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Supreme Egbesu Assembly leaders addressing newsmen on Wednesday
The Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA), an Ijaw sociocultural group, says it has commenced legal proceedings to compel the Federal Government and National Assembly to create 24 new local governments in Bayelsa.
Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday in Yenagoa, Felix Tuodolo, Secretary-General of SEA explained that the group was deploying the strategy of legal options.
According to Tuidolo, the group has commenced pre action proceedings by writing to the Attorney-General and National Assembly to respond within 21 days or face legal action.
He explained that unlike other states created alongside Bayelsa in 1996, had more than the mandatory local government areas whilst Bayelsa was left with only eight local government areas.
According to him Late Gov DSP Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa took steps to correct the anomaly by creating 24 local government areas approved by the Bayelsa House of Assembly but the National Assembly ratify them.
The development, he said, compelled the Bayelsa government to revert the proposed local governments to rural development areas.
He also said that the group was towing the same line to press for full resource control and fiscal federalism as the 13 per cent derivation was a disservice to the Ijaws whose resources support the country.
Tuodolo recalled that the group has jettisoned the tactics of violent agitation which they used to achieve the 13 per cent derivation.
“All of us on this struggle had our background in youth activism and we are all now matured and have to adopt a civilised approach to press home our demands.
“It is unacceptable and unfair that in spite of the fact that Bayelsa fulfilled the requirements for the creation of local governments, but when they allocate resources Bayelsa gets eight shares, while states like Kano gets 44.
“We are resolute and will go through the legal route to get redress for Bayelsa and the entire Ijaws,” Tuodolo said.
Mrs Primrose Oringeriya-Kpolokposei, a female Ijaw activist, expressed optimism that the group would get justice to meet the aspirations of Ijaws.
