South-South Speakers Backs Jonathan, Lambast Northern Leaders On 13 % Oil Fund

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Speakers of the legislature in the South South geo-political zone have declared unalloyed support to the change plan of President Goodluck Jonathan at preserving Nigeria's territorial integrity by ensuring co-existence of the component nationalities.

The Speakers also frowned at the recent calls by Northern leaders and organizations for the downward review or withdrawal of 13% derivation principle on oil revenue allocation to the oil bearing states of the South-South region despite the continued environmental hazards and degradation suffered by the people of the region.

According to a communique issued and made available to Huhuonline.com / , shortly after the South South Speakers' Summit held Thursday, in Akwa Ibom State, the Speakers declared thus:

'That the Forum totally supports the transformation agenda for the Federal Republic of Nigeria as enunciated by his Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan GCFR, President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and commends Mr. President for his efforts at safeguarding the security territorial integrity and peaceful co-existence of component nationalities in the Nation.

'That the Forum vehemently condemns the recent spate of unbridled killing and suicide bombings of Nigerians resident in some parts of the North by the misguided extremist Islamic sect, Boko Haram as criminal, ungodly, provocative and injurious to the unity and progress of the Nation. The forum therefore urges the Federal government to intensify its crackdown on the sect and its activities with a view to unmasking the master minders of these dastardly acts and their sponsors so as to bring them to book to forestall further despicable act associated with the extremist sect; and accordingly commends the various security agencies for their effort in combating the dissident group and protecting lives and property of law abiding citizens in every part of Nigeria.

'That the recent calls by certain Northern Leaders and organizations for the downward review or withdrawal of 13% derivation principle on oil revenue allocation to the oil bearing states of the South-South is provocative, misinformation, ill-advised and unpatriotic, as the call is not based on any sustainable grounds of advocacy. It must be made clear that the current 13% derivation accrued to the oil producing states in the region is hardly commensurate with the environmental hazards and degradation suffered by the people of the region, and that, the Niger-Delta region is determined to demand upward review to 50% and no region can blackmail the South-south geo-political zone to back out of this just and noble campaign.

'The Forum however commends South-south Governors for the massive infrastructural drive in their respective states and enjoined them to sustain the tempo for the speedy growth and development of the geo political zone.

'The Speakers assured their Governors of the continued support and cooperation of the Legislature to their efforts to develop their states and better the lives of their people.

'The Speakers agreed to present and back one of their own from the south-south geo-political zone for the chairmanship of the Speakers Conference of Nigeria at its 12th April, 2012 elections.

'The Forum assures all stakeholders of its continuous support for regional co-operation in all spheres for the collective and common good of the region.'

The communique was signed by Rt. Hon. Konbowei Friday Benson, (Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly), Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe (Speaker, Edo State),  House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Victor Ochei (Speaker, Delta State), Rt. Hon. Larry Odey (Speaker, Cross River State), Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Daniel Amachree (Speaker, Rivers State) and Rt. Hon. (Elder) Samuel Ikon (Speaker, Akwa Ibom State).