Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has urged the federal government to take a fresh look at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to resolve conflicts in Niger Delta oil-producing communities, arising from implementation of the legislation.
Gov. Diri made the plea on Saturday during the triple celebrations of book launch, 60th birthday and 25th marriage anniversary of King Bubaraye Dakolo, chairman of the state traditional rulers council, in Yenagoa.
The governor was reacting to a comment by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who said that litigations in host communities had made it impossible for them to access monies in the Petroleum Industry Trust Fund meant for their development.
The governor noted that when the PIA was a bill, the state presented its position that excluding the oil producing states and local councils from administration of host communities, as provided in the then bill, would result in crisis.
“The PIA, as it was designed, is a time bomb because the federal government cut off states and local government councils to deal directly with communities.
“It is my submission that the percentage due oil companies conspiratorially reduced from 10 per cent to three per cent be reviewed.
“I also call on the federal government to immediately review the aspect where states and local government were excluded from administering what is due to the communities.
“The states and councils are closer to the communities and it was wrong to have excluded from the administration of these communities. The current situation is a recipe for crisis and I urge President Bola Tinubu to review it,” Gov. Diri canvassed.
While congratulating Dakolo, who is the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, on the launch of his books, “The Pirates of the Gulf” and “The Kingfisher,” Gov. Diri described the monarch as a rare king, and urged the younger generation to see him as a role model.
He also described Dakolo as a literary giant, who took up the challenge after his ordeal at the Nigerian Defence Academy to fight injustice in the Niger Delta, emphasising that he has made positive impact on the Ijaw nation and the country as a whole.
Gov. Diri, who launched the books with N100 million on behalf of the state government, directed the Ministry of Education to adopt The Kingfisher as part of the state’s secondary school curriculum.
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“King Dakolo has served Bayelsa and Ijaw nation. Dakolo and l had been together in the Ijaw struggle. He is sound and very intelligent. He is a literary giant and l urge our youths of the ljaw nation to see him as their role model.”
In his remarks, Lokpobiri, who chaired the event, congratulated Dakolo on his achievements, describing him as a man of many parts and a visionary leader.
He lauded the monarch for his advocacy for a better deal for the Niger Delta people through his literary works, and equally called on operators of illegal refineries to desist from their activities as these contribute to degradation of the environment.
Senator Lokpobiri also bemoaned oil communities inability to access the trust fund for their development as a result of the crisis and litigations emanating from them.
The chief launcher and Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, equally commended Dakolo for documenting his experience, which he said would create more enlightenment about the struggles of the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku, who said the commission would buy as many copies of the two and distribute to schools in the region, expressed optimism that the gesture would help to promote education.
The Pirates of the Gulf was reviewed by Dr. Ebidenyefa Nikade while Air Vice Marshal Kurotimi Obidake, representative of Major Gen.Solomon Udounwa (rtd), reviewed The Kingfisher.
