Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday charged those agitating for the abrogation of the onshore/ofshore dichotomy to abandon the move as it will do the country no good.
The Governor who gave the charge while addressing a general meeting of the South South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) in Effurun, Delta State, cautioned that the tension and crisis generated by the issue in the recent past, was too fresh to be re-opened.
Besides, he noted that there was apprehension in many quarters that if the issue was re-visited and reversed, very soon there would be agitation for the reduction of the 13% Derivation due the oil producing states.
His words: “I worry when some leaders overlook the obligation placed upon them in not applying restrain in the position they take, such as on this issue of derivation”.
“I say so because, the tension and crisis over derivation, in particular over on-shore/off-shore dichotomy, is too recent in our collective memory to be reopened by anyone for debate”.
“The fear in many quarters is that if they succeed in reopening and reversing this settled issue, then we can be sure that before long they will ask for reduction of 13 percent derivation”.
“I say to all those agitating for reversal of onshore/offshore dichotomy, drop it. Drop it because it is a move that will do the country no good”.
According to him, the South South was asking for a return to the first principle of derivation which was 50% as was the case in the first Republic.
He therefore charged SSPA and the people of the region not to relent in the demand for 50% derivation.
“I want to implore the SSPA at this juncture to urgently intervene in the current disagreement between Cross-Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states over oil wells before it degenerates further”, he added.
He also rallied support for President Goodluck Jonathan stressing that the President’s successes or failures in office would be linked to the South South.