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Ibom Peoples Congress writes Obasanjo, National ASsembly, et al |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------ Press Release
Tom Mbeke-Ekanem
IBOM PEOPLES CONGRESS, U.S.A. April 20, 2000
To His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo Your Excellencies: Re: NO ON-SHORE/OFF-SHORE OIL DICHOTOMY; NO BALKANIZATION OF OUR STATE; CONVENE SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE, AND RESTRUCTURE NIGERIA There is no question that to save Nigeria from eventual disintegration it must be restructured. Those who are against this and yet want us to believe that they love Nigeria are actually paving way for this reality. We believe that so much injustice and damage have been done to the people of Nigeria, especially the minorities, over the years and these have continued even now in spite of our nascent democracy. Restructuring of Nigeria is a MUST, but it MUST not be at the expense of the minorities. Without a doubt we know that governance in Nigeria, military or civilian, is embedded with tribal intrigues. And those who continue to pay the price are the minorities from whose land and waters the nation derives her revenues. The blatant attempts by a section of the country to perpetually keep the minorities as colony through hooks and crooks are the reason we are sending this communiqué urging you all to take appropriate steps to address these situations now. Going by the adage, we strongly urge you to look for a black sheep while it is still daylight.
On-shore/Off-shore Dichotomy: Since Nigerian political landscape is marred with tribal intrigues, we find it interesting that in 1969, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then a Finance Minister and Head of Government of General Yakubu Gowon's junta government, also from this same section of the country invented and imposed the on-shore/off-shore oil dichotomy on Nigeria. It did not matter to him and General Gowon the suffering and havoc this policy wrought on the people of the Niger Delta where millions of barrels of oil are still being complacently carted away on daily basis. Alongside this policy, the derivative formula was also killed. The colonization of oil producing region of Nigeria was at this point started in earnest. A policy borrowed, perhaps, from Apartheid South Africa. Following years of outcry, this exploitative policy of oil dichotomy was finally abrogated in 1994, two years after it was abolished by Decree No. 23 of June 1992. It is therefore not too surprising that the very people from the same section of the country who worked with the policy inventor, Chief Awolowo, then are now canvassing for the re-introduction of this devilish policy again. Perhaps one of the sure ways to speed up the demise of this nation is the continuous manipulation of the system to the exclusion of the very group whose land is now the source of "Milk and Honey" of the nation. After assuming power in May 1999, one of the bills introduced by President Obasanjo was the NDDC Bill. Looking at the manner in which this bill is being manipulated both by the House Committees and the Presidency, especially with regard to funding, one cannot help but conclude that the bill was meant as a showcase just like Babangida's 1992 OMPADEC. Its intention then was not to help the oil producing states rather the big names in government through fraudulent contracts. Without even waiting to receive a report from the Constitutional Review Committee which he set up, the President in his plan to fund the NDDC Bill opted to surreptitiously implement the on-shore/off-shore oil dichotomy recommended by the Patriots. He argued that "the contribution (by oil companies to NDDC) should relate only to on-shore operations because International Law will apply to off-shore operations and if the entitlements of states were to be related to off-shore operations, it will create problems of monumental nature. The amount which should be contributed by the oil companies should therefore be limited to two per cent of the on-shore annual budget of oil producing companies" We feel we should bring to the President's attention his remark in his 1994 State of the Nation's address when he said: "General Abacha reminds one of a man who with the other do-gooders prepared a meal for a blind man. As soon as others turned their backs, this seeming good Samaritan, who was supposed to assist the blind man, went back to snatch the pot of soup and spoon from the blind man for himself." The question is "Where is the sincerity, Mr. President?" Imagine the nature of amendments the President is adamant about! It is a paradox that the President had to remember International Law when it pertains to benefit of the very people that own the oil. We wonder if the President's advisors have also informed him about the International Law on Equity and Justice? Or for that matter, the International Law on Pollution (land, water and air) which the people of Niger Delta are being subjected to on daily basis? The International Law has stipulated that the 200 nautical miles of the Continental Shelf belongs to the adjoining states. The 36 states of the nation belong to the country Nigeria, so are the lands and waters. But to try to use the International Law to back a seemingly ethnic interest is an affront on the people of the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria as a whole. Mr. President should be informed that if the adjoining waters of the continental shelf as defined by the United Nations do not belong to these states, by implication they do not belong to Nigeria as well. It stands to reason. Even more heart drenching is the blunt refusal by the President to release the 13% derivation revenue meant for the oil producing states. To the President, if the military had chosen to ignore this provision, therefore he sees no reason why he should release this fund even though this had been entrenched in the Nigerian Constitution which he swore to uphold. The military never swore to uphold anything. It is unthinkable that a President who had "gone to hell and back" in the hand of a pariah called Abacha, and who claimed to be a born again would unleash and continue to uphold the cruel policies of the past dictators against the very people who have contributed immensely to this nation.
