Militants warn of heavy bloodshed as FG remains adamant, continues paying 13percent derivation funds to N’Delta governors
There is mounting tension along the creeks and waterways of the nine states of the Niger Delta following the declaration by nine militant groups to dump the existing ceasefire agreement with the federal government and resume armed agitation in the region over the alleged refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the payment of 13 per cent derivation to state governors of the region.
The militant groups under the aegis of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) said for the fact that the series of complaint and petitions against the state governors’ diversion of the monies into personal pockets seem to have fallen on deaf ears, there will be bloodshed and shutting down of the nation’s economy.
The militant groups through the self-styled Major Gen Johnmark Ezonebi, also known as Obama, frowned at the continuous payment of 13 percent derivation funds to state governors despite protest and suggestions that it be paid to the oil producing communities in the region in order to improve the direct welfare and infrastructural need of the oil communities in the region.
According to Ezonebi, the militant groups after an emergency meeting held in Delta State, have concluded that “they will soon collapse the ceasefire agreement entered with the federal government since on the 21st of August 2016, if the payment of 13 per cent derivation Fund continues to state governors in the region.
He said the reaction will be bloody in the creek if “our demands are not met because we will not fold our arms and continue to tolerate the deliberate perpetual injury occasioned by the governors of the oil producing states to the people of the region who are from the oil producing communities in the creeks”.
According to the militant groups,” there is serious deliberate neglect by the governors of the region despite receiving such huge amounts monthly while the people in the communities are abandoned and left to suffer while the governors live flamboyantly without human feeling for their fellow kinsmen
Tje group said the people are suffering the most hazard from the exploitation and exploration activities from the drilling of the crude oil from the communities in the creeks and left with no meaningful development and human empowerment despite the billions and trillions being collected by this governors on behalf of the oil producing Communities “.
“The level of deliberate abandonment and neglect by the governors of the South-South states who are receiving over N180 billion to N200 billion yearly from the federation account as payment of 13 per cent derivation funds from the federal government on behalf of the oil producing communities in the region as part payment to develop the oil producing communities.
Painfully, he said the governors have channelled the funds into their pockets with their cronies and turn deft ears to the people.
The governors have deliberately refused to use the funds to develop these oil producing communities in the creeks while leaving them in total darkness and abject poorverty without any significant infrastructural development as they continue to suffer environmental pollution, degradation, exploration and exploitation activities in these communities.”
“We want to believe that President Muhammadu Buhari understands that the RNDA is making the demand to stop the payment based on the fact that oil and gas is in the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution, which oil is number 38 item on the Exclusive Legislative List while the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air force, Nigeria police Force, and other law enforcement agencies are on number 39th on the Exclusive Legislative List.
The group said by the virtue of this fact the 13 per cent Derivation funds are in the prerogative right of Mr. President to allocate the funds to the oil and gas producing communities for the interest of peace and development and in order to avoid any looming bombshell of fresh hostilities in the region.
“We are watching and waiting for Mr President to do the needful by stopping the payment of 13 per cent derivation fund to the governors, but paid to the right people from the oil and gas producing communities.
“We call on the President to consider establishing NOGCDEC that would receive and implement the 13 per cent Derivation funds, which representatives from the oil producing communities across the region will constitute it for proper and blanket development of the communities”.
