Shame as Confab delegates fight over resource control

Kutigi and Akinyemi

Tempers and regional tensions rose on Wednesday during deliberations on resource control by members of the Committee on Devolution of Power in the ongoing National Conference in Abuja.

SHOWBIZPLUSng gathered that a free for all was averted among delegates who were visibly divided along regional lines.

The delegates hauled invectives on one another, thereby creating temporary suspension of contributions of some members.

Ironically, the committee’s co-chairmen, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, and ex-Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, who had clashed over resource control, brought the controversy under control.

Trouble started when a delegate from Kano State, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, in his contribution, kicked against “agitation for resource control” and asked delegates “not to support” it.

He added that the problem Nigeria was facing was lack of good and proper management of its abundant human and natural resources.

He decried the high level of unemployment in the country, saying unless immediate and drastic actions were taken to address the situation, Nigeria was sitting on a keg of gun powder.

Mohammed said the level of youth and graduate unemployment in the country had reached an alarming proportion.

While predicting that those affected by the scourge of unemployment might not hesitate to take to revolution, he cited young graduates in other countries, including Cuba, where a revolution was staged due to similar circumstances.

He said, “I don’t envy this committee simply because the decisions are determined by mindset. As a democrat, I believe fundamentally in the rule of law. We are not compelled to have a nation.

“We have issues of unemployment in the North. We must have a way of moving the finances of this country in a very equitable manner. Graduates are being pushed into revolutionary situation because they have no jobs.”

Another delegate, Jack Tilley Gyado, from Benue State, while corroborating the position of Muhammed, said the existing 13 per cent derivation formula, being used to share proceeds of mineral resources to oil-producing states, should be maintained.

He however warned that host states or zones should be careful the way they were going about the agitation for resource control.

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a delegate on the platform of elder statesmen, who is also a member of the committee, urged the committee to ignore the calls for resource control.

He said those canvassing resource control had no right to do so because they did not create the resources.

Yakasai said, “All the resources we are talking about belong the Federal Government. You do not control what you don’t own. This committee does not have even the right to discuss resource control.”

But the co-chairman of the committee, Victor Attah, cautioned him, saying, “The constitution was drafted by Nigerians and so we will discuss. We have the conference of this nature to discuss this matter.”

At this point, Yakassai continued, “The colonial masters handed Nigeria to all of us; not to any particular region. We should avoid a situation where these are cornered by individuals.”

On his part, Dr Tunji Braithwaite said the country’s problems emanated from corruption.

“The problem of Nigeria has been basically corruption. Nigeria is a rich country. It is the issue of corruption that has narrowed it to resource control. We cannot go by what the Nigerian constitution is giving us. The 1999 constitution is not the people’s constitution. It was made by the military’s Decree 24,” the octogenarian said.

The committee was thrown into confusion when Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on the platform of Elder Statesmen, took his turn to speak.

Adebanjo, while speaking, challenged the North for opposing resource control, saying during the era of groundnut pyramid, they were getting up to 50 per cent as derivation and remitting a paltry percentage to the centre.

He said: “If we really want to keep this country together, we must address the inequalities among some sections of the country. It was the military that gave us the present 13 per cent derivation formula. How did they arrive at that?

“If we want peace, we should discuss that and if we are serious to be together. This is the last chance for Nigeria to remain together. Those who hold the property of this country should be in control of their resources.”

His position was corroborated by a delegate on the platform of the Federal Government, Chief Asara Asara, who, while also speaking, said the northern delegates’ position not to support approval for total resource control was a threat, saying they could not threaten the agitators because their zone was contributing noting to the country’s table.

He said instead, the North was waiting to share what was coming out of the South, adding that if the vast oil mineral deposits in the South was in the northern territory, they would have remained stiff not to share it with any zone.

Asara cited the era of groundnut pyramid, where he noted, the North was controlling 50 per cent and paying taxes to the then Federal Government.

He said, “We will not beg anyone, we must control our resources and anybody that doesn’t like it, whatever he wants to do, we are ready to give it to them. My people are ready for anything not less than a total control of their resources. If the derivation formula was risen up to 50 per cent during the groundnut pyramid era, why the difference now?”

Again, Junaid Mohammed and Usman Farouk became agitated and started hauling insults on the promoters of the resource control in the committee.

But the Southern delegates were not deterred as they immediately received support from their colleague and civil rights activist, Ms. Annkio Briggs.

Her support for the contributions of Adebanjo and Asara further infuriated Mohammed, who almost got up to assault the lady amidst abuses and other invectives.

But an unperturbed Briggs responded by insulting Junaid back.

“Who do you think you are? How many heads have you that you think if you abuse me, I won’t respond or abuse you back?” she said.

The committee hurriedly adjourned for tea break and subsequently adjourned sitting till Thursday.

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