By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lamented the signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari despite what they describes as the outcry by Nigerians across board on the bill passed by the National Assembly.
The party said that the signing of the law, despite widespread public rejection, amounts to endorsement of imposition and further confirms that President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) have no iota of respect for the people as well as the tenets of democracy as a system of government, in a statement by its Spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan on Monday
“By his action, President Buhari has only authenticated that he is not a listening leader and that the APC and its leaders are only out to trample on the will of Nigerians for their selfish interests.
“In putting his hands to endorse the obnoxious bill, even with its distasteful, paltry and provocative 3% revenue to oil producing communities, President Buhari and the APC have again displayed disdain and insensitivity to the sufferings of the people of the Niger Delta” the party stated.
The PDP maintained that such an action is the height of contempt to oil producing communities, particularly in the face of the challenges which they face as a result of oil exploration.
“Noting that Mr. President could have returned the bill to the National Assembly with a request that it is made to address the demands of the oil producing communities, our party fears that the new law cannot guarantee the desired stability and development in the oil and gas sector as well as respite in the Niger Delta region.
“If anything, the Act as signed by President Buhari is a dangerous recipe for avoidable crisis in the sector” the party stated.
The PDP called on President Buhari to salvage the situation by immediately forwarding an amendment to the National Assembly to reflect the true wishes and aspirations of every segment of the nation.
It called on the South-South geo-political zone to remain calm and charged lawmakers elected on its platform to be at alert as preparation must commenced for an urgent amendment to the law.
