by Peregba Jerry
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign into law, the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill recently passed by the National Assembly.
The INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, spoke when he led the national executive members of the body and the central zone officials of the Ijaw Youth Council on a visit to Jonathan in his office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Okaba said Jonathan should intervene and urge Buhari to demonstrate understanding by declining his presidential assent to the PIB.
According to him, the Ijaw people had not changed their position on the rejection of the three per cent equity allocated to host communities in the PIB, insisting that the meagre provision remained unacceptable.
He said, “We wish to also make a request that you talk to the President (Muhammadu Buhari) to have a rethink on the PIB. The three per cent in the PIB is grossly unacceptable. It is unacceptable, we cannot accept it.
The INC chief added, “Our advocacy on resource justice, restructuring and the creation of, at least, additional two states as minimum conditions for our commitment to the Nigerian cause, is something that we wish to take to the international circles.
“We have been treated badly in a country that feeds on our oil resources and because of our unwavering positions, they have decided to strangle out of existence.”
In his remarks, Jonathan congratulated the INC officials on their successful election and subsequent inauguration and commended them for the programmes and activities they hold to promote the Ijaw cause.
He also thanked them for the visit and encouraged them to feel free to seek his involvement on any issue, adding that he was ready to play his role in service to Ijaw land.
