The Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District
and former governor has described last week’s passage of Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB) by the 9th National Assembly as most unwise, saying it was a recipe
for anarchy.
Speaking at a press conference with the Senate Press Corps
on Thursday, he said the Niger Delta Host Communities have been shortchanged,
noting that the development may not guarantee peace in the region.
He said: As you know last week, we commenced our recess and
there’s a need for this interaction and I think, this is what you are going to
see at the end of every session.
“I want to highlight my views and positions which I think you are all familiar on the two concluded legislative works and I feel strongly bad about these bills.
“You are aware that I led a group of Senators to leave the
Chamber in order not to lend our names on legislation that is oppressive;
legislation that is insensitive; legislation that doesn’t serve the nation;
legislation that doesn’t address the yearning and aspirations of the people
that own the oil resources of the country.
“It was the late President Umar Yar’adua that sent the first
bill to the National Assembly. That PIB work started from Obasanjo’s time.
“Under Obasanjo’s time, the late Alfred Lukman was the
Petroleum Minister when this bill came. The bill proposed 10% for Host
communities Development and 10% for frontier development.
“Unfortunately, the bill could not be passed all these
years. Now we are happy that the National Assembly has been able to break that
jinx or something that look like it.
As you know, I disagree completely and most of us disagreed
completely and of course, you know the history that the Senate passes 3% and
the House of Representatives passes 5% and then the Conference Committee came
up with 3%
“This country isn’t helping itself; this country is not even
helping investors; this is not helping host communities that will enable
investors to come in and the argument is that anything above 3% the investors
will not come and so what?
”If the host communities are not happy, will the investors
come? If the host communities do not have stakes in oil exploration and
exploitation will there be peace? Not only that investors will not come but
those who are already here will leave.
”Senate did not take a wise decision because you are not
dealing with one community, we are dealing with hundreds of communities. Don’t
forget that now that even transit communities have a stake. I know why some
people are arguing that some pipeline transit communities should be part of it.
Because if you exclude pipeline communities, they can sabotage entire
operations.
“It’s not a question of percentage, it’s a question of
proper discretion at the level of management. It requires a lot of thinking, a
lot of skill in the management of Host communities.
“The host communities know and the world knows that 10%
equity development fund was proposed for them and no one is engaging them and
no one is explaining anything to them.”
The lawmaker said he walked out of the presidential dinner with some Senators who were angry despite persuasion from the Senate President, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan.
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