GOVERNOR Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the Petroleum Industry Act is evil piece of legislation and oppressive to people of the Niger Delta.
Diri yesterday maintained that the three per cent allotted to host communities in the PIA was paltry and would continue to be opposed until justice was served.
He spoke at a special thanksgiving service of his Special Adviser on Special Duties and Director of Transport, Government House, Lucky Yobougha, at the El-Shaddai Ministries International in Yenagoa.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri stressed that the Act was “ill-conceived, dehumanising and unacceptable” to the people of the region and asked that it be amended.
Diri said, “Now it is incumbent on us as citizens of this state and particularly of host communities to rise up against this ill-conceived, oppressive and dehumanising law that it is not acceptable to us.
“A lot of ignorant people were against the former governor of Bayelsa State, who rose and championed a walkout in the Senate. But that is what a true son of Ijawland should do.
“You cannot be part of a decision that dehumanises and takes away the riches of your people. That is one of the weapons we use as minority against the so-called majority in the National Assembly.”
