Offshore-onshore dichotomy responsible for terrorism –Kwankwaso

Kano State governor, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday said the offshore/ onshore dichotomy issue was responsible for the Boko Haram insurgency in the North.
Kwankwaso said the dichotomy also brought about a high level of poverty and hopelessness in the region, resulting in the insecurity currently being witnessed.
Kwankwaso’s declaration came even as the Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, rejected the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, bill yesterday, saying it would further alienate other parts of the country economically.
Kwankwaso told members of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill, North-West zonal public hearing held in Kaduna, that people of Kano State oppose the bill in its totality, stressing that Nigeria needs to be building towards one nation.
He said the decision to kick against the bill came after due consultation with stakeholders and the ordinary citizens of Kano State warning northern legislators not to be bought over like it was done in offshore/ onshore debate of 2002.
He recalled that the onshore- offshore dichotomy debate took the same dimension with arguments to promote development, but after it was passed, it became a catalyst that has aided poverty and underdevelopment in state and the north at large.
While noting that people of Kano State will not be decisive in endorsing the Petroleum Industry Bill, the governor stressed that the South-South region has a ministry, 13 per cent derivation, amnesty programme as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, against other parts of the country.
His words: “I made my position clear here in this hall in 2002 against the offshore/ onshore dichotomy, which I said will have devastating economic consequences for the north.
I am vindicated on what I said that offshore-onshore will bring more poverty that will lead to insecurity which we found ourselves today. In addition to the 13 per cent derivation, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, amnesty programme with billions of naira all for the South-South region, this country is building towards one direction.” Kwankwaso added: “Even the national budget is toward one direction. Offshore- onshore dichotomy should be abolished.
What I am saying here today, 75 per cent of northerners are against the PIB bill. They did it before and now government wants to sow another seed of poverty in the north. Let there be peace and justice in this country. On behalf of the good people of Kano State, I hereby oppose the PIB bill.”
On his part, Governor Yero, who was represented by the State Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary, Hauwa Dalhatu said; “There is also in existence the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Ministry of Niger Delta, in addition to the autonomous amnesty programme.
To create host communities fund therefore, will not only be tantamount to creating a fourth tier of government, but also making provisions that will further alienate other parts of the country economically. The term, ‘host communities’ as used in the bill, is nebulous.”

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