Anambra oil producing status throws Senate into rowdy session
Utazi has sought the intervention of the Senate into ownership status
of oil wells which have been the subject of controversy between Enugu,
Kogi, and Anambra states.
Speaking through order 43, the lawmaker stated that Anambra state
government had used one of its appointees, Prince Emu to grant an
interview in a popular newspaper earlier in the week stating that
Anambra was an oil producing state.
Utazi reminded the Senate that the federal government has since
realised that it was an error for the Jonathan administration to have
conferred on Anambra an oil producing state when the ownership of oil
wells have not been decided upon.
According to him, "Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the oil
producing status on Anambra state has since been withdrawn."
The Enugu North lawmaker stated that latest moves by Anambra state was
already brewing crisis among communities laying claim to the wells,
even as he asked the Senate Committee to wade into the matter.
"We know what we did in the past to restore peace among those warring
communities, and election period is around the corner. So, we don't
want any crisis."
However, Senator Andy Uba, rose in total condemnation of Utazi's
position, disclosing that he contributed to how Anambra became an oil
producing state.
He said: "What my colleague, Utazi is saying is not correct. They said
any state that produces 120,000bpd is qualified as an oil producing
state and that is why Anambra was conferred."
It took the intervention of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to
calm nerves at the plenary, while he reminded senators that the matter
came through order 43 which means it was not open to debate.
He thereafter referred the matter to the Senate Committee on Petroleum
(Upstream), demanding that the report be turned-in in two weeks.
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