Bakassi Peninsula: The Vice President probably never visited any of the several islands in Bakassi peninsula. If he did, he would have known that the residents of these islands are Akwa Ibom people. It is probably not true that the Vice President used the so-called traditional linkage on his decision to cede several islands and the main Bakassi peninsula to Cross River State. The population of the indigenes from Cross River State is not even up to 20% in the entire Bakassi area. The indigenes here are mostly Ibibios, Okobos and Oronians of Akwa Ibom State. As a result of this unconstitutional deed Cross River State government have the audacity to appoint leaders of these communities from among the Akwa Ibom indigenes thereby forcing them to become Cross River State indigenes or risk detention or outright expulsion. Perhaps, the Vice President should have known that the Efiks at Calabar by history are a part of Uruan clan in Akwa Ibom State. The languages of the Efiks, Ibibios, Oron, and Annang in Akwa Ibom are the same with slight dialectical variant. The Etim Effiong Duke Family in Nsisuk at Calabar which Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State comes from originated from Issiet Inua Akpa in Uruan Clan. The people of Effiat have stronger traditional linkage to Mbo and Okobo in Akwa Ibom where they originated than Akpabuyo LGA which Cross River Government has named Effiat East for the sole purpose of linking Effiat in Mbo to Akpabuyo. Even if traditional linkage among communities as claimed is considered an overriding factor couldn't the Vice President start with ceding Asaba and Ughelli in Delta State to Anambra State, Obigbo in Rivers to Abia State? How about the Ijaws in Ondo and Delta States being ceded to Bayelsa State? Or is Mr. Vice President not aware of the Yorubas in Kwara and in Gogi States? Shouldn't those from Uruan in Akwa Ibom State demand that Calabar be ceded to Akwa Ibom State because of their traditional linkage? Mr. Vice President has made his biggest blunder. He has successfully instigated a monumental problem among the once peaceful brothers resulting in wanton destruction of lives and properties.
Recommendations: 2. We are calling on the National Assembly to investigate the real reason behind why the Vice President Alhaji Abubakar Atiku made that un-informed, unilateral and unconstitutional decision. The Vice President should be advised to rescind immediately the misguided decision of ceding Effiat and Bakassi to Cross River State if he has not done it by now. 3. We pray the President that since he has finally and rightfully decided on the payment of the 13% revenue derivation as mandated by the Constitution, there should be no further delay in disbursement of the revenue to the beneficiary States. 4. We also demand the payment of the revenue accrued to our state from the sales of the Condensate and the Liquefied Natural Gas. 5. We call on the President, as a matter of urgency, to sign the NDDC bill into law as presented by the National Assembly. 6. We join all those who care for the continuous corporate existence of Nigeria in calling for the Sovereign National Conference. 7. We call on all companies operating in our state to relocate their operational headquarters in Akwa Ibom State. 8. We call for immediate abrogation of all the obnoxious and repugnant decrees such as:
 Signed:
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