Resource Control

Samuel Uwhejevwe-Togbolo

A contentious issue needs to be resolved with a good frame of mind. With the present debate in the plenary session of the National Political Reform Conference as against Resource Control is born out of shallow minds that are not ready to listen to the plight of the minority. As it is, one would be tempted to say that the unity of the country is been threatened as a result of sycophants roaring like wooded lion. The work out of South South delegates from the conference on Tuesday June 14 2005 is an indication of seriousness committed to correct the ill treatment metted on the people. If I may quote a word from the holy Bible “ Right from the time of John the Baptist the Kingdom of God suffereth violence and violence takes it by force” to buttress it all, in the words of Barr. Oronto Douglas a representative of the South South from Bayelsa state once said “ if the Confab and Nigerians are not willing to heed to Resource Control, they will take it by force”. With claims and counter claims from delegates of the different regions on the saga of resource control could be a beginning of a turbulent period in a once militarized country ruined by the Juntas counting its losses and trying to recoup.

The people of the South South are nursing the mind of a betrayed region within the confines of Nigeria, where they suppose to be a part. South South region has seen themselves as second class citizens who take order from the first class citizens. They not only feel cheated but also felt dejected, doomed, as there is know remorse feelings by their fellow Nigerians from other parts of the country. They have (First Class Citizens) come to conclusion that the people who produce the wealth of the nation should die amidst their natural endowment, while their counterparts live in luxury.

The National Political Reform Conference was constituted to proffer solution to problems and agitations from every part, of the country. The conference seems to have been hijacked by some monsters with self-agenda ready to cause problems rather than solve problems. These are the same crop of people who have been bastardizing the nation right from the time of military rule, which led to the annulment of June 12 that election which cumulated in the death of Chief M.K.O. Abiola the acclaimed winner of the presidential election in 1993. The same set of people are out to perpetuate their destructive act, they are agent of devil who did not mean well for the country.

CONFAB delegates need to put the interest of the country above individual interest and work for the betterment of our democracy; their duty is to formulate policy that will liberate us from the shackle of darkness to an enviable height, a policy that the youths, Nigerians and our children yet unborn will tap from which will be a testimony of the past. They should not be bias in their debate; there should be fair play, justice and equity. The sentiment of who benefits from the reform policy should be discarded; position should be made as to how other regions that have fewer resources will be taking care of in the formulation of such policies.

The parochial view of most Nigerians is that they have nothing to do with another regions problem no matter the pains and agony the people are passing through. We need to have a re-orientation of our past feelings concerning our fellow compatriot, hence we acclaim in the pledge obeying Nigeria and upholding it’s unity; with disregard and dishonesty there will be no unity. However the unity of our beloved country cannot be compromise for anything else. The problem, travail of a region should be seen as a collective problem in that way we will be able to find lasting solution to our inherent and unforeseen circumstances. We are all Nigerians, therefore human rights as enshrine in the 1999 constitution should take its precedence in all we do and say.

In the light of the forgoing, the Delegates from the Northern Axis need to thread with caution; usually contentious issue like resource control needs not be treated as a riddles as in the past, it should be given a reasonable evaluation and critically analyzed before position are made to such effect.

The parochial thinking of Nigerians of yesterday should not be employed in today’s Nigerian state; as the world is growing digital so also Nigerians are becoming conscious of their rights growing momentum to correct their mistakes of the past. This implies; give what belong to Caesar to Caesar and that of God to God, if applied to our present day Nigeria “ give what is due to the people of the South South and that which is due to the North vis a vis” Perhaps the North want to dominate the South South people for all they care, they need to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship with some level of fairness and tranquility then and only then there will be a compromise on this Resource Control rather than treat it with arrogancy born sheer of wickedness, hatred and hostility.

What is the argument of the North and South South Delegates in the National Political Reform Conference? The South South delegates are professing Resource Control base on their Natural endowment cumulated with neglect and dejection by the Federal Government melted on the people; they complained of environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration and exploitation. Their farmlands no longer have good produce; the rivers are polluted as a result of oil spillage thereby forcing fishes to deep sea. The area of youth restiveness is another set back due to inability by the oil companies to keep their promise. Unemployment is on the increase at a time of economic hardship where common man cannot buy the cheapest commodity (GARRI AND SOME MAJOR FOOD STUFFS), which is mostly consumed by the poor. These are some of the injustice the people are experiencing with the introduction of the land use Decree promulgated by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979when he was the military head of state. If the South South people must be considered the salient issue which gave birth to Resource Control be considered in the ongoing National Political Reform Conference. Thus, the only way to positioning the injustice meted on the people.

The Northern delegates are laying siege to the clamour for Resource Control base on selfish interest as a majority. They usually base their argument on 13% derivations currently giving to the oil producing state; it is left for the people to acclaim to the fact if the resources are not properly used to fund their projects. It is also on record that the states in the South South region spend more money on the payment of salaries than that of their northern counterparts. The terrestrial tarring in the South South region cannot be compare to that of the north either; in as much the 13% derivation is not effectively used according to spectators, it has touched the life of the people in its own small way. It is a fact, which must be accepted. Perhaps the delegates from the north do not want to appreciate the purpose, for which the CONFAB stands to correct, castigating the position of the South South in the CONFAB will not augur well in our nascent democracy. As Nigerians, we will not want to be dragged to the mud, perhaps the Northerners have seen themselves as the Royal House of Nigeria as in England, to crown it all as the Alfa and Omega. If we must move forward, the Confab delegates should listen and attend to the plight of all regions as it affects their mutual co-existence within the confines of the Nigeria states.

According to Northerners Democratic Coalition group, through their spokes person Rabiu Khalid, he requested for a review of the 17% derivation proposed by the delegate’s base on the environmental degradation and other vices experienced by the people of the South South. In the same vain, Abdullahi a member of the group also supported the 17% upward review. Commenting on the issue, a presidential spokes person Remi Oyo also unveil the plains by President Olusengu Obasanjo to discuss with the south south delegate based on the current position of the region. This is the right way to handle issues, which may cause a friction in the country. There should be a round table discussion instead of underestimating any group be it minority or majority. However the South South are not advocating total Control of Resource deposited in their region, they are considerate enough to think of the plight of other regions. They are asking for 50% derivation as it was in 1963 and 1966 in the era of cocoa. With series of debate and counter debates in the CONFAB they settled for 25% with upward review of 5% annually until it gets to 50%. Giving the little analysis, it could be said that the South South are patriotic to the plight of other regions. Resource Control will not only benefit the oil producing states, it will also encourage other states to improve on their mineral deposits. This will encourage Agricultural produce mostly in the North.

Resource Control is a right in a true federal system of Government; it is the liberalization of all state within the confines of Nigeria as a country. The struggle for justice and equity may take longer than expected but the end will justify the means.

Movement for Youth Actualization International (MYAI) a Non governmental organization (NGO) in Nigeria

mfyai@yahoo.com