Niger Delta Needs Resource Control, Not Amnesty - Cleric

Posted on: Thu, 09 Apr 2009 05:04:00 EDT


Symbols: RRCT
Apr 09, 2009 (Vanguard/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --
RRCT | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- AS reactions continue to trail the recent amnesty granted militants of the oil-rich Niger Delta by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the Bishop of Trinity Gospel Mission, Ughelli, Delta State, Dr. Diamond Emuobor has said what the people needed was full control of their God-given resources and not amnesty.

He called on the National Assembly to promulgate a law that the owners of the land should be part of the joint venture, with ownership percentage in every oil company operating in Nigeria.

Emuobor, who fielded questions from Vanguard in his Ughelli office yesterday, said if there was anybody that needed to be granted amnesty, it was the federal government for allegedly stealing the property of the people and causing the people to fight to regain their property.

Hear him: "If anybody needs amnesty, it is the federal government that needs amnesty for stealing the property of the people and causing the people to fight to regain their property because they have the might.

"They have surreptitiously promulgated laws that made the federal government to own everything that belongs to individuals. When they were doing this, the people were not aware.

"Now that they have promulgated these obnoxious laws, they are using it against the people who own their properties. What is required is true federalism, allowing the states to own what God has given to them and let them pay taxes to the federal government as it is required by law.

"Amnesty now, to who? The people who are agitating that they should be the right people to own what God has given to them are they the people you are granting amnesty? I will counsel that if the federal government cannot make outright decision that states should own what they have, they should give the owners of the oil the authority to be part of the joint venture.

"In labour, we say that there are three things that make up for labour; land ownership, cash and technology. Technology is important, money is important, and ownership of the land is important.

"In the case of the Niger Delta, why are the owners of the land being disallowed to be partners in the venture? Why should they beg the federal government before they are given a right of their ownership? Is this not oppression? Whereas people are being allowed to quarry solid minerals in the north."

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