Urhobo Peoples International Assembly (UPIA) has opposed the 3% revenue allocation to host communities as contained in the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), calling for its amendment to 10%, before assent by President Muhammadu Buhari.
National President of UPIA, Keston Okoro Muhammed Al-Amin, told journalists that the Urhobo position was taken at a meeting by notable elders and leaders representing different groups, who met to brainstorm on the issue.
“We know what the act of oil exploration has caused the Niger Delta and for once, we are saying that they should allow the region that takes care of the nation enjoy from their wealth.
“The Federal Government and especially the National Assembly ought to have realized the negative impact we have suffered. We sustain the Nigerian economy with almost 90 percent of our resources.
“But we also are supporters of one Nigeria. We just said we don’t wash our dirty linen outside if not, no one has the monopoly of violence. We know where we are coming from in this country, but we have come to the point where we must call a spade a spade because what is good for the goose is good for the gander, but we don’t want to pervert the cause of justice. We don’t want to be a stranger in our own God’s given land.”
According to him, the Urhobo will resist every form of intimidation and threats on the PIB.
“We are not accepting that 3%, not even 5%. What we agitated for is 30%, but some leaders are saying, because of the situation of the country, we said okay we agree to 10%, but anything short of that will be resisted fully,” he said.
he said he believes that their position is the same with the view of other Niger Delta ethnic groups.
“As it is, we are all at alert; peradventure they decide to impose it on us, we know what the land use act has caused us,” he added.
He called on President to act fast, urging National Assembly to reconvene, withdraw the clause of 3% percent and come up with 10%.
Al-Amin added that their meeting their demand is the only guarantee that the Urhobo people will continue to support tone and united Nigeria.
