Akwa Ibom Leaders Vanguard Thursday warned against any attempt by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to re-introduce the onshore-offshore oil dichotomy, saying such a move would spell doom for the country.
The group spoke against the recent report submitted to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the APC by Nasir el-Rufai, the Kaduna State Governor, who chaired the APC Committee on True Federalism and restructuring of the country.
Nasir el-Rufai had in the report of the panel to the party made far- reaching recommendations for consideration among which included resource control.
But at a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the Akwa Ibom Leaders Vanguard said “regrettably, the party’s (APC) position on the resource control clearly prognosticates an irredeemable disaster for Nigeria.”
A spokesman for the group, Senator Anietie Okon cautioned that with the planned re-visit of the resource control Nigeria is at the threshold of history that will make or mar her as a nation.
“We are saying no to illegal re-introduction of a settled matter of onshore-offshore dichotomy. It is an expensive joke taken too far. Nigeria might not survive this. Our patience has been stressed to its elastic limits,” he warned.
The senator noted “It is inconceivable that any person or group of persons with an iota of our prattled nationhood will attempt to create more crisis in an already volatile Niger Delta region, that has endured most of the ills of the contraption fraudulently referred to as a Federal system finagled on Nigeria.”
Okon called on the APC leaders in Akwa Ibom State to stand up and speak out at this critical moment in the nation’s history, especially as to re-introduce the onshore-offshore dichotomy affects the people of the state.
“It will be interesting to know where they stand on this all important matter. They cannot sit on the fence. It is now imperative for them to show clearly on which side of the divide they stand.” he posited.
Okon equally declared that, “It is frightening that, the chieftains of the party in the South-south are dangerously quit over this calculated attempt to subtly reintroduce through the back door, the vexed onshore/off-shore dichotomy that has long been settled in Nigeria.”
“For the benefit of doubt, we want to state explicitly and unambiguously our concerns and consternation about the ambivalent and duplicitous positon of the APC as it is clear to every discerning mind that the APC is a party in disarray.
“For instance, in his New Year speech, President Muhammadu Buhari clearly considered restructuring an anathema that should not be contemplated.
“Juxtaposing that with position of the APC as a party represented by El-Rufai’s committee that on the face value seemingly supports restructuring, it is dangerous to say the least Nigeria.
“It brings to the fore the unlimited confusion, the hallmark of the APC that our dear country has been subjected to in the past three years.” Okon stressed.
He maintained that the defective and deceitful promises of the APC exemplifies the height of dishonestly and an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the Nigerians.
“For every discerning mind, the President is averse to restructuring Nigeria, although, other factions of the party seem, favorably disposed to tinted restructuring; while waiting the APC to come to terms with the reality regarding true federalism that has been overwhelmingly endorsed by Nigerians,” the Senator stated.
