By Emeka Samuel,Uyo
Apex Ibibio cultural organisation, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, has expressed its readiness to mount a mega resistance against the Water Resources Bill with other ethnic nationality groups in the Niger Delta region and sister coastal states.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its executive meeting at the weekend in Uyo, MMI also urged all governors and National Assembly members from the Niger Delta region and other coastal states in Nigeria to rise against the proposed Water Resoures Bill being put forward for consideration at the National Assembly, irrespective of political affiliations.
The communiqué endorsed by its International President Akparawa James Edet and Secretary General, Akparawa Bassey Bassey described the bill as, “evil, repressive, a complete misplacement of priorities and an attempt to deprive the people of the region and other coastal states resources freely given to them by God and by such action, further impoverish them.”
“That a bill which aims to confer ownership, control and management of surface and underground waters on the Federal Government, like what is obtainable in petroleum resources, is an affront to the sensibilities of our people which must be rejected and fought with all peaceful and constitutional means available to ensure it does not see the light of the day.
“Members of the National Assembly nay the Federal Government should resist every temptation by the promoters of this evil and obnoxious bill to exacerbate the already smoldering schisms in our country which have brewed mistrust fueled by actions, inactions, policies and lopsided appointments to key positions in favour of a particular section of the country.” It said.
It expressed disappointment that the Federal Government was considering such a bill instead of looking for solutions to the mounting economic and social challenges in the country.
“This is at a time when students have been grounded at home for over six months due to the ASUU strike; at a time insecurity has attained monumental proportions with killings and abductions for ransom.
“At a time when the country’s currency, the naira, is on a free fall and at its lowest ebb ever in the history of our country; at a time enterprises are shutting down and foreign investors are leaving the country due to unbearable operational costs and poor economic policies.
“What should preoccupy policy makers in our nation should be how to channel all energy and resources towards tackling those issues and not to plunge the country into more avoidable crises, with such a highly contentious bill which is suspected to have been put forward to serve sinister and sectional interests.
“Working with other ethnic nationality groups in the Niger Delta region and sister coastal states, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio will mobilise strong resistance to the Water Resources Bil and hopes that other patriotic Nigerians who desire the unity and cohesion of the country will lend their voices as well, as injury to one is injury to all”, it warned.
