Northern leaders’ position on PIB unfortunate – INC Scribe

By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN—SECRETARY- GENERAL of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Mr. Robinson Esite, has described the position of governors and National Assembly members of Northern extraction to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, did not see the light of the day over allegation that its provisions were anti-North, as very unfortunate.

He insisted that should they go ahead to kill the bill, their action would be counter-productive as it would not be in the best interest of the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians.

President Jonathan and Petroleum Minister, Diezani

Esite, who spoke to Vanguard, weekend, in Benin, Edo State, also said that the current 13 per cent derivation paid to oil producing states was unfair and should be increased to 25 per cent, noting that the economic dislocation of the people and environmental devastation occasioned by oil exploitation and exploration was only felt by Niger Deltans.

He said: “One aspect that the Northern governors and their members in the National Assembly must understand is that the crude oil is not the property of all Nigerians.  It is the property of a people and communities where the crude oil is found. It is out of sheer magnanimity and love for neighbourliness, love for all Nigerians, that this property should be shared among Nigerians.”