Demand restructuring to address resource control
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has threatened to frustrate the operations
of licensed modular refineries if the Federal Government fails to give the
Niger Delta 70 per cent
ownership.
The factional President of the IYC (Worldwide), Oweilaemi Pereotubo gave
the warning at a press conference yesterday in Warri.
He said the Ijaw nation’s support for the country’s restructuring was
anchored on resource control and fiscal federalism. He warned that to evade
discussion on restructuring would only postpone the tragedies ahead.
Also, the new Chairman of the group’s central zone, Tari Porri, said in
Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, that the country has not met the yearnings
and aspirations of the Ijaw people.
Porri said in his address that restructuring was needed to address issues
of marginalisation, resource control and the negative environmental impact on
the people.
The group gave a 90-day ultimatum, starting from July 12, 2017 to all multinational
companies that have field operations in the region, but headquarters outside.
Pereotubo, who urged such companies to relocate their headquarters, said
the location of the firms’ headquarters in other states, especially Lagos has
robbed the region of its due benefits and growth.
He said: “Over the years, monies that were supposed to accrue to the
Niger Delta states and their people have been paid to Lagos State, thereby
boosting its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Relocating the headquarters
would not only boost the revenue base of the Niger Delta states, it would also
bring employment opportunities, thereby reducing youths restiveness in the
region.”
Pereotubo lamented that the 56 licences issued for the refineries were
given to non-Niger Delta private investors. They demanded that the conditions
for obtaining the licence be relaxed to make them affordable for indigenous
people.
The youth leader threatened to do everything possible to make the
companies to relocate to liberate the people from their oppressors.
“We will invoke the Ijaw gods of war to go before us and we will triumph
over evil. We have no fear and we have no doubt. No gunboats would stop us, not
even fighter jets,” he said.
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