PIB: Okowa Blames South South Reps

Delta State Governor,
Ifeanyi Okowa, has blamed representatives of the South South region in the National Assembly for not doing enough to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed into law.
The Governor, while speaking on Friday at the Niger Delta stakeholders meeting held in Delta State to seek the way forward in the region, explained that the Seventh National Assembly provided an ample opportunity for lawmakers from the region to push the bill but regretted that the golden opportunity was unfortunately lost because of the lackadaisical attitude of those representing the region.
Okowa expressed dismay that the PIB had remained in limbo for too long in spite of the fact that it remains a formidable instrument to push through a lot of interest of the oil-rich region.
He however, noted that all was not lost as the region needed to commence the move in the interest of the Niger Delta region.
Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting which comprised of elders, youth, leaders of thought and traditional rulers in the region called for immediate end to vandalism of oil infrastructure in the region by the militants.
According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the stakeholders also called on the Federal Government to stop further deployment of military hardware and resources in the region noting that the step would restore confidence of the people of the area and actualise needed peace.
The meeting which was held at the Conference Centre of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun called on the aggrieved groups particularly the millitant groups to adhere to the appeal made by the traditional rulers and other stakeholders to stop further attacks on oil installation so as to give room for the needed dialogue.

Chris Oluoh