By Binebai Princewill 

A Niger Delta human rights activist, Comr.  Youkore Mamamu Bene, popularly known as young Chief  has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria  to pay 13 percent derivation to oil-producing communities instead of the state governors.

Comr. Youkore Mamamu Bene

The Niger Delta youth leader who hails from oil bearing communities in Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom,Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State  averred that the direct payment to oil-producing communities would lead to the effective development of the region and communities that has been neglected and abandoned over time. 

Comr. Youkore Mamamu Bene made the call via a statement he signed and issued to newsmen in Warri yesterday, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide. 

Mamamu particularly described the situation as counter productive and a further enslavement to the goose that lays the golden egg. 

Activist Youkore  described the earlier defence of Okowa as provocative and an attempt by the Niger Delta governors to continue the alleged diversion of 13 percent derivation meant to develop oil producing communities and the region.

Speaking further, Mamamu Youkore Bene  opposed the stand of the Presidency over the 13 percent derivation funds, claiming that the oil and gas producing communities could not control the derivation funds and that it is the governors that could manage the funds on behalf of the oil-producing communities.

In his words: “This is a great insult and deceitful position of the governors known to have embezzled the funds meant for the development of the region. Okowa and his colleagues should come out to tell us what they have done with the 13 percent derivation funds and many other funds accrued to the region.”

Youkore asserted that the Niger Delta governors could not continue to enslave and mortgage the future of youths and that of the unborn children in the creeks.

“The Niger Delta governors should not provoke the wrath of the gods upon their lives if they refuse to steer clear of the 13 percent derivation funds that they have been hijacked and mismanaged for all these years.

“In our years of agitation as Niger Deltans and oil bearing communities,  we have observed the damages and the devastating effects caused by these greedy self-centered state governors from the region. The oil and gas producing communities in the region are saying enough is enough. Therefore, the governors from the region, have been warned to steer clear of the 13 percent derivation funds.” Youkore added. 

The youth leader had in the statement, however, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to protect the interests of the oil-bearing communities against the continued diversion of the funds accruing through the 13 percent derivation funds from the various state Governors. 

“ Therefore, Mr. President should do the needful and he has the power enshrined in the Constitution and he should give a presidential directive not to pay the 13 percent derivation funds to the governors of the region anymore because the derivation funds are on the exclusive legislative list.

“The President has the prerogative and jurisdiction on all matters in the exclusive legislative list, including oil and gas in the Act which no state governor or state assembly can legislate on. “ The rights activist stated . 

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