$1BN ECA FUND FOR B’HARAM: Gov Wike, others want Buhari to use same to tackle N’Delta problems

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and a coalition of Niger Delta groups have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to get funds from the same source it got $1 billion to fight Boko Haram, to also address the challenges in the oil region of Niger Delta.

The Federal Government last Thursday got the approval of the National Economic Council (NEC), which has all state governors as members, to withdraw $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight insurgency in the Northeast.

In his response to the development, Wike who spoke during the Annual General Meeting of Okpo Club of Nigeria (Association of Ikwerre Lawyers), weekend, in Port Harcourt, said that the Federal Government should also as a matter of exigency, release funds for tackling issues of environmental degradation and security in the Niger Delta.

The governor while noting that he was not opposed to government fighting insurgency in the Northeast, however argued that environmental problems in the oil region was as serious as Boko Haram.

“Niger Delta environmental problems are as serious as the Boko Haram insurgency. I am not saying that you should not fight Boko Haram.

“If you can get funds from the National Pool to tackle Boko Haram, then you should go to the pool to get funds to fight environmental problems in Ogoni and other Niger Delta communities,” Wike said.

On its part, the coalition of Niger Delta youths under the aegis of the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta said in a statement by its spokesperson, Woi Izonebi, which made a similar call stated, that “anything short of that will brew a new crisis in the Niger Delta”.

It said that President Buhari should as a matter of urgency implement the Pan Niger Delta Forum’s (PANDEF’s) 16-point demand and the 25-point palliatives proposed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to the group, implementing those demands will help preserve the current three-month ceasefire by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militants in the region.

They also called on senators, members of House of Representatives, political leaders and elder statesmen to press it on the Federal Government to ensure government commences developmental efforts in the oil region.

“We are, therefore, demanding for equity and justice in the deployment of the resources God has placed in our land. We want the Federal Government to urgently reciprocate the same gesture on the 16- point agreement reached with PANDEF and its 25- point palliatives and immediately reconstitute a new NDDC board that is apolitical to drive the development of the Niger Delta.

“We commend the Federal Government for the approval of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account to fight Boko Haram in the North-East. We urge the Federal Government to do the same in the Niger Delta that is generating the funds because anything short of that will brew a new crisis in the Niger Delta.

READ ALSO: Money in ECA belongs to States; If govs decide to withdraw $1bn from it to fight Boko Haram, so be it- AGF

“We appeal to our distinguished senators, House of Representatives members, political leaders and elder statesmen, most especially the PANDEF, to prevail on the Federal Government to start doing things right in the Niger Delta for equity and justice.

“We want to warn the Federal Government to be very sincere and honest with the way it manages the resources that come from our region. We cannot be impoverished, underdeveloped and denied right to life with pollution and degradation going on all over the Niger Delta when it uses resources generated from our land to develop a section of the country.”

 

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