The
tension between Rivers and Bayelsa states over allegations of land grab and oil
royalties boiled over yesterday, with the President joining the fray.
President Goodluck Jonathan denied
backing the alleged move to cede Soku oil wells in five Kalabari communities of
Rivers State to his home state, Bayelsa.
Community elders under the auspices of
Kalabari National Forum, on Monday, alleged that there were moves by some
Federal Government agencies with presidential acquiesce, to cede Kula, Soku,
Ehem-Sargama, Idama and Abose Rivers communities whose oil well produces
300,000 barrels of crude daily, to Bayelsa.
The Kalabari leaders’ protest was led by
former Minister Alabo Graham-Douglas. They marched on Abuja on Monday with
placards.
Chairman of the Akukutoru Local
Government Area Traditional Council of Rivers State, Emmanuel Awoyesuau-Jack,
who spoke for the forum, said: “The self-explanatory effort was perceived to
assuage the initial provocation of the Rivers State government. While Rivers
State government patiently awaited the promised correction, of the error-laden
11th edition of the Administrative map of Nigeria, which ordinarily should have
redressed the acknowledged fundamental misrepresentations, the RMAFC
surreptitiously released all revenue accruing from Soku Fields and Wells,
previously kept in an Escrow Account, to Bayelsa State without recourse to
Rivers State.”
But the President denied being part of
any plot to cede the communities to Bayelsa. Besides, the Bayelsa State government
also accused Rivers State of illegally collecting revenue due to it since 1999.
It said there are outstanding issues of
derivation between the two states.
In a statement by presidential spokesman
Reuben Abati last night, Dr. Jonathan decried Monday’s protest by Kababari
leaders. He urged them and their “hidden sponsors” to avoid “the temptation to
instigate conflict between the Nembe and Kalabari people of Rivers and Bayelsa
states – who are of the same Ijaw stock”.
The statement said: “Our attention has
been drawn to a publication in some newspapers today about a protest staged by
the Kalabari National Forum and some monarchs in Abuja, in which the so-called
protesters accused President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of interfering in a
boundary dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states.
“The protesters alleged directly and
through innuendoes, that there are plans to cede five Rivers State oil
communities to Bayelsa with the connivance of various Federal Government
agencies under the watchful eyes and supervision of his Excellency, Mr.
President whose home state, most ingloriously, is the direct beneficiary.
“We consider these allegations
irresponsible and most unfortunate, considering the status of the persons who
reportedly championed the protest. The statutory agencies being referred to by
the protesters do not take orders from the President; they are independent
bodies.
Besides, there are laid down procedures
for resolving inter-state boundary disputes. In this particular case, the
dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states predates the Jonathan administration,
and has been a matter for consideration by the National Boundary Commission,
the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and other
relevant agencies, long before now. The matter has never at any time been
brought before either the President or the Vice President. The school-boy style
protest is an attempt at cheap blackmail. We find the motive deplorable.
“It is all the more surprising that a man
of Alabo-Graham Douglas’s stature, a former Minister who ought to know what is
right, will team up with a group intent on causing disaffection between the
President and his Ijaw kinsmen.
“We advise the Kalabari National Forum,
its members and hidden sponsors, to avoid the temptation to instigate conflict
between the Nembe and Kalabari people of Rivers and Bayelsa states, who are
both of the same Ijaw stock. The statutory agencies assigned the responsibility
of resolving boundary disputes should be allowed to do their work.
“President Jonathan appeals to the good
people of Rivers and Bayelsa to refuse to be dragged into the politics of
conflict being orchestrated by individuals pursuing a hidden agenda.
“The Federal Government, under President
Jonathan’s watchful eyes and supervision, remains committed to the promotion of
fairness and justice in the interest of all parties concerned.”