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… Urges FG to Stop Bayelsa’s 13% Derivations
By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State chapter of the Host Communities producing Oil and Gas in Nigeria (HostCom) on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the state capital inaugurated a new executive to pilot its affairs.
Port Harcourt Mundial reports that Pastor Samson Dabbey Graham was sworn-in as the re-elected chairman, while Elder Christopher Cole was inaugurated as secretary general.
Other executive members sworn-in were Mepirima Amos (vice chairman), Elder Ebi George (financial secretary), Mrs Patricia Nicholas (treasurer), Chief. (Hon) Violet Ogun (woman leader) and Emiemokumor Michael (legal adviser).
In his inaugural address, Pastor Samson Dabbey Graham thanked members of the organization for reelecting him to lead them for another term, promising to work even more assiduously towards attaining greater heights for the state chapter of the Host Communities producing Oil and Gas in Nigeria (HOSTCOM).
He said: “I want to sincerely thank you for this honour bestowed on me the second time and to be part of this historic occasion. I accept this position as the newly re-elected chairman of HostCom, Bayelsa State chapter on behalf of the host communities and millions of our people who have struggled for fair deal and peaceful coexistence with the multinationals oil companies operating in our communities.
“I accept it with great deal of thanks to our cream of elders who in spite of their tight schedules still found it worthy to be part of us at all times to help direct our activities with strength and vigour.”
The Chairman added that: “However, it’s disheartening and pitiable that in spite of our peaceful and responsible approach to issues related to host communities, we’d never been taken seriously. Indeed, it’s on record that government and its agencies had consistently and deliberately ignored our place as provided in section 162(2) of the 1999 (as amended). This section of the Nigerian constitution states it clearly that ‘derivation’ is a compensation to the producers of any natural resources for the expropriation and sequestration of their rights.
“Through this provision in the Nigerian constitution, states like Edo, Delta, Imo and Ondo have made provisions for for host communities producing oil and gas in their states, but in Bayelsa State successive governments have outrightly denied us any form of recognition.
“We’ve therefore consulted widely and have unanimously decided to vote for only candidate that would negotiate with us for the establishment of the Bayelsa State Oil and Gas producing Communities Development Commission (BASOPADEC). We’ll also not hesitate to take legal action to claim our rights in the 13% (percent) derivation fund as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.”
“The failure to establish BASOPADEC is traceable to past governors of the state not coming from oil producing communities, hence will use it as a bargaining this time around.”
He also urged the Federal Government to stop paying the 13% derivation to Bayelsa State before the November 11 governorship election, “because it will be diverted to electioneering expenditure.”
Earlier, giving an overview of the activities of the organization in a paper titled, ‘HOSTCOM: The Journey So Far’, guest speaker, Professor Dau Zibokere noted that Hostcom is a national organization duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with complete and appropriate constitution, well-designed set of logo, mission and vision statements, as well as an Article of Faith(AoF) with a four-tier organogram.
He stated that the body was strictly a peace-oriented advocacy pressure group, overseeing all the oil and gas producing states, local government areas and communities in the nation, noting also that Hostcom is now fully instituted in no fewer than 11 states.
Professor Zibokere averred that as oil and gas is discovered in more states, the organization would also incorporate them as member states.
The academics who also stated that the organization has been in the state for more than 20 years in its quest to bringing relief to the plights of the deprived oil and gas producing communities, said a major high-point in the Article of Faith (AoF) of HostCom was to cement a peaceful working relationship between the oil and gas producing communities and the oil companies operating in them, as well as the states and federal governments, including other relevant stakeholders and institutions, respectively.
He said: “In Bayelsa State for instance, HostCom had registered over 1,200 oil and gas bearing (impacted, inclusive) communities across the eight (8) LGAs with an existing ten (10) member exco in each of the LGAs, communities and other highly spirited individuals who registered on their own as members of HostCom in the state.
“Today HostCom is standing tall in advocating for equity, fairness and justice for the development of the host communities, and this has led to HostCom putting forward the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), now Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) which we’re hopeful host communities would benefit from in due course.”
Also speaking, the Amayanabo of Nembe and grand patron of HostCom, HRM King (Dr) Edmund Daukoru (Mingi Xii), represented by Alabo Christopher Erewari-Igoniowei, commended the organization for its resilience and steadfastness in bringing succour to the deprived host communities producing oil and gas in the state.
The monarch restated his resolve for a continued partnership with the organization and all relevant stakeholders in ensuring that the organization remains the pride of the oil and gas producing communities in the discharge of its mandate, just as he advocated for peaceful coexistence amongst host communities in the state.
The royal father also called on governments at all levels to consider the plight of host communities, while handling the finances accruing to their coffers through oil and gas exploration activities.
Meanwhile, Mrs Alayingi Sylva, wife of the immediate past minister of state, Petroleum Resources, and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 11, 2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial polls, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the state APC chairman, Barr (Dr) Dennis Otiotio – Odoni have promised to partner HostCom in its quest to ameliorate the plight of host communities across the state if the party wins the forthcoming polls.
He charged the group to be prepared to formally meet with the APC governorship candidate, Chief Timpere Sylva.
Mrs Sylva was represented by wife of the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Joshua MacIver.
The APC chieftain, Otiotio – Odoni also urged the organization to key into the provisions of the newly enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), adding that the PIA has created room for the establishment of host communities’ trustees and other aspects having to do directly with the host communities by the oil and gas companies operating in their areas.
He also decried the compositions of the various cluster groups, who are mainly PDP members and called on the oil companies to scrap them or allow them to include other Bayelsans without political affiliation for a smooth relationship between oil companies and host communities.
