Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri, have traded words over the 13 percent crude oil derivation arrears, which Wike revealed was released by President Muhammadu Buhari to state governors in the Niger Delta.
Wike had asked the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to thank President Muhammadu Buhari, for releasing backlog of 13percent oil derivation deductions from 1999 till date to oil producing states, saying that the funds enabled him to carryout numerous projects in the state including 12 flyovers.
But Governor Douye Diri, construction was difficult in a terrain like Bayelsa, saying that the cost of constructing a road project in the state was more than three or four flyovers in some other states even in the Niger Delta.
Responding to Diri, Governor Wike wondered why saying thank you was an offense and why the Bayelsa State governor feels offended over the thank you said to President Buhari over the 13percent derivation arrears.
Governor Wike said that it was out of grateful heart that he thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of 13percent derivative fund arrears, from 1999 to date, that was never paid by previous administration to States in Niger Delta.
According to Wike, the Bayelsa State Governor had gone on national television to say that money spent to do a 3km road in his state would be used to construct more than 15 flyovers elsewhere.
“Simply because I said you people should thank President Muhammadu Buhari for releasing 13 percent arrears to us. I did not abuse anybody. Did I? All I said is please thank him, that if he did not release the arrears to me and some of our states, it may have been difficult for me to even talk about building a Renal Centre, Cancer and Cardiovascular centre, Basic and Clinical Sciences faculty, House officers’ quarters. I don’t think saying thank you is an offence.
“On television, I heard one of the governors said in his state to do 3 kilometre road will do more than 15 flyovers. Rivers State, is it not Niger Delta State? Don’t we have riverine areas in Rivers State? Amayanabo of Opobo said since he was born, he has never driven by road to Opobo.
“The day he drove by road to Opobo, he said, God is it possible that in my own time I will not go through the river again, I am now driving by road to Opobo. That is a major riverine area. By the grace of God this December (2022) we are going to commission the first phase of Trans-Kalabari Road. That is a major riverine area.
Speaking further, governor said, “I didn’t know that people are sick about the flyovers I do. Okay, sorry. I don’t want you to be sick again. I won’t do again. Instead of you to appreciate and ask somebody how you are doing this and justify what you’re doing.
“I have turned the state capital around using a major construction firm like Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. If you know you have the capacity, if you know you have what it takes, go and take Julius Berger and see whether you can pay salary.”
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