Leave Soku Oil Wells in Rivers, David-West Warns Jonathan
As the controversy over who owns Soku oil wells deepens between the Rivers
State Government and the Bayelsa State Government, Former Minister of
Petroleum Resources and rights activist, Professor Tam David-West have
warned President Goodluck Jonathan who is from Bayelsa, to leave the
controversial oil wells in Rivers State, the known historical owners of
Soku.
Professor David-West also averred that the people of Kalabari kingdom(Soku
is part of Kalabari land) are prepared to fight the Presidency over the
ceding of Soku oil wells to Bayelsa State at every level, stating that no
part of Kalabari Kingdom will be allowed to be ceded to any other part of
the country. He revealed that the Kalabari oceanic communities of Kula,
Soku, Idama, Elem-Sangama and Abisse have been existing for over 300
years of Kalabari history in Rivers State.
David-West disclosed this Friday when he led a delegation of Kings,
Chiefs, Elders, youths and representatives of the Occeanic Communities of
Akuku-Toru local government area in Rivers State on a solidarity visit on
the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in Port
Harcourt.
According to him, “I thank you, Governor Amaechi particularly on what you
have been doing for the Kalabari Kingdom. Unfortunately, some of our
brothers and leaders don't understand this. I know what you are going
through. But, why should an Ikwerre Governor be sacrificed, for saying
that, don't take away Kalabari Communities from Rivers to Bayelsa State.
Kalabari people need to go round such person and carry him high. When
Nnamdi Azikiwe came to Port Harcourt, I remember, we carried him and I
think, every kalabari person should be carrying Amaechi high to replicate
the kind gesture. I learnt of a new word for the Oceanic communities in
the Kalabari Kingdom, those are the original Kalabari settlements. So, the
Oceanic communities are older than, Buguma, Abonnema and Degema. The
communities called, Oceanic communities have been existing for over 300
years of Kalabari history, and over the years, our forefathers fought to
maintain the integrity of the Kalabari kingdom. And, any one that is
dismantling it now, whether from Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto or Bayelsa State,
will never succeed. Our ancestors fought also with Canon guns to protect
these territories, but, at this time, we have other implements to fight
the struggle.” David-West said.
Continuing, he also explained the attempt by some Kalabari chiefs to sign
a secret document to cede the Oceanic Communities to Bayelsa state as a
ploy to distort facts that have genuine historical antecedents since the
period of the colonial era.
David-West said, “Truth, only has one version, all the time they are
shifting the boundaries to their favour with some Kalabari Chiefs, who
were secretly approached to sign documents to cede all these territories
to Bayelsa state. But, they cannot change the fact that, the controversial
oil well territories belongs to the Kalabari people.
“This is because, if you plan evil or attempt to ruin the Kalabari land of
its natural resources, the gods, our ancestors will not allow you. Bayelsa
state was created in 1996, and the boundary was created between us at the
Santa Barbara river. It has now been moved to the San Bartholomew river.
If they allow that, then, Abonnema and Idama will be in Bayelsa state.
This is what is coming and I tell you stop it now, because God will not
allow it to happen. We must go back to the colonial boundary which was
impartial. If you rig election to be in office, tomorrow, you may not be
there, but these records will be there forever. And, it is left to us
Kalabari sons and daughters to support all those fighting for our course.
And, fight with all that we have to stop this nonsense. It is nonsense and
I owe no apology to it because, it is nonsense. Any person who wakes up
any morning that he is going to acquire territory owned by people by fiat
is nonsense. This is because, they can never get it, even with their pen.
One oil well is a billion naira, and we are talking about 41 oil wells”,
he said.
Professor tam David-West while commending Governor Amaechi picked holes
with President Jonathan over his style of leadership, which he said, was
calculated to deprive the Kalabari people of their natural resources.
“So, I think, we owe Governor Amaechi a chain of gratitude for agitating
severally that, this is my territory, I am the Governor of Rivers State
and, I will not concede to cede any territory from the state to anybody.
You swore by the Bible, when taking the oath of allegiance to protect the
territorial integrity of the state. Let me say categorically that, I have
nothing against President Jonathan, but, I hate the style of his
leadership and I have no apologies for it. Let me say also that, I will
not support somebody who wants a political office because he is an Ijaw
man, but will only support such person, only when that person is good. I
remembered that, President Jonathan was schooling at Imiringi at his young
age, when I was a serving commissioner in Rivers State. I am not against
him, but, I am particularly against everything about his government and
leadership, especially, his style of divide and rule system. He will not
succeed. I have told his brother who is a fantastic engineer to tell
President Jonathan that, I will not pull him down, but, if I see people
pulling him down, I will not stop them, because, he is not doing well.”
“And, I want him (Jonathan) to tell us the kind of legacy he wants to
leave behind after his tenure. What I want to tell President Jonathan is
that, let him leave the Kalabari territory and the oil wells alone. I am
also told that, they were planning to create another state out of Bayelsa
state. But, when they looked at it, the population was too small, and now,
they have considered to take in Abonema and Idama communities as part of
Bayelsa state. It will not happen”, Professor David-West said.
The former Petroleum Minister further commended Governor Amaechi for all
the numerous projects his administration offered to the people of Rivers
State, and urged him to ensure communities at the grassroots feel
government presence.
Hear Tam David-west, “Your Excellency, in a gathering like this, I wish to
pledge my loyalty to you. I said it many times, and I will say it again
that, you are doing well. If you are not doing well, I will tell you, you
are not doing well. Anyone who have not seen what Governor Amaechi has
done in Rivers State is blinder than bat. I want to use this occasion to
tell you that my loyalty is not nairalized. There is no Naira tag on my
loyalty”.
On his part, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has
assured the people of the Oceania communities that his administration will
work towards the completion of all ongoing projects as a means of showing
government presence in the area, and further urged the people to vote out
PDP in 2015 to get back their oil wells from Bayelsa State.
According to him, “The question you should ask yourself is where are we
going to? And what you need is to vote out PDP in 2015, and be assured of
getting back your oil wells”, Amaechi said.