…As Senators Nwoye, Echocho biker over kogi state status
By Musa Baba Adamu
The Senate yesterday rejected move to include Anambra State in the membership of Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) .
This was as the move and rejection led to bickering between Senators Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra North) and Jibrin Isah popularly known as Echocho ( APC Kogi East) .
Senator Nwoye had in his lead debate on the bill seeking for amendment of the NDDC Act for inclusion of Anambra State , being an oil producing State , argued that Anambra deserved membership of NDDC since it has been collecting 13% derivation since 2021 on account of appreciable volume of oil production on yearly basis .
But most of the Senators who made contributions on the bill , Nwoye spiritedly sought second reading for ; kicked against his argument on the grounds that States like Kogi and Lagos States are not covered by NDDC operations despite being oil producing states .
Specifically , Senator Jibrin Isah ( Echocho) , said NDDC by its name , is more of regional or geographical intervention body and not just for oil producing states .
He said his state ( Kogi ) , has also been collecting 13% derivation as an oil producing state , a claim , Senator Nwoye vociferously countered , by repeatedly declaring with relevant documents in his hand , that Anambra and not Kogi , has been collecting 13% derivation .
“ Mr President and distinguished colleagues , Anambra as an oil producing state has been collecting 13% derivation from oil exploited from her wells by the federal government since 2021 , and eminently deserves to be included in the operational radius of NDDC .
“ Kogi State was also declared as an oil producing state , but has not been collecting any 13% derivation “, he said .
Irked by the submission , Senator Echocho furiously took to the floor by admonishing Senator Nwoye to limit his argument to Anambra State and allow the senate to decide the fate of his bill.
“ Senator Nwoye with all due respect , please stop dragging Kogi State into your argument for membership of Anambra State in NDDC . Kogi State is an oil producing State and has also been collecting 13% derivation since October 2022”, he said.
In a tension dousing move , the President of the State , Godswill Akpabio , said if the argument of Senator Nwoye on proposed membership of Anambra State in NDDC, is to be accepted by the Senate , then Lagos State , which has two oil wells in Badagry, will also clamour for membership of the commission .
On submissions made by Senator Nwoye that even if NDDC is considered to be a geographical or regional interventionist body , Anambra State qualifies to be a member on account of its proximity to Niger Delta area, Akpabio said the National boundary commission , would have decide that.
He accordingly put passage of the bill for second reading to voice votes with nays from Senators against it , overwhelming those in favour of it .
