August 17, (THEWILL) –Â The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately forward to the National Assembly, an amendment Bill to the new Petroleum Industry Act.
The party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed surprise that President Buhari ignored the huge outcry by the majority of disenchanted Nigerians and signed the Bill as passed by the National Assembly into law.
It noted that that the signing of the law in spite of widespread public rejection amounted to “endorsement of imposition, lack of respect for the people and the tenets of democracy as a system of government.”
The party added that signing the Bill into law was not in the interest of oil-producing communities, particularly in the face of the challenges they faced as a result of oil exploration.
PDP said: “Mr President could have returned the Bill to the National Assembly with a request that it is made to address the demands of the oil-producing communities.
“Our party fears that the new law cannot guarantee the desired stability and development in the oil and gas sector as well as respite in the Niger Delta region.
“The PDP calls on President Buhari to salvage the situation by immediately forwarding an amendment Bill to the National Assembly to reflect the true wishes and aspirations of every segment of our nation.”
The PDP, however, called for calm across the country, particularly the South-South geo-political zone.
It also urged PDP lawmakers in the National Assembly to be alert even as preparations must be in full swing for an urgent amendment to the law.
