Peter Obi Reacts To Buhari’s Assent Of PIB

A former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has both applauded and knocked President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law.

Naija News reports that the President on Monday signed the 2021 Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law as confirmed by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.

Despite the massive opposition against the bill which recommends three percent for oil-bearing communities, the Presidency said the new law can be reviewed as it is not “cast in stone.”

Speaking with reporters on Thursday after his visit to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Obi while commending the signing of the bill itself, however, berated the President for failing to increase the percentage allocated for host communities.

The ex-governor added that the President should have considered the five percent being demanded by the host communities, adding that the new law is necessary.

The former vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) added that the federal government should care for those who are generating resources for the country.

He said: “The newly signed Petroleum Industry Act is needed but the government would have considered the five percent being demanded by the host communities.

“We must learn to care for those who are generating resources for us, whether it is petroleum, VAT or other things.

“We should consider supporting communities or areas where we generate the income we are sharing.”

Speaking on the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, Obi asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.

The former Anambra governor also asked the electoral body to give all political parties a level playing ground to contest for the top seat in the state.

He, however, asked politicians not to see the forthcoming election as a “do or die affair”.

Follow Us On Google Journalistic Standards