Passed PIB Satanic, Unjust, Embarrassing, Says Edwin Clark

The recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has continued
to attract flakes especially among stakeholders in the Niger Delta
region.

The Joint chambers of the National Assembly are billed to
harmonise the bill.

Both the Senate and House of Representatives passed the bill
last week but with some disagreement, especially in the area of
percentage that should be allocated to host communities.

But the leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief
Edwin Clark, has described the bill as satanic, unjust,
embarrassing, and has dashed the hope of the people of the Niger
Delta.

Clark, who is also the leader of the Southern and Middle Belt
Leaders Forum (SMBLF) condemned the provision and allocation of 30%
of profits for further frontier oil exploration in the north and
that it was fraudulently added.

Clark, who was represented at a press conference in Abuja by
PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, declared that
the region has had enough of the colonial oppression and will be
resisting it.

Clark said the passed PIB does not reflect the long clamour by
the people of the region for equity, fairness and
justice.

He warned that Niger Delta will take their destinies in their
hands and deny International Oil Companies (IOCs) entry into the
region should the National Assembly failed to reverse the passed
bill.

He said, “Given the depth of ingratitude expressed and delivered
after decades of exploitation and neglect of the region, the entire
people of the Niger Delta region, for and on behalf of the host
communities, vehemently reject the following aspects of the bill:
the 3% and 5% of Operating Expenditure granted to the Host
Communities; the fraudulent and provocative 30% provision for the
Frontier Exploration Fund.

“And now demand: the PIB must be reversed, reviewed and amended
to ensure that the Oil-Bearing Communities must now receive not
less than 10% of Operating Cost.

“If this is not done, the Niger Delta people may be forced to
take their destiny into their own hands and all IOCs may find
themselves denied access to their oil activities in such
communities.”

The recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has continued
to attract flakes especially among stakeholders in the Niger Delta
region.

The Joint chambers of the National Assembly are billed to
harmonise the bill.

Both the Senate and House of Representatives passed the bill
last week but with some disagreement, especially in the area of
percentage that should be allocated to host communities.

But the leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief
Edwin Clark, has described the bill as satanic, unjust,
embarrassing, and has dashed the hope of the people of the Niger
Delta.

Clark, who is also the leader of the Southern and Middle Belt
Leaders Forum (SMBLF) condemned the provision and allocation of 30%
of profits for further frontier oil exploration in the north and
that it was fraudulently added.

Clark, who was represented at a press conference in Abuja by
PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, declared that
the region has had enough of the colonial oppression and will be
resisting it.

Clark said the passed PIB does not reflect the long clamour by
the people of the region for equity, fairness and
justice.

He warned that Niger Delta will take their destinies in their
hands and deny International Oil Companies (IOCs) entry into the
region should the National Assembly failed to reverse the passed
bill.

He said, “Given the depth of ingratitude expressed and delivered
after decades of exploitation and neglect of the region, the entire
people of the Niger Delta region, for and on behalf of the host
communities, vehemently reject the following aspects of the bill:
the 3% and 5% of Operating Expenditure granted to the Host
Communities; the fraudulent and provocative 30% provision for the
Frontier Exploration Fund.

“And now demand: the PIB must be reversed, reviewed and amended
to ensure that the Oil-Bearing Communities must now receive not
less than 10% of Operating Cost.

“If this is not done, the Niger Delta people may be forced to
take their destiny into their own hands and all IOCs may find
themselves denied access to their oil activities in such
communities.”