Akwa Ibom State Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio? has described Nigerians calling for the reintroduction of offshore/onshore oil dichotomy in the derivation formula as unpatriotic.
He has also warned that such agitation could be laying a foundation that may ultimately lead to total disintegration of the country.
Akpabio who stated this at a meeting of NLC/TUC executives from oil producing states in Uyo, said that reopening an issue which was only settled at the time to assuage the pains of the region could lead to the collapse of the Nigerian state.
Represented by the secretary to the state government (SSG ) Obong Umana Okon Umanah, Akpabio said? it was sheer wickedness for people to? think of resurrecting the offshore – onshore dichotomy at a time the region has not been fully compensated for the negative impact of pollution of their environment due to oil exploration activities.
“True federalism is fundamental to Nigeria’s unity and progress and we should rather call for an increase in derivation as we had before than call for a decrease,” the governor advised.
Akpabio stated that not only would oil producing states lose if the agitation would succeed,? the agitating regions and states would also get peanuts from what the oil producing states would lose.