By James Jibril
The South-South Reawakening Group, SSRG has faulted comments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the ownership of crude oil in Nigeria. Noting that the people of Niger Delta bear the brunt of crude oil exploration, not the larger Nigerian society.
Obasanjo has consistently reiterated that the crude oil in Niger Delta cannot be controlled by the region but the Federal Government, even as he tactically avoid the question posed to him by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark on the ownership of Gold in Zamfara State.
Reacting to the claims of the former president, SSRG said Obasanjo does not care about the welfare of the Niger Delta people and what becomes of the region. It accused the former president of divisive and oppressive tendencies.
The group warned that it will no longer tolerate enemies of Niger Delta. Adding that “henceforth, we will not hesitate to issue a persona non grata on persons whose actions or words are inimical to the Niger Delta region cause.”
Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Convener of the group, Mr. Joseph Ambakederimo, said: “I am not surprised to hear that from Obasanjo. If he had said otherwise, then that would have been a surprise to me. This has been his view a long time ago and coming to reaffirm it only brings to consciousness the level of hate people like Obasanjo are prepared to rub on our faces and challenge us from the region to do our worst. People like him, so long as the oil continues to flow, the rest of us from the region should go and die.
“Obasanjo should tell us who bears the brunt of oil exploration, is it the entire Nigerian state or the oil bearing communities of the Niger Delta.
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“It is unfortunate that a man who has held the highest office of the President would be the one to become so petty to engage in issues that tend to divide us.
“We will fold our hands and continue to watch this sordid drama that he has started unfold because l believe we haven’t heard the last of this matter. However, henceforth, we will not hesitate to issue a persona non grata on persons whose actions or words are inimical to the Niger Delta region cause, including our sons and daughters from the region who associate with such persons.”
Among others, the oil spills, gas flaring, drilling activities and burying of pipelines in the Niger Delta has caused a lot of negative effects on the people of the region.
Outside lost of lives and destruction of properties in the Niger Delta area, the mangrove forests and water bodies of the region, which is largest in Africa and third largest in the world, have been contaminated, de- graded and destroyed, thereby causing serious destruction of its biodiversity over the years.
The average lifespan of citizens living in the Niger Delta has reportedly reduced due to the negative impacts of crude oil exploration. The federal government that is currently empowered to controls crude oil business in Nigeria, however, has consistently paid thirteen (13) per cent return to host States as crude oil derivation fund.
