Mkpoikana Udoma
05 May 2017, Sweetcrude, PortHarcourt -The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has kicked against the decision of the House of Representatives to reject a motion requesting the House to compel oil multinationals to relocate their administrative offices to the Niger Delta region.
Recall that the House had on Tuesday rejected the motion calling on oil companies to establish operational and administrative offices in the Niger Delta region where they engage in exploration, as sponsored by a Member representing Imo State, Mr. Goodluck Opiah.
But the Speaker of the House, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, House Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and a Member representing Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Shagari, had all kicked against the motion describing it as “ill-conceived and inconsiderate” and also cited the Niger Delta region as unsafe for business.
However, Ijaw youths have warned that the rejection by the House is unacceptable coming at a time when the Federal Government has given a directive to all IOCs to relocate to the region as part of its fulfilment of the Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum’s demands.
Eric Omare led IYC insisted that the call on the international oil companies to relocate their head offices to the region is an executive order, which is not under the purview of the House of Representatives.
IYC, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday by its Spokesperson, Mr. Henry Iyalla, said any action capable of undermining the order will not see the light of day, as the group would rise to ensure that actions aimed at marginalizing or undermining the demands of the region is resisted vehemently.
According to the IYC, “We state that the call for the relocation of IOCs is not within the purview of the Federal House of Representatives since an executive order has already being issued and we expect administrative action to be in full swing to that effect.
“Any action capable of undermining that order will not see the light of day as the Ijaw Youth Council will rise to ensure actions with the aim of marginalizing or undermining the demands of the region will be resisted vehemently.
“This action (by the House of Representatives) is condemnable and shows the real mindset of our leaders who have thus far paid lip service to the agitations and demand of the Niger Delta region.
“This further shows why the Federal Government has not put hand to soil in the fulfilment of its promises to the region. This is capable of causing unrest in the region which has thus far being peaceful.
“Furthermore, we wish to state categorically that the relocation of the administrative head offices of the IOCs will make it impossible for these firms to give a deaf ear to all the degradation and environmental issues suffered by the region as they will see and experience first hand the result of their operations in the region. The people of the region are peace loving and will ensure the success of such move.”