Oil Wells Dispute: Jonathan Urged To Intervene.

HAMZAT BABA.

A body known as Kogi Youth Progressive Association has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently wade into the crisis between Kogi and Anambra States over the ownership of oil wells located in Odeke community, in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The chairman of the group, Alhaji Bello Ibrahim who made the call in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Lokoja yesterday, urged the federal government to, without further delay, to recognise Kogi State as an oil producing state.
He faulted the decision by the Jonathan administration to designate Anambra State as an oil producing state, leaving out Kogi State, adding that the federal government should not be seen to be part of the problem.
He further observed that the crude which was to service the Orient Oil Refinery located in  Anambra State was actually situated  in Odeke community in Kogi State.
Ibrahim disclosed that the matter was first raised in 1994, but regretted that  nothing was done by the government at the centre during the period, insisting that the only way out of the impasse was to declare Kogi State where the crude was found as an oil producing state, along with other benefiting states.
He stressed the need for Governor Idris Wada to open up discussion with his counterpart in Anambra State, to avert any possible clash by the contending communities as was the case a few years ago.