THE Urhobo Youth Leaders Association (UYLA), has alerted Nigerians and the international community that the Federal Government’s move through the resurrected Water Resources Bill is targeted at the Niger Delta people to create an avenue for the untouchable marauding Fulani herdsmen to completely conquer the people of the region.
They alleged that it was a ploy to take over all available God-given resources of the Niger Delta people through the resubmitted Water Resources Bill.
The group in a statement signed by the Association’s Acting President, Chief Anthony Ofoni, said; “UYLA rejects in its entirety the anti-federalism bill which sought to handover all surface and underground water sources as well as river banks under the control of the Federal Government through its agencies.
“The bill is targeted at the Niger Delta people to create an avenue for the untouchable marauding Fulani herdsmen to completely conquer the people of the region.”
According to the statement, the proposed law is titled, ‘A Bill for An Act to Establish a Regulatory Framework for the Water Resources Sector in Nigeria, Provide for the Equitable and Sustainable Redevelopment, Management, Use and Conservation of Nigeria’s Surface Water and Groundwater Resources and for Related Matter.’
They noted that, the bill when passed in law will concentrate the control of water resources around rivers Niger and Benue as well as other water ways which cut across 20 states in the hands of the Federal Government.
According to the association, the National Water Resources Bill failed to secure a concurrent passage by both Houses in the Eighth Assembly, adding that In the current Ninth Assembly, it has passed second reading in the House of Representatives and has been referred to a House committee.
The association observed that the bill when passed would breach citizens’ right to water, adding that controversial parts of the bill include the part that vests ownership of water bodies on the federal government and the part that mandates citizens to get federal permission to drill bore holes in their homes or businesses despite the inability of the government to provide potable water to majority of its citizens.
The group called on the South South Governors, members of the National Assembly as well as well meaning Nigerians to team up and resist the devilish bill targeted to favour the killer Fulani herdsmen. According to UYLA, “If the bill is allowed, the Niger Delta people will no longer have any place to be called home and all the locations of our farmlands, oil and gas resources will be automatically taken over by the FG, and this must not be allowed to happen”. The stated.
They called on the National Assembly to listen to the voice of the people by resting this bill, saying that legislation is one of the three constitutional functions of the National Assembly, and it should be a representation of the aspiration, will and sensitivities of the populace but not a dictatorial arm of government.
BY SAM DUVWODE
