The ‘oil battle’ between Bayelsa State and neighbouring Rivers State took a twist on Tuesday with Governor Seriake Dickson accusing Rotimi Amaechi’s government of disparaging President Goodluck Jonathan.
Dickson also accused the Rivers State Government
of making statements capable of creating a crisis between the two states.
He requested the government of Rivers State to
tender an unreserved apology to the President and the government of Bayelsa
State “over its unguarded, mischievous and misleading statements, which clearly
are calculated to disparage the Presidency and incite violence between the two
states.”
The Presidency also said that Rivers State had
been engaged “in school-boy style protest” with “an attempt at cheap
blackmail.”
This was contained in a statement by Jonathan’s
spokesman, Reuben Abati, in Abuja.
There have been protests by communities in Rivers
State against an alleged plan to cede oil wells in the state to neighbouring
Bayelsa State.
The Kalabari Traditional Forum in Rivers, led by
a former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Graham Douglas, on Monday staged a protest
against an alleged plot to transfer oil producing communities in Kalabari area
to Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Reacting to the protest, Dickson said Rivers was
“always attempting to blackmail President Jonathan in a bid to gain unnecessary
advantage.”
But Rivers said on Tuesday that a legitimate
protest as staged by the Kalabari chiefs constituted no blackmail to the
President.
Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, denied the allegation that the state had
planned to annex Kalabari for the purpose of claiming derivation entitlements.
Bayelsa is the home state of Jonathan.
Dickson’s statement reads, “The facts remain that
all the relevant maps – the administrative map of Nigeria 10th edition produced
in 1992 and the 11th edition produced in 2000 were clearly produced long before
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan became the Vice-President and later President.
“It is therefore pertinent to state that no
amount of blackmail or propaganda will deter the government of Bayelsa State
from pursuing its legitimate rights and entitlements under the law.
“We wish to assure our good brothers in Rivers
State not to allow themselves to be used for cheap blackmail or any form of
propaganda against the President and Bayelsa State.
“Let it be clearly stated that the government of
Bayelsa State is not interested in annexing Kalabari clan, as it is being
alleged, for the purpose of claming derivation entitlements or any other
purpose whatsoever.
“We condemn the deliberate and mischievous
attempt to link the President to what is clearly an exercise of Bayelsa State
Government’s right. The government of Rivers State itself has made several such
claims of wrongful payments of derivation monies and has severally received
refund in deserving cases.”
But the Rivers State Government on Tuesday said
it did not make any statement suggestive of blackmail against the President.
The State Commissioner for Information and
Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, described Jonathan as a worthy in-law to
the state.
“The government of Rivers State has not made any
statement suggestive of blackmail against President Jonathan who is both
a bona fide Port-Harcourt boy and a worthy in-law.
“However, I am aware that the people of
Akuku-Toru lga have protested the redrawing of the geographical map of Rivers
State that attempts to tear them away from their kith and kin in the Kalabari
Kingdom of Rivers State.
“I doubt that this exercise of their
constitutional right can be viewed as blackmail against our brothers in Bayelsa
not to mention Mr. President.”
But Abati’s statement reads in part, “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 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.”
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