By Cajetan Muta
Members of the South East All Progressive Congress (APC) Young Progressives Forum on Tuesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law.

The group in a statement issued by its leader Comrade Paschal Candle and made available to newsmen in Awka Anambra State Capital said the signing of the bill was a watershed in the history of the Petroleum Industry in the country.

Comrade Candle expressed surprise over the statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and PANDEF over the bill, describing their statements as unfortunate.

According to the group, PDP and PANDEF are playing ethnic sentiment with the Bill.

They said for 16 years, PDP was in power it could not make any meaningful progress with the Bill while it controlled the two Chambers of the National Assembly.

“For Sixteen Years, they were playing with the Intelligence of Investors and Host communities. For Sixteen years, it was one excuse or the other. And in all these years, All the Presidents of the Country under the PDP Platforms were from Southern Part of Nigeria except Late President Yar’adua who had only two years and some months.”

“Over to PANDEF, it is very unfortunate that this body of Niger Delta Elders has refused to speak the truth for their people. They have no moral standing to question to oppose President Buhari over the signing of the Bill into law,” the body stated.

“Where are these set of people, when President Goodluck Jonathan, their son was in power and his party, PDP was in control of both the Senate and House of Representatives for six years. What did he do with the bill?” he said

He urged Nigerians to disregard all these people who are playing ethnic cards with PIB Act.

Candle said the Petroleum Industry act would open a lot of windows of opportunities for the youths in Oil Producing Communities, encourage Investor’ confidence in the sector.

He described the ascent by President Buhari as “a major victory that has the potential of bailing Nigeria out of its economic predicament and an act that will enable the country to make the most of economic gains of the oil industry for the benefit of Nigerians.”

He said that the new law will enhance the Nigerian petroleum industry’s reputation, open the door to new investment and ultimately strengthen her position to meet the world’s growing demand for energy.

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“There is no doubt that the new law will help harness Nigeria’s potential to achieve its program of raising oil production to four million barrels per day and oil reserves to 40 billion barrels, while also drawing on the country’s vast natural gas reserves to provide clean and efficient energy.

“This is a way to go and We thank Mr. President for providing that Leadership that is needed at this point. You have shown to be a father figure to all regions” he said.

He urged Nigerians to ask the PANDEF and PDP to ask their Governors in the South-South region, what they have done with 13 percent derivation fund coming to them for the past 16 years and NDDC funds meant for the region.

He said the question of derivation fund should be the major concern of the PANDEF and PDP.