The Presidency and the government of Bayelsa state are in the middle of a cold war with the Rivers State government over the potential ceding of some oil producing communities to Bayelsa state.
The oil wells are currently under the purview of Rivers State and the State government is not going down without a fight.
The Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati in a statement accused the Rivers State government of ‘school boy style’ protest and also of ‘cheap blackmail’. The accusations arrived on the back of a protest by the Kalabari Traditional Forum in Rivers which was spearheadedby a former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Graham Douglas.
Abati’s statement said, “We consider these allegations irresponsible and most unfortunate considering the status of the persons who reportedly championed the protest.
“The statutory agencies being referred to by the protesters do not take orders from the President; they are independent bodies.
“Besides, there are laid down procedures for resolving inter-state boundary disputes.
“In this particular case, the dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states predates the Jonathan administration, and has been a matter for consideration by the National Boundary Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and other relevant agencies, long before now.
“The matter has never at any time been brought before either the President or the Vice President.
“The school-boy style protest is an attempt at cheap blackmail.
“We find the motive deplorable. It is all the more surprising that a man of Alabo Graham Douglas’s stature, a former Minister who ought to know what is right, will team up with a group intent on causing disaffection between the President and his Ijaw kinsmen.”
Meanwhile the Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson has also accused Amaechi of diparaging President Jonathan and of making statements capable of causing a lingering crisis between the two states.
Dickson has requested for an unreserved apology from Amaechi “over its unguarded, mischievous and misleading statements, which clearly are calculated to disparage the Presidency and incite violence between the two states.”
On the oil dispute and the legitimacy of Bayelsa’s claim to the oil fields, Dickson released a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.
The statement reads, “The facts remain that all the relevant maps – the administrative map of Nigeria 10th edition produced in 1992 and the 11th edition produced in 2000 were clearly produced long before Dr. Goodluck Jonathan became the Vice-President and later President.
“It is therefore pertinent to state that no amount of blackmail or propaganda will deter the government of Bayelsa State from pursuing its legitimate rights and entitlements under the law.
“We wish to assure our good brothers in Rivers State not to allow themselves to be used for cheap blackmail or any form of propaganda against the President and Bayelsa State.
“Let it be clearly stated that the government of Bayelsa State is not interested in annexing Kalabari clan, as it is being alleged, for the purpose of claming derivation entitlements or any other purpose whatsoever.
“We condemn the deliberate and mischievous attempt to link the President to what is clearly an exercise of Bayelsa State Government’s right. The government of Rivers State itself has made several such claims of wrongful payments of derivation monies and has severally received refund in deserving cases.”
The Rivers State government has come out to deny thre allegations, calling President JOnathan a ‘bonafide Port Harcourt boy’ and a ‘worthy in-law’.
These remarks were made by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.
She said, “The government of Rivers State has not made any statement suggestive of blackmail against President Jonathan who is both a bona fide Port-Harcourt boy and a worthy in-law.
“However, I am aware that the people of Akuku-Toru lga have protested the redrawing of the geographical map of Rivers State that attempts to tear them away from their kith and kin in the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State.
“I doubt that this exercise of their constitutional right can be viewed as blackmail against our brothers in Bayelsa not to mention Mr. President.”
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