Politics
PIB: North’s Undevelopmental Stance
The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently awaiting legislative assent in the hallowed chambers has become an enigma of sort. The reason is simple: from being one of the most democratic phenomenons ever thought of in Nigeria, it has become what is capable of disintegrating the most populous African nation.
Ridiculously, and ironically too, the root cause of the present imbroglio is encapsulated in what George Orwell meant when he said in the book, “Animal Farm” that “in a time of deceit, telling the truth is revolutionary.”
Interestingly, there is hardly any Nigerian, who disagrees, openly, that the country’s petroleum industry needs deliverance, in its entirety. The primary reason is that the industry is the backbone of the country. Therefore, if corruption thrives in it as much as have been variously alleged, the PIB couldn’t have come at a better time, even as many feel it is belated.
Obviously, this reasoning seems to be what guided proponents of the bill over a decade ago, prominent among which was Dr. Rilwanu Lukeman, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, who conceived the idea in 2000.
The PIB is based on the report of the Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee (OGIC) set up by the Federal Government in 2000 to carry out a comprehensive reform of the oil industry. The OGIC was charged with making recommendations for a far-reaching restructuring of the oil and gas industry. The committee was chaired by Lukman, who was then the Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy.
According to Lukeman, the PIB constitutes a reform legislation designed to encapsulate the legislative and administrative instruments governing the petroleum industry in one omnibus legislation, establishing clear rules, procedures and institutions for the industry.
In a presentation at a stakeholders’ session in 2009, Lukman said: “The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Bill is a remarkable document, which contains most of the legal requirements that will apply to the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
“The PIB combines 16 different petroleum laws in a transparent and coherent document. This is the first time that such a large scale consolidation has happened anywhere in the world. Good governance is promoted through the removal of much of the confidentiality as well as creating transparency.
“Confidentiality encourages corruption. The best way to fight corruption is to remove confidentiality from all procedures, contracts and payments. Every Nigerian, including stakeholders, should have the right to know what is going on. The bill removes confidentiality on a scale not seen in the world before. Nigeria will move in one step from one of the most opaque petroleum nations in Africa, to one of the most open and transparent in the world.
“The texts of all licenses, leases and contracts and any of the changes to such documents will no longer be confidential. Payments to the government of Nigeria will be public information. All petroleum geological, geophysical, technical and (oil) well data will be accessible for all interested persons in a national data base.
“The proposed bill will result in a significant increase in transparency. From now on, petroleum prospecting licenses and petroleum mining leases can only be granted by the Minister through a truly competitive bid process. Such process will be open and accessible to all qualified companies.
“Every company involved in the upstream petroleum industry will be subject to the same system of rents, royalties and taxes, depending on whether they operate in the onshore, shallow or deep offshore or inland areas.
“This means it will not be possible under the bill to treat certain companies more favourably than others. Nigerians can only fully benefit from their petroleum resources, if there is a sound petroleum administration,” he said.
In spite of this anticipated Eldorado, major companies involved in oil and gas exploration and exploitation, mostly multinationals, were the first to pick holes in the bill. They kicked against the perceived contentious provisions in the bill, especially the fiscal terms, claiming that the benefits the government wants from operations are so high that if the bill is passed in its present state, they would be running their business at a loss.
Other issues in the bill that operators frown at include undue powers conferred on the Minister of Petroleum and some conditions attached to acreage leases to oil firms. These and other issues that border on downstream sector are what the Federal Government was trying to resolve before Northern lawmakers recently joined the fray.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Sen. Bukar Abba-Ibrahim (ANPP-Yobe) gave an insight into the North’s opposition to the PIB, saying it is lopsided. He said the clause in the PIB, which allots additional 10 per cent revenue for oil producing communities was unacceptable.
Abba-Ibrahim, a former Governor of Yobe State, said, “This issue of oil producing communities getting 10 per cent of whatever is gotten from oil in addition to all sources of revenue for the oil producing states which has now divided the country into two, with oil producing states having more than what they need and squandering the oil riches, and the non-oil producing state, which are more in number, hardly surviving, hardly paying salaries and hardly doing anything has to stop.”
