|
Resource Control: A Conversational Analysis By Abubakar Kamara Mohammed Surulere, Lagos
Falsehood they say if ignored can potentially weaken the truth if not defeat it at one fell swoop.’ A revolt against northern colonialism authored by one Yinka Ogundiran on the print media and the Internet is total falsehood nay pseudo written. The writer failed woefully in poisoning the minds of the west-and-southern axis of our great country against the north. Which perhaps was his ulterior motive? After reading the unfledged article, I thought of writing a rejoinder on it, but I later had to make an intuitive change of mind since the intellectual classes in Nigeria has emphatically corrected such atavistic notion.
What really floundered me with this writer’s umbrage was what he termed the northern brazen audacity to instigate a subversion of resource control clamor and the allegation that the northerners see themselves as the only worthy benefiting candidates for Aso rock tenancy.oh! What a threadbare allegation, the writer ought to have seek the common wisdom needed in the ethics of writing, even the worst celebrated columnist in the southwest do not make such facile insinuations. Ignorance would one day become cosmetic in Nigeria if not checked, ignorantly misinforming is what bothers me most.
This article as I have ab initio affirmed is not a rejoinder but a conversational analysis to at most discuss issues with a comprehending factor that is common in any given society where literacy level is at worst 5%.
The northerners have of recent have being bombarded with all sorts of uncivil terms in the media due to its disapproval with their south southern brothers on resource control, precluding other regions that are also beneficiaries and subterranean antagonist of the matter. When chief frank kokori, former Secretary General of NUPENG and a south southerner indeed argued that the demand for resource control was foolish, nobody came out condemning his vituperations, some might even argue that he was simply carrying out his fundamental human right, but for ibrahim shekarau who unfortunately comes from the north should not in anyway possess such fundamentality is like a call for apartheid.
Section 44 (13) of the 1999 constitution states that “the entire property in and control of all minerals, mineral oil oils and gas in, under or upon any land in Nigeria or in under or upon the territorial water and the exclusive economic zone of Nigeria shall vest in the government of the federation and shall be managed in such manner as maybe prescribed by the national assembly”. I now wonder why the northerners are been fired with such expletives as parasites and vulture? Sudan went through decades of civil war for such similarity, at the long run series of discussion within the warring parties is leading to an imminent truce. John garang was just sworn in as a vice president, a dream the SPLA rebels never thought could come so early.
What I am trying to say here is the fact that mere walking away from the log jammed confab would not give the south south its desire. The 13% it benefits from presently was offered to them by the General Sani Abacha’s constitutional conference who is a northerner and enshrined into the constitution by the same northerner. Now where is pestering and vulturing coming from? the truth of the matter as we all know is that before oil was found in oloibiri,the federation revenue was mainly from the exportation of cocoa, groundnut and palmoil.the money made from exporting this seedling was used for exploration. As professor sam aluko once said, the south south do not appreciate that they do not have any input in the exploration of oil. In addition it has almost been forgotten that agriculture is still the highest contributor to our GDP.
In my earlier write up published in Thisday, I averred that there is a massive economic degradation taking toll in the Niger delta but with the massive funds their state execution get from what I prefer to call the triple bag, I mean the federation account,13% derivation and the NDDC,the clamor should be of transparency and accountability from their leaders. Instead this elites are making it look as if ‘nothing dey happen’, inciting restiveness in their youths to shy them away from reality in battling for fantasies.
Nigeria in such maelstromic situation is frightening and it ought to be dealt with caution. the north have heard or read all allegations against it with equanimity leaving posterity to judge. This so called oil has thrown this great nation into a Pandora’s Box. Nigeria should deliberate on the strength of its population for a better future since it is glaringly becoming an oil miss road matter. Countries in Asia that were classified third world are now first world without a drop of oil on their soil. HABA NIGERIA!
Abubakar Kamara Mohammed Surulere, Lagos
|