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As the controversy over who owns
Soku oil wells deepens between the Rivers State Government and the Bayelsa
State Government, Former Minister of Petroleum Resources and rights activist,
Professor Tam David-West have warned President Goodluck Jonathan who is from
Bayelsa, to leave the controversial oil wells in Rivers State, the known
historical owners of Soku.
Professor David-West also averred
that the people of Kalabari kingdom(Soku is part of Kalabari land) are prepared
to fight the Presidency over the ceding of Soku oil wells to Bayelsa State at
every level, stating that no part of Kalabari Kingdom will be allowed to be
ceded to any other part of the country. He revealed that the Kalabari oceanic
communities of Kula, Soku, Idama, Elem-Sangama and Abisse have been existing
for over 300 years of Kalabari history in Rivers State.
David-West disclosed this Friday when
he led a delegation of Kings, Chiefs, Elders, youths and representatives of the
Occeanic Communities of Akuku-Toru local government area in Rivers State on a
solidarity visit on the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
in Port Harcourt.
According to him, “I thank you,
Governor Amaechi particularly on what you have been doing for the Kalabari Kingdom.
Unfortunately, some of our brothers and leaders don’t understand this. I know
what you are going through. But, why should an Ikwerre Governor be sacrificed,
for saying that, don’t take away Kalabari Communities from Rivers to Bayelsa
State. Kalabari people need to go round such person and carry him high. When Nnamdi
Azikiwe came to Port Harcourt, I remember, we carried him and I think, every
kalabari person should be carrying Amaechi high to replicate the kind gesture.
I learnt of a new word for the Oceanic communities in the Kalabari Kingdom,
those are the original Kalabari settlements. So, the Oceanic communities are
older than, Buguma, Abonnema and Degema. The communities called, Oceanic
communities have been existing for over 300 years of Kalabari history, and over
the years, our forefathers fought to maintain the integrity of the Kalabari
kingdom. And, any one that is
dismantling it now, whether from Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto or Bayelsa State, will never succeed. Our ancestors fought also with Canon guns to protect these territories, but, at this time, we have other implements to fight the struggle.” David-West said.
dismantling it now, whether from Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto or Bayelsa State, will never succeed. Our ancestors fought also with Canon guns to protect these territories, but, at this time, we have other implements to fight the struggle.” David-West said.
Continuing, he also explained the
attempt by some Kalabari chiefs to sign a secret document to cede the Oceanic
Communities to Bayelsa state as a ploy to distort facts that have genuine historical
antecedents since the period of the colonial era.
David-West said, “Truth, only has
one version, all the time they are shifting the boundaries to their favour with
some Kalabari Chiefs, who were secretly approached to sign documents to cede
all these territories to Bayelsa state. But, they cannot change the fact that,
the controversial
oil well territories belongs to the Kalabari people.
oil well territories belongs to the Kalabari people.
“This is because, if you plan evil
or attempt to ruin the Kalabari land of its natural resources, the gods, our
ancestors will not allow you. Bayelsa state was created in 1996, and the
boundary was created between us at the Santa Barbara river. It has now been
moved to the San Bartholomew river.
If they allow that, then, Abonnema
and Idama will be in Bayelsa state. This is what is coming and I tell you stop
it now, because God will not allow it to happen. We must go back to the
colonial boundary which was impartial. If you rig election to be in office,
tomorrow, you may not be there, but these records will be there forever. And,
it is left to us Kalabari sons and daughters to support all those fighting for
our course. And, fight with all that we have to stop this nonsense. It is
nonsense and I owe no apology to it because, it is nonsense. Any person who
wakes up any morning that he is going to acquire territory owned by people by
fiat is nonsense. This is because, they can never get it, even with their pen. One
oil well is a billion naira, and we are talking about 41 oil wells”, he said.
Professor tam David-West while
commending Governor Amaechi picked holes with President Jonathan over his style
of leadership, which he said, was calculated to deprive the Kalabari people of
their natural resources.
“So, I think, we owe Governor
Amaechi a chain of gratitude for agitating severally that, this is my
territory, I am the Governor of Rivers State and, I will not concede to cede
any territory from the state to anybody. You swore by the Bible, when taking
the oath of allegiance to protect the territorial integrity of the state. Let
me say categorically that, I have nothing against President Jonathan, but, I
hate the style of his leadership and I have no apologies for it. Let me say
also that, I will not support somebody who wants a political office because he
is an Ijaw man, but will only support such person, only when that person is good.
I remembered that, President Jonathan was schooling at Imiringi at his young age,
when I was a serving commissioner in Rivers State. I am not against him, but, I
am particularly against everything about his government and leadership,
especially, his style of divide and rule system. He will not succeed. I have
told his brother who is a fantastic engineer to tell President Jonathan that, I
will not pull him down, but, if I see people pulling him down, I will not stop
them, because, he is not doing well.”
“And, I want him (Jonathan) to tell
us the kind of legacy he wants to leave behind after his tenure. What I want to
tell President Jonathan is that, let him leave the Kalabari territory and the
oil wells alone. I am also told that, they were planning to create another
state out of Bayelsa state. But, when they looked at it, the population was too
small, and now, they have considered to take in Abonema and Idama communities
as part of Bayelsa state. It will not happen”, Professor David-West said.
The former Petroleum Minister
further commended Governor Amaechi for all the numerous projects his
administration offered to the people of Rivers State, and urged him to ensure
communities at the grassroots feel government presence.
Hear Tam David-west, “Your Excellency,
in a gathering like this, I wish to pledge my loyalty to you. I said it many
times, and I will say it again that, you are doing well. If you are not doing
well, I will tell you, you are not doing well. Anyone who have not seen what
Governor Amaechi has done in Rivers State is blinder than bat. I want to use
this occasion to tell you that my loyalty is not nairalized. There is no Naira
tag on my loyalty”. On his part, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi has assured the people of the Oceania communities that his administration
will work towards the completion of all ongoing projects as a means of showing
government presence in the area, and further urged the people to vote out PDP in 2015 to get back their oil wells from Bayelsa State. According to him, “The question you should ask yourself is where are we going to? And what you need is to vote out PDP in 2015, and be assured of getting back your oil wells”, Amaechi said.
government presence in the area, and further urged the people to vote out PDP in 2015 to get back their oil wells from Bayelsa State. According to him, “The question you should ask yourself is where are we going to? And what you need is to vote out PDP in 2015, and be assured of getting back your oil wells”, Amaechi said.
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