Abuja —A group, The South Wing of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has admonished President Bola Tinubu to review the increment of host community percentage as provided by the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
The group gave the admonition via an open letter addressed to President Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima on Thursday.
The letter which was signed by the Public Relations Officer, South Wing Mend, Abuja Base, George Adioni Sinclair, also urged Tinubu to review and possibly revoke what it described as a defect in the PIA as regards the status of the host community.
It said this was imperative because the International Oil Companies (IOCs) were wrongfully given the privilege to dictate what community is their host instead of the communities in the region who should have been given that prerogative.
The group among other issues also demanded the rebranding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to not only recognize ex-agitators but the whole people of the Niger Delta region as well as the establishment of a new seaport in the Niger Delta, for international trading.
The South Wing MEND also demanded the removal of an interim administration in the Presidential Amnesty Programme and immediate appointment of a substantive special adviser to the president on Niger Delta and coordinator of the programme.
It also raised the issue of 100% resource control by oil-producing states and the mass employment of Ijaw youths in various federal parastatals.
The letter reads:
“Dear Mr. President,
“We the leaders and members of the South Wing of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) ably led by HRH Dr. Selky Kile Torughedi herein warmly write to congratulate you and your hardworking Vice President on your successful swearing-in.
“As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we wish to assure you of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the Ijaw people.
“We look forward to working with you not only to develop closer relations but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and the brotherhood of all tribes in our great nation Nigeria.
“The election of a new President always elicits hope. Nigerians are now looking to you, as President Tinubu and Vice President Shetima especially as you begin your first days in office with hope.
“Hope that you will not compromise on issues of security, peace, and stability.
“Hope that you will heal and unite a fractious and weary nation.
“Hope that you will rise above party politics and forge a compelling force to move the nation forward, with inclusiveness, fairness, equity, and justice.
“Hope that you will drastically improve the economy of the nation.
“Hope that you will spark a new wave of prosperity.
“And this hope must be brought to the present, as hope deferred makes the heart grow weary.
“Just like your slogan “RENEWED HOPE,” we ask Mr. President that you renew the hopes of all in Nigeria.
“As has always been the case from the inception of democracy until date, we Ijaws have constantly and consistently had good working and understanding relationships with leaders of our great nation and that is not about to change during your tenure as President of this great nation.
“We will solidly stand and support you as President and we hope that you will reciprocate this support and commitment to your cause favorably and delightfully to all Ijaws in Nigeria.
“At this juncture Mr. President, we would like to use this medium to notify you of certain pertinent issues that are of interest to us and we hope that your first actions as President of this great country will be to sort out these lingering issues in our favour:
“1. Review and increment of host community percentage as provided for by the PIA.
“2. Possible review and repeal of the defect in the PIA as regards the status of the host community. This is because IOCs were given the autonomy to dictate what community is their host whereas that duty should’ve been the duty of the communities in the region.
“3. Removal of an interim administration in the Federal Government Amnesty Program and immediate appointment of a special adviser to the president of Niger Delta and co-ordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Program.
“4. Rebranding the Federal Government Amnesty Program to not only recognize ex-agitators but the people of the Niger Delta region at large.
“5. Human capacity, Infrastructural, and economic development in the Niger Delta.
“6. Establishment of multi-skill vocational centers through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs geared towards development and poverty alleviation in the Niger Delta region.
“7. Autonomous operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have gone through forensic scrutiny, to operate optimally without any external influence in connection with their Developmental Mandate.
“8. For your administration to foster a cordial working relationship between security operatives and the people of the Niger Delta region to promote lasting growth not just for the people of the terrain but the country of Nigeria in general.
“9. Establishment of a new seaport in the Niger Delta, for international trading which will create jobs for youths of the region and the country at large and also boost the economy of the region and country as well.
“10. Mass Employment of IJAW Youths into various parastatals.
“11. 100% resource control by oil-producing states.
“12. Continuation of the actions of the past government in clearing our waterways of scrap metals.
“Mr President, these are the issues that we hope will be looked into by your administration and in doing so, will further strengthen the cordial relationship between your administration and the people of the Niger Delta region.
“We use this medium to pray that the almighty God will grant you and the Vice President the strength, wisdom, and grace that is needed to dispatch your various duties and that your administration will be the best Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large has ever seen.
“Long live Mr. President, long live the Vice President and long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
