A lecturer with the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rivers state Dr. (Chief) Emmanuel N.Osilem has taken a swipe at the reintroduction of the water resource Bill at the National Assembly currently generating tension in the Niger Delta, saying it does not have any justification for the people of the region in any form.
Dr. Osilem who spoke to this publication in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital maintained that what is happening to the region, thus appears that anything that concerns them, is somehow handle with some level of administrative rascality, adding that if the opposite had been in the other part of the country, they would have made it peculiar even in administrative wise to have a unusual benefits for having such resources within the region.
He lamented that it was quite annoying that despite the mineral resources in other parts, only the resources from the Niger Delta region are used in sharing, budgeting and the development of the country.
“with due respect to their area: I guess you understand these other parts also have mineral resources, what is the benefit of those resources to other parts of the nation?” Dr.Osilem asked
The Poly Senior lecturer maintained that if one look at the petroleum bill for instance, one will discovered that only 3% percent was actually allocated to where the resources flows, adding that the water resource bill is not in the best interest to the Niger Delta people because the people are becoming hypertensive over this bill and if care is not taken may snowball to something else.
Dr. Osilem who is also a community leader in his area however, cautioned that for the interest of peace in the region, the federal government must think of a kind of bills that will give the people of the area a hope and not the type that will cause them more anger and pains.
On the 4billion surveillance contract to a former Niger Delta militant, the human resource manager reacted thus: ” well, the circumstances surrounding that may have given impetus to that; but if however, the federal government feels that there was an error, they will have to sit down and review the entire contract processes and conditions, especially on the issue of insecurity” he explained.
Talking more on the issue of the water resource bill, Dr.Osilem said there are issues in the country which the federal government must handle with proper care in order not to give room for crisis, adding that like the issue of ranching and ruga settlement there must have a clear policy so as not to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the country.
Commenting on the political system in the country, the Senior lecturer said for certain political errors that have been made in the past by bad leadership may have been driven by God Himself to correct the system in Nigeria, adding that at this point that people are highly conscious and sensitized, Nigerians knows what to do come 2023.
He maintained that for the present administration to have signed the electoral act indicate that snatching of ballot boxes by political thugs will be a thing of the past, adding that any attempt by any politicians to do otherwise shall backfired because of the consciousness in the people this time around and called on politicians to allow the system flow.
Speaking also on the award to his Rector Bar. Samuel Kalagbor who was recently elected as the head of all polytechnics and colleges of technology in the country (COHEADs), described him as a round peak in a round hole.
“I think there is a saying in our place that a goldfish has no hiding place. Chief Dr.Bar Sam Kalagbor is a man of unquestionable character who has shown a high capacity in administration since his inception in the institution”