The minister of transport, Chibuike Amaechi, and the minister of state for petroleum, Ibeh Kachikwu, on Monday disagreed over dialogue with Niger Delta Avengers who has vowed to ground Nigeria’s oil industry, having carried out audacious attacks on oil and gas installations.
The duo also disagreed on the establishment of a Nigerian Maritime University, proposed for Okerenkoko in Delta State.
Both were speaking alongside other ministers at a government town meeting organised by the Minister of Information and Culture in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday.
Dr Ibe kachikwu battles Rotimi Amaechi:
” I disagree with the Min for Transport on the issue of closing the maritime University. For me, we must work towards developing the South South. I dont care the circumstances to which the land for Maritime University Okerenkoko was acquired. That has nothing to do with infrastructures. A lot has gone into that project and we cannot throw away the baby and bath water. If Amaechi cannot take it in Maritime I will take it in Petroleum”
” I disagree with Amaechi on not negotiating with agitators. There is no theatre in the world where conflict is resolved thru battles. It doesn’t matter who is right. Lets talk”
Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said Niger Delta people cannot intimidate the entire country by their persistent wrong actions, stressing that the region is part of the country.
According to the Minister, the region cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result.
He said,“It is part of a nation called Nigeria. You cannot continue to shoot against yourselves and think you will survive.
“You cannot continue to do the things you are doing and expect a different result. You cannot intimidate Nigerians. Don’t forget I was governor; I was never intimidated in Rivers state.
“So if we are fighting a cause, can we now sit down and know what that cause is, who will be the beneficiary, what we did when we had the opportunity to make decisions? Now you are saying, ‘Ask them.’’
But disagreeing with the Minister of Transport on the renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta region, Mr. Kachikwu repeated his call for dialogue with Niger Delta Avengers.
He said the crisis could not be resolved through counter military attacks by Nigeria’s Armed Forces, but through dialogue.
“We must dialogue first; and if that fails, we know what to do next,” he said.
He said Niger Delta people with “skills and finance” would benefit from allocation of oil blocs because it would be part of “giving back to the chicken that laid the eggs”.
He said oil blocs would empower Niger Delta people and enable to engage in genuine oil deals, rather than being contractors to oil companies.
Mr. Kachikwu later said that he joined the present government without ever meeting President Muhammadu Buhari, but by “recommendation and reputation”.
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