The lawmaker continued that the North was also opposed to the PIB because of its failure to make provision for the exploitation of other minerals all over the country.
“We have over 800 million tones of limestone in Gulane, Fune and Guljimba local governments of Yobe, but as a state government, you cannot go and exploit, it has to be Federal Government.’’
He is, however, optimistic that the bill when passed would sanitise the Petroleum Industry and address the issue of corruption in the sector.
A critical analysis of Abba-Ibrahim’s statements reveals that when he said oil producing states where “having more than what they need”, he was inadvertently confirming that governments have always been squandering public funds. Such funds are meant for the development of the populace.
Obviously, if the populace were being developed, the government would not have been accused of squandering funds allocated for development. So, why is he and his Northern brothers against the development of primary recipients of hazards accruable from oil exploration, extraction and exploitation? What difference will it make to the communities when such fund is deposited in the national treasury?
Democracy has clearly been so misconstrued that people are often so blind with their own version of patriotism that they find it difficult to face reality. They thus forget that wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.
The Northern stance is thus a quest for the status quo of squandering public fund to remain. It is another way of saying that it is wrong for the hitherto devastated oil producing communities to be developed.
The North should rather take a cue from the popular television presenter, Oprah Winfrey, who once said, “Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.”
Since they have confirmed that they are rich in limestone, for instance, the right thing to do to avoid the division of the country over benefits accruable to host communities of mineral resources is to exert such energies as they expend on fighting for oil proceeds on the Federal Government to commence exploration of alternative mineral resources in their various states through legislation.
With the exploration and exploitation of such mineral resources in their states, they will also get into the groove of enjoying the proceeds. To do otherwise will amount to repeating the same mistake made during the pre and post colonial era when educationally developed states were made to wait for the less developed ones to catch up. This is against the principle of democracy.
In addition, if they are truly concerned about the development of Nigeria, they should concern themselves more with coming up with laws that would check financial impropriety at all levels of governance. This is what the PIB seeks to do in the petroleum industry.
He said, although he was deeply concerned about some governors and lawmakers defecting to the APC, the party was working quietly behind the scenes to stabilise its ranks and rebuild public trust.
“If you ask me whether I’m concerned about our governors leaving for APC, I am more than concerned. But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or inactions of my colleagues, but certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes,” he said.
The Bauchi governor accused the APC-led federal government of using coercive tactics to weaken the opposition, saying the ruling party was bent on turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
“You know the style of leadership of the APC-led federal government in trying to make this country a one-party state. They have the power of coercion; they have the power of everything,” he said.
Governor Mohammed, however, maintained that the defections would not derail the PDP’s resurgence, stressing that most Nigerians at the grassroots remained loyal to the party.
“Even those who left are not finding it easier because most of the people at the grassroots level are PDP and are not happy with the defections. Sometimes it is done because of permutations and calculations. But I assure you I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP, and my state has no element of division,” he explained.
Governor Mohammed revealed that more defections could occur, including from lawmakers in his state, but insisted the PDP structure in Bauchi remained solid.
“Even today, I saw in the news that one of my senators is going. They are being controlled, they are being bought, but certainly, the state is PDP. Nigerians want change, and they believe they can get it through the PDP,” he stated.
The governor emphasised that the PDP had laid the foundation for most of Nigeria’s measurable achievements under successive governments and that the party remained the only credible platform capable of providing national renewal.
“Most of the measurable achievements by the federal government were done by PDP regimes. By the grace of God, if we stand firm, we will deliver. Some of us who won as governors were not even considered capable, and here we are. That’s what will play out in 2027,” he said.
Addressing concerns over potential threats to the forthcoming convention, the PDP stalwart said the party leadership was working to resolve internal disputes and litigations aimed at destabilising preparations.
“I cannot speak for the National Working Committee, but as a leader within the party, I know they are doing their best to address issues of litigations. Many are artificially created to undermine us, but we don’t have any faction in the PDP,” he said.
He noted that while some individuals had approached the courts to stop the party’s convention, the PDP remained more organised than most opposition parties.
