The Niger Delta
Self-Determination Movement has renewed the demand for the people of the Niger
Delta to control resources in their geo-political zone.
The Convener of the
movement, Ms Ankio Brigs, made the appeal in a statement made available to the
News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday.
``After due
consultations, we came up with the position to control our resources," she
asserted.
According to her, the
demand for resource control is because of the lopsided nature of the revenue
sharing formula in Nigeria.
Briggs pleaded with the
UN to step in and assist the people of the Niger Delta in conducting a
referendum to establish the will of the people on resource control.
"After due
consultations with our various peoples, we have come to a conclusion and our
position was reached relying on and pursuant to the African Charter on Human
and Peoples Rights.
"We are also relying
on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and various bills of
rights in the Niger Delta.
"We also rely on the
UN address by President Muhammadu Buhari at the 70th Session of the UN General
Assembly in New York on the 28th of Sept. 2015.
"The president
stated in his address that the unresolved question of self-determination for
the Palestinian people and those of Western Sahara, both nations having been
adjusted by the UN as qualifying for this inalienable right must now be assured
and fulfilled without any further delay or obstacle."
She noted that being
allowed the option of self- determination would enable the Niger Delta people
to exercise their right to autonomy in matters relating to their local affairs,
religion, education, economic activities, lands and other natural resources.
"Pursuant to the
African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, we the peoples of the Niger Delta
had articulated our demand for self-determination through our various ethnic
nationalities Bills of Rights.
"These include but
not limited to the Ogoni Bill of Rights 1990, the Kaiama (Ijaw) Declaration
1998, the Bill of Rights of the Oron People 1999, Urhobo Bill of Rights 2002
and Efik Bill of Rights 2014, among others.
"Every state has a
duty under the UN to refrain from any forcible action which can deprive
indigenous peoples their right to self-determination and freedom," she
argued.
Briggs said that the
sharing of oil and gas revenues from the Niger Delta had always been disturbing
and unacceptable to the people of the Niger Delta.
"Over the years,
well-meaning Nigerians have drawn attention to the inadequacies in the current
Nigerian Constitution.
The constitution did not
take into consideration, the genuine desires, wishes and aspirations of the
people of the Niger Delta and other minorities in Nigeria" the activist
said. (NAN)
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