Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Daniel Igali, has described the Water Resources Bill as anti-Niger Delta, noting that if the bill is passed into law, it will be another form of slavery.
Igali made the assertion when members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, representing the three senatorial districts in Bayelsa led by the Chairman, South-South Caucus, Ouseibai Godsgift, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Yenagoa on Friday.
He pointed out that the bill was repressive and did not serve the interests of the citizens.
Igali, who is also the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, slammed the proponents of the bill, explaining that the people of the Niger Delta were still struggling to overcome the double standard Land Use Act that ceded its right of ownership of land resources to the Federal Government without due compensation to the people of the region.
He called on all parts of the country to reject the bill in its entirety as such bill sought to undermine the right of some regions to own and enjoy the benefits of their God-given resources, urging the youth parliamentarians to use their platform to defend the right of the Nigerian citizens.
Igali assured them that the ministry would facilitate the domiciling of the state branch of the youth parliament, stressing that the body is not only a breeding ground for future leaders but is a voice for the voiceless masses.
Speaking on NYP demands from the government through the ministry to provide office space to operate, and stipends for running cost, the commissioner promised to channel their demands to Governor Douye Diri for necessary action.
In his remarks, the Chairman, South-South Caucus of the NYP, Mr. Ouseibai Godgift, explained that the group was established under the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to train youths in legislative and democratic processes.
He pointed out that members representing Bayelsa State were under the supervision of the state ministry.
Ouseibai appealed to the commissioner to use his good offices to facilitate the establishment of the state branch of the organisation so that youths in the state could develop their capacities to handle leadership positions and support government policies and programmes intellectually.
He used the medium to intimate the commissioner of their challenges, which included office accommodation and monthly stipends for their running cost as well as other logistics to enable them to work effectively.