By Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lampooned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for accusing South-South governors of mismanaging the 13 percent derivation fund allocated to oil host communities as he threatened to make him regret his comment.
Wike who spoke during the inauguration of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretariat Building, performed by the National President of TUC, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, on Friday in Ozuoba Town of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State said the accusation directed at South-South governors by Akpabio is uncalled for.
He said Akpabio acted as god when he was the governor of Akwa Ibom. Wike in his banter mocked Akpabio for losing the 2019 Senatorial election.
Speaking further, Gov Wike accused the Minister of Nigeria Delta of sponsoring militants to enquire about the 13% derivation, asking Akpabio to stop challenging South South governors on what they have done with the fund.
His statement reads, “We knew when Akpabio was governor, what he was doing. In fact, he saw himself as god then. Now, he has the temerity to insult South South Governors. We will meet one day. If he did well, why did he fail the Senate election? If his people love him, why did he fail the Senate election? Ordinary senate? And you will come and talk to us.”
“You (Akpabio) went and started sponsoring so-called militants that we should render an account of 55 Billion. Where did we get the N55 billion? If we got N55 billion then he got N200 trillion. You cannot insult people,” he said.
“I have told him (Akpabio) to talk less. Now, he is taking on South-South governors, we will tell him that when he was governor, he was acting as a king. There was money as at that time. What was the exchange rate N150 to a Dollar, today we are almost having N500 to a Dollar.
“Akpabio had money and he had the temerity to ask South-South governors what they are doing with 13 percent of their money.”
“I am not a sycophant. I am not an inconsistent person, I don’t give a damn. He cannot say he has been seeing me in his villa. So if he wants to talk let him concentrate in his state, not to venture again and talk about Rivers State. If he does it again, he will regret meeting Rivers State.
“People should say what they practice. I will show a video where Akpabio said the President should come and learn from me what I am doing here. I will show a video soon,” he said.
“That is why Nigeria cannot move forward. Everybody is running away, because when they send EFCC, you run to the other party, then they protect you. That is the party, that is the government , that is fighting corruption. Akpabio is now moving round happily. He no longer takes his blood pressure medicine,” he added.
Recall The New Diplomat had earlier reported that a coalition of militants under the umbrella of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), had called on Niger Delta governors to give account of an estimated N50trn and N55trn received as 13% derivation funds by states in the region from 2018 till date.
According to the coalition, financial records in their possession revealed that a whooping N44.68trn, proceeds of a 13 percent derivation fund has been allocated to the oil producing states by the Federal Government between the period of 1999 to 2018.
Moreover, the coalition also accused the South-South governors of mismanaging the derivation funds, agitating that the funds should be diverted to develop the Niger Delta region.
The group, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the situation, adding that the Federal Government should stop paying the 13% derivation funds to state government accounts, but instead directly to host communities inthe region.
