IJAW YOUTHS THREATEN TO SHUT DOWN NIGERIA'S OIL PRODUCTION OVER CONFAB RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has rejected the decision of the National Conference Sub-Committee on devolution of power and resource control which maintained the current 13% derivation for oil producing states.
A statement signed by the Spokesman of IYC, Eric Omare today said the position of the committee is'' retrogressive, anti-federalism and totally unacceptable to the Niger Delta people''.
The statement further read ''The Committee’s decision to maintain the status quo and refusing to address the crucial issue of resource control betrays the expectation of Nigerians and Niger Deltans in particular that the National conference would right the wrongs of the past, deepen our federal system of government and put Nigeria on the path to development. This is nothing but a triumph of the retrogressive and provocative agenda of reactionary forces in Northern Nigeria''.
According to the IYC, the decision of the Niger Delta people to give peace a chance to allow the federal government address the problems of the Niger Delta should not be taken as weakness. 
''The Niger Delta people are still willing, ready and capable of bringing the Nigeria economy to its knees. The opposition of reactionary northern delegates to resource control and demand for scrapping of the NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Amnesty programme are provocative to the Niger Delta people and we may be forced to take drastic actions.
'' These are interventionist agencies created for specific purposes which are not only beneficial to the Niger Delta Region but the entire country as demonstrated in the astronomical increase in the nation’s revenue as a result of the Amnesty programme. The IYC working with other ethnic nationalities and stakeholders in the Niger Delta would in the coming days review and take a position on the way forward'', the IYC warned.
The IYC called on southern delegates, particularly Niger Delta delegates to the National Confab to insist on resource control during the debate in plenary and not to deviate from the position of the region on resource control under any circumstance.
The youths deplored what they described as the ''unauthorised and reckless contributions of some Niger Delta delegates who have taken positions which amounts to deviation and betrayal of the Niger Delta position''. warning that any Niger Delta delegate who deviates from the common position of Niger Delta people on resource control would be declared as a persona non gratia and would not be allowed to return to the region.
Source: Daily Trust