*Says PAI Recipe For Renewed Hostility In Niger Delta
By Ovie Okpare
Against the rising insecurity in the country, Forum for Ethnic Nationalities of Niger Delta (FENND) has concluded plans to establish regional security outfit to address security issues in the Niger Delta region.
It said the indigenous security outfit will have its presence in all communities in the region to immediately address rising security problem in the region.
FENND also faulted and rejected the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as it is presently constituted, saying obnoxious sections contained in the Act is a “recipe for Renewed hostility” in the region.
FENND’s positions were contained in a communique issued on Thursday at the end of its summit held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The communique was signed by the group’s President, Mr. Dortimi Tawari and representatives of the various ethnic groups in the region including Chief Dan Odhomo (Isoko Development Union, IDU), Chief Edward Ekpoko (Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT) and Eze (Dr.) Chris Akani (Ogbakor Ikwerre Culture Organisatio Worldwide).
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According to the group, “There shall be establishment of an indigenous Niger-Delta security outfit across all communities of the Niger Delta with effective networking, communication and coordination for synchrony of actions, sharing of intelligence with coalescence under an efficient hierarchy of command of an apex regional security architecture.
“FENND rejects the Petroleum Industry Act as presently constituted to the extent that it negates the demands of the Niger-Delta people. It is obnoxious, deepens mistrust, creates suspicion and recipe for renewed hostility. It is unacceptable as it is to significant stakeholder interests especially the host communities and the Niger-Delta as a whole.
“The definition of host communities to deny the nexus between the actual communities that produce and suffer the consequences of production while empowering communities through which pipelines and facilities go for their own benefit is to mock the people of the Niger-Delta and their history of sacrifice for the common national good.”
The group also expressed great concerns over the Water Resources Bill current before the House of Representatives, describing it as “draconian, anti-people, enslaving and should, a fortiori, be rejected forthwith.
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“It should be replaced with appropriate amendments and in a Bill that respects the Federal System of Governance as was practiced under the 1963 Constitution. That FENND should continue to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the Bill for sensitization purposes.
“That FENND should engage Representatives of the region including respective State Commissioners of Water Resources (as members of the National Water Council) as well as other regions’ Representatives of Nigeria and demand collective action by way of amendments that will not only reflect a truly Federal Nigeria but that will also not take from the Federation units any rights and powers conferred to the States be it in the Land Use Act or any other federal laws.”
The forum also condemned the inclusion of Niger Delta territories by secessionist groups in the map of Biafra and Oodua republics.
