Some leaders and stakeholders of the South-South have criticized former presidential aide, Dr. Usman Bugaje, for his recent assertion that the North owns 78 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil.
Bugaje argued in an interview with Vanguard that due to the North’s ownership of 78 per cent of the country’s landmass, it should claim the offshore oil reserves as well.
However, his remarks have been met with strong opposition. Elder Joeseph Amabakederimo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Community Development Committees in the Niger Delta, labeled Bugaje’s comments as uninformed and nonsensical.
Former lawmaker Peter Umoh dismissed Bugaje as an illiterate and urged him to go back to school, while Uyo-based lawyer Mfon Peters accused him of misleading Nigerians with selfish arguments.
Veteran journalist Tony Abolo criticized Bugaje’s logic, calling it ridiculous and devoid of scientific evidence. Meanwhile, environmentalist Morris Alagoa emphasized the physical possession of resources by the people of the Niger Delta and called for an end to greed in resource ownership.
The controversy underscores the ongoing debate over resource ownership and calls for a fairer distribution of wealth in Nigeria.
This clash of perspectives highlights the need for informed dialogue and a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding resource ownership and distribution in the country.
(source: Vanguard)