“Comparatively, most of the other parties are not better off than us. We are better off than most opposition parties. We are the only ones intact; with one National Secretary, one National Chairman, and one Publicity Secretary. This meeting gives hope that at the end of the day, we will deliver,” he said.
On reports of Governor Peter Mbah’s rumoured defection from the PDP, Governor Mohammed said Governor Mbah had not formally declared any intention to leave and remained a respected colleague.
“Actually, Governor Mbah has not told us his position. It is a personal decision. We cannot remove his picture before he leaves. When he leaves, we will replace him with another person. Up till now, he has not told me he’s leaving,” he said.
He also dismissed speculation surrounding Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, describing him as a loyal member of the PDP who had endured significant challenges in office.
“He has not left the party; he is still PDP. Everybody has his own style. He is a humble young man who has gone through so much and has done well to accommodate all the problems and challenges he found himself in,” he said.
Commenting on speculations about a possible 2027 presidential project involving former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Bauchi governor said the PDP remained open to prominent figures who wished to return or associate with the party.
“People are still interested in this party, and these big names being associated with us make us happy. As governors, we have resolved to put personal interests aside. We are united and will come up with leadership that will be the best choice for Nigerians to put in Aso Rock, inshallah,” he stated.
Governor Mohammed reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP and expressed optimism that new, visionary leaders would emerge from the party in 2027 to defeat what he called the APC’s ‘deceptive’ style of politics.
“If somebody goes, just like a bird, they go, they come. Please, don’t blame anybody at the governors’ level; we are doing our best, but it is beyond our control,” he said.
In a statement following his recent visit to the United States and Rome, Mr Obi said he used the pilgrimage as an opportunity to seek divine intervention for Nigeria’s unity, peace, and responsible leadership.
He stated that after addressing members of the Friendship Club in the US and speaking at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington, he proceeded to Rome to join his wife for a spiritual retreat.
“With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over 65 years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation,” Mr Obi said.
During the pilgrimage, the couple visited the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome — St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica — where they met with other Nigerian pilgrims.
“Along the way, we met many Nigerian pilgrims: men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s mercy and in the promise of a better Nigeria,” he added.
Reaffirming his faith in both divine providence and civic duty, Mr Obi maintained that prayer must be matched with personal and collective effort.
“Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; it calls us to action. We must each continue to do our part, with honesty, diligence, and love, for our nation’s healing and progress,” he said.
Mr Obi was accompanied by his wife, Margaret, during the pilgrimage, which also included an audience with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican City.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, HURIWA said the appointment of Prof. Amupitan, a senior law scholar from Kogi State, signalled what it described as an attempt by the President to consolidate control over the nation’s electoral process.
According to the group, intelligence available to it suggested that the new INEC chair was selected not primarily for competence but for loyalty.
“From the intelligence at our disposal, this appointment is not about competence but control. The President, who is desperate to remain in power in 2027, has chosen an ally who will do his bidding. It is now left for Prof. Amupitan to prove this wrong,” the statement read.
HURIWA expressed concern that the appointment could undermine the credibility of future elections unless the Electoral Act is urgently amended to make the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) mandatory and enforceable by law.
The association recalled that the 2023 presidential election was marred by what it described as irregularities, while other polls, particularly the National Assembly elections, were “relatively credible” due to the effective use of electronic accreditation and result transmission.
HURIWA also linked the recent wave of defections by opposition politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to what it termed the “weaponisation of state institutions.”
It claimed that many officeholders were joining the APC to avoid harassment or prosecution. “We have a President using every available state institution to weaken opposition parties,” the group alleged.
The rights body further noted the appearance of campaign billboards bearing President Tinubu’s image across parts of the country as a sign of early political campaigning and warned that such actions could increase political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.
HURIWA called on the National Assembly to prioritise electoral reforms that would strengthen INEC’s independence and ensure technological transparency in future elections.
It urged Prof. Amupitan to demonstrate impartiality and accountability in his role, adding that Nigerians and the international community would be watching closely to see whether he would uphold the commission’s integrity or serve partisan interests.
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