Senate’s PIB debate mirrors Nigeria’s geographical divide

In this piece, Oluwole Josiah X-rays the just-concluded Senate debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill and  the need for it to become law.

The Petroleum Industry Bill is not new to the National Assembly. It first made its debut during the Sixth National Assembly. It was then greeted with mixed feelings while allegations were rife that  International Oil Companies dictated the tempo of discussions. The conflict was basically between those in government  and the IOCs.  The legislature was caught in the middle as each of the contenders sought to sway public opinion in their favour.  The political process did not  bring the country to its knees. The north-south divide was latent, although the socio-political cum economic interests of all the  geo-political  zones were at stake. Read more