Niger Delta group renews resource control campaign, seeks UN support

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, Ankio Briggs, 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 said.

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 September 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,” according to the statement.

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 said.

Briggs said 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,” she said.