Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
The Forum of Ethnic Nationalities of Niger Delta has called on state governors, especially those that have river borders to reject the reintroduced Water Bill, describing it as a way of acquiring states’ land.
The forum’s Convener, Mr. Dotimi Kaster, stated this on Monday while reacting to the bill, saying if the governors keep quiet, a day will come when states will not have any land.
He said, “We are expecting governors like Okowa, Wike, Diri, Obaseki, Sanwo-Olu and others to speak with one voice because if they keep quiet, a day will come that we will not have any land. This is an indirect way of acquiring land.
“See what we are facing in our forests today, where farmers cannot farm any more for fear of the unknown, and the Federal Government is taking on Water Bill to take over our water surface. “We, the Niger Delta region, supported the position of Governor Ortom and we call on every well-meaning Nigerians to reject the Water Bill for us to practise true federalism.
“The bill wants to take everything along water surface to be owned by the Federal Government which is against the law and we will fight against the bill within the ambit of the law. “Ortom is coming from Benue, which means River Benue is also to be affected. So, I expect Okowa to join his voice with Ortom and save our land in Delta.”
The forum called on the people in the riverine area to oppose the bill, saying if there must be a bill, it will be a bill with a wide consultation especially among the people in the river areas.
(punchng.com)
