The Senate's Radical Drift: An Urgent Appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

An Open Letter To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR Commander In-Chief Of The Armed Forces Of Federal Republic Of Nigeria On Administrative Radicalism Of Senate President In Handling Senate Proceedings With Particular Reference To Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Repenting Kogi Central Senatorial District

Introduction 

The National Assembly, in a democratic setting, is the highest revered office for policy formulation and indeed appropriations for national development. It's a pathfinder for the executives who implement what the Senate has instituted and assented to by the President.

This highly respected office in both developed and developing third worlds needs a charismatic and well-cultured, civilized person to preside over it as the head or president, as the case may be. But in Nigeria, setting meritocracy has been compromised for mediocrity on political compensation and awarding rewards for payback time. In a situation of this nature, what the nation will see from the upper chamber's leadership is nothing but a motor park-taught-like proceeding devoid of decorum for fellow distinguished senator(s) 

The Hallow Chamber are people expected to have impeccable characters and a high sense of responsibility, accomplished individuals in their field of study, but in most recent times this epitome of value was seen eroded by the manners in which the Hallow Chamber operates. However, the abysmal character of the Senate president to senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was a carried-over anger arising from the foundation lying of five LNG stations at Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, which took place about two weeks ago.

The President of the Senate had accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of carting the Niger Delta's resources to the northern state by the foundation lying of the LNG stations at Ajaokuta. 

Upon returning to Abuja from the historic foundation lying, the Senate president, Senator Apabio, unilaterally removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from being Chairperson of the Local Content Committee, a position that he (Senator Apabio) thought gave Akpoti the privilege to advocate for such a project for Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited. She (Natasha) was moved to the diaspora committee, and as if this wasn't enough, there were ethnically sponsored complaints from the same geopolitical zone from the Senate president, south-south, calling for the jettison of the LNG stations, for which the foundations were already laid. 

The chairman of the Urhobo oil and gas community, led by one Dr. Ominimini, granted an interview in one of the daily newspapers, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to jettison the project.

The today's (20th Thursday, February, 2025) drama on the floor of the Senate was a reactionary action to an unpleasant development between the president of the Senate and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan arising from resource control.

Her removal from the Local Content Committee interprets the anger, afterthought, and conspiracy theory against the LNG stations in Kogi Central Senatorial district.

In a proverbial adage that "a witchcraft cat cries at night and a child dies in the morning," the follow-up to the removal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was a call on Friday to the President and NNPCL by the national chairman (Dr. Ominimini) from south-south  same geo-political zone from the Senate president calling for the jettison of the LNG project, citing the LNG flag off as oppressive to the URHOBO OIL AND GAS COMMUNITY and alleged that the resources of the south-south were being used to develop the north.

If I may ask, what was the source of Nigeria's survival instinct before oil was discovered? As a student of history, I wish to draw the attention of the Urhobo community and her subterfuge on how the northern resources were used to develop Nigeria before the exploration of oil in late 1963.

In the interest of national development, the colonial masters collapsed south-south into southern protectorates between the Eastern protectorate and western protectorate, using northern revenues to develop the three protectorates, respectively, inclusive of the so-called oil in the Niger Delta.

Below are the revenue generations from the three protectorates to the Central Fund between 1939-40 to 1947-48.

For the years in reference, the northern protectorate contributed 4, 883,028, the eastern protectorate contributed 1, 052, 882 and the western protectorate contributed 842,969. 

Total= 6, 762, 879

Source: Schedule III, Actual Provincial Revenue Contributions to the Central Fund during the Colonial Era without Oil Exploration.

Having analyzed the oneness in Nigeria spending using northern resources before the exploration of oil in the Niger Delta. I wish to appeal to the sensibility of the conspirators to see Nigeria as one indivisible nation and believe in the overall development of the country to the benefit of all. Enough has been done for the Niger Delta, as several development commissions, including AMNESTY and 13% derivations, and indeed several empowerment programs, are to their advantage. 

The siting of LNG at Ajaokuta is a national development and not regional benefits as envisaged by the Urhobo community kingpin. 

Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited is a national colossus and enduring heritage which can transform the nation technologically for us to arrive at our trajectory in innovations and manufacturing for national stability.

Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has suffered enough for a complete forty (40) years of nearly 100% completion, for which no further attention was accorded to it. The Egbira nation will not fold her arms this time around to watch any obstacles and/or individual persons working against its completion since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration is showing enough commitment to seeing to its logical completion.

Our Prayers 

1. The open letter is seeking the President's intervention to call the President of the Senate to order from sponsoring campaign of calumny against the establishment of LNG stations at Ajaokuta.

2. Presidential pronouncement on the no going back on the establishment of the NLG stations at Ajaokuta being national discourse aimed at reviving the company for nation-building.

4. The national and regional benefits are too enormous to be jettisoned.

5. The NNPCL management is called upon to ignore the call for the jettison of the NLG stations at Ajaokuta and see the author as an enemy of the state (Nigeria).

It will be a national shame and embarrassment of the highest order that an individual, in his aggrandizement and tribal envy, stand tall to work against the national project aimed at reviving a moribund national asset. 

The economic value chain of the NLG to the country's growth is as follows: 

1. Job Creation: An NLNG station in Ajaokuta will create employment opportunities for the local population, both during the construction phase and in the long term.

2. Revenue Generation: The NLNG station will generate revenue for the local, state, and federal governments through taxes, royalties, and other fees.

3. Stimulation of Local Economy: The presence of an NLNG station will stimulate the local economy by attracting other businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Industrial Benefits

1. Synergy with Ajaokuta Steel Company: The NLNG station will provide a reliable source of energy for the Ajaokuta Steel Company, enabling it to operate at optimal levels.

2. Development of Industrial Cluster: The NLNG station will anchor the development of an industrial cluster in the region, attracting other industries that can utilize the energy and infrastructure.

3. Increased Industrial Activity: The presence of an NLNG station will increase industrial activity in the region, leading to increased production and economic growth.

Energy Benefits

1. Reliable Energy Supply: The NLNG station will provide a reliable source of energy for the region, reducing the reliance on grid electricity and diesel generators.

2. Increased Energy Security: The NLNG station will increase energy security for the region, reducing the risk of energy shortages and disruptions.

3. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: The use of natural gas as a fuel source will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.

Regional Benefits

1. Development of the Northern Region: The establishment of an NLNG station in Ajaokuta will contribute to the development of the northern region, reducing the economic and social disparities between the north and south.

2. Increased Investment: The presence of an NLNG station will attract increased investment to the region, stimulating economic growth and development.

3. Improved Infrastructure: The NLNG station will require the development of supporting infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and utilities, which will benefit the local community.

National Benefits

1. Increased Natural Gas Utilization: The establishment of an NLNG station in Ajaokuta will increase the utilization of natural gas in Nigeria, reducing the reliance on imported fuels.

2. Improved Energy Mix: The use of natural gas as a fuel source will improve Nigeria's energy mix, reducing the dominance of oil and increasing the share of cleaner fuels.

3. Economic Growth and Development: The NLNG station will contribute to Nigeria's economic growth and development, increasing revenue, creating jobs, and stimulating industrial activity

Conclusion: I humbly appreciate the President for his listening ears and his zeal to transform the Nigerian economy to reflect the reality on the ground. Your several administrative reforms are working wonders in reshaping Nigeria's image in the community of nations across the globe.

Thanks for your anticipated action and positive attention to the open letter.

Nigeria shall be great again.

Hon. Dr. Onujagbe Nasir, 

Deputy Secretary-General, 

Egbira Voice Worldwide.

onujagbenasir@gmail.com.