An elder statesman and renowned activist in the Niger Delta region, Sokari Soberekon, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to reduce the cost of fuel, ensuring particularly that oil-producing states pay less than other states in the country.
Soberekon made the call in an exclusive interview with South-South PUNCH, on Wednesday, while reacting to the seemingly sustained increase in fuel price.
He argued for the product’s price to be reduced to N700 per litre in the entire country and N500 per litre in areas he described as “merely designated on paper as oil-producing, but which benefits little or nothing from the mineral resource.”
He said, “I advocate for the product to be sold to Rivers and Bayelsa states at a “conscientious price” of N300 per litre, being the areas that produce the resource and hence suffer the resultant environmental hazards.”
Soberekon emphasized the desire for preferential treatment for the long-neglected Oloibiri town in the distribution of developmental projects meant for oil-producing areas, as oil was first discovered in the community, 68 years ago.
The retired soldier-turned-activist angrily labelled the practice “terribly unjust,” as he recalled his earlier successes achieved through peaceful persistent protests, one of which, during the visit of former President Shehu Shagari to Port Harcourt, impelled the then President to establish the 1.3 per cent oil derivation fund.
The advocate decried the non-availability of the accruals now reportedly standing at $6.8 trillion for the development of oil producing areas.
He explained his preference for taking his own life instead of carrying out violent protest, risking the lives of others, saying, “Should my people of the Niger Delta be denied justice in the disbursement of earnings from ongoing oil exploration and exploitation in the region, I will kill myself. But I trust that Tinubu won’t let me die, he will make the necessary changes.”
The Niger Delta resource control advocate further insinuated alleged personal neglect from the government, characterizing it as that of the biblical “poor wise man,” according to Ecclesiastes 9:13 – 15, who “by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no one remembered him.”
Nevertheless, Soberekon reaffirms his resolve to die for the course, quoting Julius Caesar, “I love the name of honour, more than I fear death.”
He however, expressed confidence in President Tinubu, saying, “God bless Tinubu for paying attention to the oil-producing areas that have long been neglected,” even as he strongly warned the President to refrain from relinquishing the Nigerian petroleum portfolio to any other individual, expressing trust in the President’s capabilities.
Soberekon made the call in an exclusive interview with South-South PUNCH, on Wednesday, while reacting to the seemingly sustained increase in fuel price.
He argued for the product’s price to be reduced to N700 per litre in the entire country and N500 per litre in areas he described as “merely designated on paper as oil-producing, but which benefits little or nothing from the mineral resource.”
He said, “I advocate for the product to be sold to Rivers and Bayelsa states at a “conscientious price” of N300 per litre, being the areas that produce the resource and hence suffer the resultant environmental hazards.”
Soberekon emphasized the desire for preferential treatment for the long-neglected Oloibiri town in the distribution of developmental projects meant for oil-producing areas, as oil was first discovered in the community, 68 years ago.
The retired soldier-turned-activist angrily labelled the practice “terribly unjust,” as he recalled his earlier successes achieved through peaceful persistent protests, one of which, during the visit of former President Shehu Shagari to Port Harcourt, impelled the then President to establish the 1.3 per cent oil derivation fund.
The advocate decried the non-availability of the accruals now reportedly standing at $6.8 trillion for the development of oil producing areas.
He explained his preference for taking his own life instead of carrying out violent protest, risking the lives of others, saying, “Should my people of the Niger Delta be denied justice in the disbursement of earnings from ongoing oil exploration and exploitation in the region, I will kill myself. But I trust that Tinubu won’t let me die, he will make the necessary changes.”
The Niger Delta resource control advocate further insinuated alleged personal neglect from the government, characterizing it as that of the biblical “poor wise man,” according to Ecclesiastes 9:13 – 15, who “by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no one remembered him.”
Nevertheless, Soberekon reaffirms his resolve to die for the course, quoting Julius Caesar, “I love the name of honour, more than I fear death.”
He however, expressed confidence in President Tinubu, saying, “God bless Tinubu for paying attention to the oil-producing areas that have long been neglected,” even as he strongly warned the President to refrain from relinquishing the Nigerian petroleum portfolio to any other individual, expressing trust in the President’s capabilities.