$1BN INSURGENCY FUND: South South govs take side with Wike

South-South Governors Forum has demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari led government should obey the constitution on the issue of $1billion to be withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account (EFC) to fight insurgency in the North-east and other security threats.

The forum said that the 13 per cent derivation paid to oil producing areas should be withdrawn from the $1 billion and paid to them as stipulated by the constitution.

The governors jointly agreed on this at its meeting chaired by its forum chairman, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital late Wednesday.

The meeting came after Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike had earlier in the week called on the Federal Government to ensure 13 per cent of the $1 billion for security is remitted to his state as the law says.

At the meeting on Wednesday were Dickson (Bayelsa), Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), and Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

Dickson told newsmen after the meeting, “We took the collective view that with respect to FG’s effort to withdraw $1billion for national security, our position in this zone is in line with the constitutional provision on derivation.

“While we have no objection to the FG spending money on security, including security of this zone, we believe the constitutional provision on 13 per cent derivation be applied and fully respected.

“We will communicate that to the appropriate authorities so that whatever amount withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account, being proceed of crude oil sale is subject to the 13 per cent principle enshrined in the constitution.”

He also noted that the forum during the meeting demanded for the withdrawal of the Executive Bill forwarded to the National Assembly, which seek to allow the Federal Government have control of the management of waterways.

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“We also agreed that the bill currently making rounds in the National Assembly which we understand is an Executive Bill on management of water resources bears provisions offensive and obnoxious.

“We disagree with the centralized control of water resources as we are already dealing with over centralization of our country and we have agreed that the bill should be immediately withdrawn by the FG and further consultations made on that.

“Everyone is aware of ongoing clamour for devolution and return to essential founding principle of this country. We, in our meeting, resolved that we associate fully with the clamour for restructuring, for true federalism and devolution of powers so concentrated at the centre to the federating units.

“We have agreed to support ongoing moves in that direction by working with like-minded Nigerians who mean well for the country so that we can all have a stable and prosperous and peaceful nation,” Dickson said.

 

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