Wike Uncovers South-South Govs On 13% Derivation
….Commends President Buhari for prompt payment
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has exposed the governors of the oil producing State over the 13% Derivation paid by the federal government.
The affected states are Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, Ebonyi, Delta and Edo States.
The activities of the Niger Delta governors who for long have deprived their citizens from having knowledge of the 13% derivation paid by the federal government was heightened on Friday after Governor Nyesom Wike revealed that the accumulated 13% derivation funds which Rivers and other Niger Delta states were owed since 1999 were recently paid by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Wike, who lamented that it would be biased not to tell the public about this development, was quoted , as saying: “Monies that were not paid to the Niger Delta states since 1999 – (the 13% deductions), Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari) approved and paid all of us from the Niger Delta states, and for me, it would be unfair not to tell the public.”
Reacting, Nigerians especially those from the Niger Delta region of the country are calling out their governors to account for the billions of naira received without anything to show for it.
In Delta state the residents have called out Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate for not showing how Delta State funds are being spent whereas Nyesom Wike is continuously commissioning projects in his state.
Nyesom Wike, while announcing that President Buhari has paid all arrears of money owed to the Niger Delta in 13% derivation since 1999 to date, also disclosed that the wonders being see across Rivers State are the results of the hundreds of billions from President Buhari’s government released to not only to Rivers and Delta States but to all Niger Delta states.
In Edo state, the question on the lips of residents is what is Governor Godwin Obaseki spending our 13% derivation on.
“His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki must come clean. He owes it a point of duty to explain to Edo people if he has been getting the money, if not, he should openly disclaim Nyesom Wike, and if true, he should tell Edo people why he kept it a secret and what he is spending the money on,” Some Edo people said.
Meanwhile, Wike had thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the release of the funds even though Rivers State is governed by an opposition party.
He also emphasized that the money was not from Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).
According to Wike: “But the truth is that and let me say it for the first time, so many people ask me, where am I getting this money from? Let me say it and I want the Attorney-General and the good people of Rivers State to thank Mr. President, for monies that were not paid to the Niger Delta states between 1999; the 13% deductions, money that was not paid, Mr. President approved and paid all of us from Niger Delta states, and for me, it will be unfair not to tell the public.
“It is not from FAAC money as paid to me as Rivers state, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Bayelsa states, I thank God and I can say it and that is why today since 2019 till now, yesterday we commissioned the 9th flyover, come December we will commission the 10th flyover, by February next year, we will commission the 11th and 12th flyover.
“The other day we commissioned a cancer centre which we named after our leader, Dr. Peter Odili. Julius Berger built it and charged us N25.9 billion, equipped by General Electric, we paid, and no one naira is being owed.
“So I want to sincerely from my heart and on behalf of the government and people of the state, thank Mr. President for this because as an opposition government he could have as well said don’t pay and you can’t do anything.’’
