restructuring of the country while urging them to reject the recently signed law.
“Consequently, the NDC urges all the various ethnic nationalities of the region to reject this obnoxious law and immediately call for a total restructuring of this country and ensure we protect what is rightfully ours,
“We also use this medium to call on peoples of the Niger Delta to make themselves available for the Niger Delta Peoples Conference holding on the 8th and 9th of October, 2021 in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.”
Recall that the PIB was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari despite agitations from the Niger Delta region over the 3% host community endowments reserved for oil-producing communities.
