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Resource Control and Derivation: The Rhetoric’s BySamuel Uwhejevwe-Togbolo
The saga associated with Resource Control and Derivation is gaining more ground with the stiff nature of the Northern Delegates who are not ready to loose ground on the matter. With recent development from different quarters across the country it is obvious that almost everybody in the country is sympathetic with the South south people owning to the fact of environmental degradation suffered by the people. It is a concerted fact that the South south will not be stampeded with the recurrent issue on Principle of Derivation; it is either 25 per cent with annual increase of 5 per cent or no going back.
The South south people are springing out more with vigor to fight a common front, it as been in the pipeline ever before the National Political Reform Conference; Confab was only the right avenue to express the issue. Hence everybody within the region is bent on pushing forward the fundamental issue of Resource Control and Derivation, which is the only way to compensate the people of the region. The issue could be likened to that of the black raise and white raise; if we narrowed it to football where the white always cheat on the black due to racism. This only played it self in the last U20 Youth Championship when the ARGENTINES was awarded two penalty in a final Match whereas the Referee did not see any reason why he could award NIGERIA (flying Eagles) their due penalty, it was done on every Nigerians that the REFEREE was against us, the performance of the young stars were satisfactory. Perhaps there is also this factor playing it self in region politics as it relates to the people of the North and South south. The North has gotten there way in a lot of debate in the Confab, there positions on various issue were taking for instance; Rotational Presidency, Single Term of 6years, Use of Machine during election etcetera.
We need an over hauling in our political settings, our politicians should not be self centered, they need not think of there region alone at the expense of other regions, as Nigerians lets work together and build a better platforms for Policies that will improve the life of everybody not minding individual region. Our politicians are fond of creating the scenario of attending to their regional problems before any other region. These are myopic thinking, which in the past have done more evil than good. It is only a patriotic Northerner that can stand against the political views of the Northern elders, only recently a lot of groups and youths are standing out on Resource Control issue to openly support the agitation of the South south people; these youths are spirited Nigerians ready to move the country forward, our future as youths cannot be sourly dependent on our Elders who but want to drag the country to a deadlock.
The North Central who is mainly the Middle Belt has withdrawn from the North East and North West position regarding Resource Control. They have indicated there support on the issue base on the interest of Nigeria, if we must concede to stringent issues one need to be bold and bogus to stand on the part of truth, equity and justice, the middle belt as once again break the ice beck, they have indeed prove that they are truly Nigerians ready to protect the Unity of the Country. The Unity of the country cannot be mortgaged for selfish interest we must distinguished between reality and friction, the sentimentalism need to be laid to rest, if we must attain the level of indivisibly Nigeria, the Confab delegates should not be pushed to the wall, as if it is the delegates that are abrogating authorities to themselves. A statement coming from some Elders in the North tends to indict the delegates as if they are acting on their own. We should not chase shadow rather there is need to address the issues squarely the way it is suppose to be; those elders in the North who believe in one united Nigeria (Indivisibly) should wade into this issue and resolve it once and for all. The issue before us is easy and possible to resolve within a day, give what is due to whom it is due and everything will work out soundly.
The resumption date of July 11, 2005 propose by the leadership of CONFAB will only be feasible if Northern delegates, ACF are ready to shift ground on Resource Control. Human beings are exploitative and want their fellows human to remain under their servitude; going by the dilemma of inhuman feelings to their fellow human beings. As for the South south there is no going back on Resource Control is either 25 per cent with annual increase of 5 per cent no consensus will be agreed upon. A lot as been said as to the solution of this problem, it is left for the opposition to wear a human face in proffering solution to the issue at hand. I want to believe that the Northern delegates will shift ground for the interest of one Nigeria, which we all advocate. Nigeria is a blessed country in this part of the world; we need to reaffirm our stand and commitment in making Nigeria the giant of Africa and a frontier in peace keeping in the world. The Northerners should give less publicity, encomium to Resource Control not to aggravate the tension of the South south people by issuing threat of upward review to 50 per cent that they initially stood for as a benchmark of derivation.
As a youth we will always stand for justice, equity and fair play, anything short of this will affect our future generation whom we are out to protect, Nigerian youths need to be empowered to face the future challenges. Our present crop of politicians are not in the interest of the masses in which they represent, the Confab should in all ramification address issues of youth as a top priority, as a matter of fact I have not hard of any debate related to youth that as gotten my attention. The representatives of youths should state their agenda that will better the lot of youths in the country. As a youth I will strongly advice that the delegates representing my constituency should advocate for Empowerment of youths, incorporating more youths in the political realm, Job creation, Compensatory Education (Free Education). Matters that affect youths is like Resource Control, which must be giving a priority attention, the youths as been marginalized for too long and as such need a fair share of the dividend of democracy.
The CONFAB is doing nothing consigning the Resource Control; the people of the South south are taking their time to have a better deal with Nigerians (Northern Delegates). We should try and resolve it rather than make it a passive issue. The manner in which the 17 per cent benchmark was arrived at is a cruel decision by the leadership of CONFAB, if will must put it to heart the conference was organized to solve the problems militating against regions and proffered solution to such problem, in this case it has turned out to be a conspiracy on a particular region even though other region are in support of Resource Control. The decision of CONFAB has negated the principle of fair play, equity and justice. The conference should rethink are map out a strategy of resolving this issue than postponing the evil days.
The statement of the South-South leaders read in part:
South south delegates did not go to the plenary session havened known the outcome of the CONFAB; it has done on everybody in the South south region that the Americans of Nigeria (Northerners) can always have their way no matter the forces or views of other region. ACF you guys are too much in the Nigeria state, I say Kudos to ACF for their manipulation. However, something should be done fast to caution the unforeseen circumstance ahead of Resource Control; the militant Youths must of who suffers directly from the evil oil in their terrain main resolve to confrontation, an angry man is an angry man. If there is anything to compensate the people it should be done very fast, infarct such thing should break all form of due process in passing it to law before it is too late. Youth restiveness is common in the South south region because of oil exploration and exploitation as a result of unemployment caused by degradation; it as left them with little on nothing, they can no longer fed for themselves because their farm land cannot produce good crops, fishes are no longer in the shallow river. The Government should create alternative Jobs for our restive youth so that they will not be associated with evil deed. May while Resource Control is inevitable, the struggle must continue. CONFAB is not to correct an injustice, it is map out to create problems and articulate the views of the majority.
Movement for Youth Actualization International (MYAI) a Non governmental organization (NGO) in Nigeria
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