UYO, March 30, (THEWILL)
– The Speakers of State
Assemblies in the six
states of the South-South
zone Thursday night
presented the Speaker of
the Delta State House of
Assembly, Rt. Honourable
Victor Ochei, as its sole
candidate for the
Chairmanship of the
Speakers Conference of
Nigeria.
The election is slated for
April 12, 2012.
Ochei was presented at
the one-day South-South
Speakers Forum held at
the Le-Meridian Ibom
Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo,
Akwa Ibom State where
the heads of the
legislature also
condemned in strong
terms the recent call by
some northern leaders
and organizations for the
downward review of the
13 percent oil derivation
currently being received
by the states.
Such advocacy was
however dismissed by the
group and referred to as
baseless, even as the
Speakers launched a
campaign seeking the
payment of 50 percent
allocation accruable from
the oil derivation fund to
the 6 states.
These were contained in a
6-point communiqué
signed by the lawmakers
at the end of a one-day
summit.
According to the
communiqué, “The recent
call by certain Northern
Leaders and organizations
for the downward review
or withdrawal of 13%
derivation principle on oil
revenue allocation to the
oil bearing states of the
South-South is
provocative, vexatious, ill
advised and unpatriotic, as
the call is not based on
any sustainable grounds
of advocacy.
“It must be made clear
that the current 13%
derivation accruable
according to the oil
producing states in the
Niger Delta region is
hardly commensurate
with the environmental
hazards and degradation
suffered by the people of
the region, and that, the
region is determined to
demand upward review to
about 50% and no region
can blackmail the south-
south geo-political zone to
back out of its just and
noble campaign”, the
communiqué read.
Also in the resolution,
were strong
condemnations of the
Boko Haram menace as
well as declaration of total
support for President
Goodluck Jonathan
transformation agenda,
commendation and
support for the massive
infrastructural
developments by the
South-South states
governors.
“That the forum
vehemently condemns the
recent spate of unbridled
killing and suicide
bombings of Nigerians
resident in some parts of
the north by misguided
extremist Islamic sect,
Boko Haram as criminal,
ungodly, provocative and
injurious to the unity and
progress of the nation”,
the statement stressed.
Commending the various
security agencies for their
effort in combating
terrorism in the country,
the lawmakers charged
the federal government to
ensure that perpetrators
of such dastardly act and
their sponsors are brought
to book to curb further
despicable operation by
the sect.
Speaking, host and
Speaker of Akwa Ibom
legislature, Elder Sam Ikon,
assured that the coming
together was for the
purpose of having one
voice to speak for the
development of the region
in national politics.
Responding on his
nomination, Mr. Victor
Ochei, thanked the forum
for the confidence reposed
on him, promising that he
will make effective
representation if voted as
the chairman, Speaker’s
Conference of Nigeria.

www.thewillnigeria.com/politics/13325-South-South-Speakers-Adopt-Ochei-For-Speakers-Conference-Chairman.html