13 Percent Derivation Saga: Wike Accuses ‘Some Faceless Govs’ For Sending Attack Dogs To Taunt Him

…Blast minister Agba on construction of flyovers and airports.

Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has accused “some faceless governors” of sending attack dogs to humiliate him over his expression of gratitude that President Muhammadu Buhari had released the 13 percent derivation arrears from 1999 to the present.

According to BIGPEN NIGERIA (www.bipenngr.com), Wike’s disclosure that President Buhari had settled all outstanding debts owed to the oil-producing states using money derived from the 13% derivation has caused controversy in the Niger Delta states, with some of the state government retaliating.

Wike had also claimed that he had been using some of the funds provided by the Buhari administration to complete the numerous projects his administration had started in the state and for which he had earned the nickname “Mr. Projects.”

Delta State responded that it had only received N14.7 billion in three N4.9 billion quarterly instalments as a refund from the 13 percent oil derivation. It further stated that the federal government had agreed to pay the state’s shortfall of N250 billion over the course of five years in quarterly instalments. 

In response to Wike’s assertion, the Edo State government stated that it only received a total of N2.1 billion paid in three instalments of N700 million each.

However, in a speech at a road inauguration event, Governor Wike urged some South-South State governors to come face to face with him instead of hiding behind some attack dogs they had hired to insult him. 

“Some people have been sending their people to insult me. I laugh. I hear some people, they call them Akwa Ibom professionals, they were insulting me. Tell the man who sent you to come out. You are just small kids. I am waiting for the big masquerade. Some people said they are Ijaw professionals. You that are sending them, come out. It is you I am looking for. I am not looking for these small flies.”

The governor of Rivers State questioned why those faceless governors were taking offence at him after he thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for releasing the 13 percent derivation arrears from 1999 to the present.

Governor Wike informed that even though he is never a fan of President Buhari, it does not stop him from expressing his gratitude to the president for releasing the fund that has helped to finance several projects in Rivers State.

“If they’re not prepared for governance give up. I am prepared for governance. I was prepared, I’m still prepared, I will be prepared till I leave. How can people talk, simply because I said thank Buhari for giving us money. I am not a fan of Buhari. All of you know that , I am not one of those they like. I am not one of those who go to Abuja to see them, but the truth must be told. When somebody has done well in an aspect, you say he has done well in this aspect. You cannot change it.”

The governor of Rivers State further stated that, in contrast to other governors who were unable to withstand federal might in their States, he was able to withstand federal might that tried to sabotage the 2019 election process in Rivers State.

The governor further claimed that when President Buhari was thanked, he did not mention that the South-South governors should give an explanation for how they spent their portion of the money they received. 

Each governor, he said, should be aware of the unique development requirements of their various States and give attention to them.

Governor Wike, however, claimed he was ready for leadership when he decided to run for office, was not chosen beforehand, but instead entered the race and defeated a sitting governor.

“But, let me tell those who are making noise, whether you’re a governor I don’t care. When I came to run as governor of Rivers State, there was no governor that said I want to put you in office as a governor. I came on my own. God said I want to use you. There was a sitting governor, we defeated the sitting governor.

“Some governors were brought by their godfathers, I never had any godfather that brought me as a governor. The only God father I had was God and the people of Rivers State. So when some governors are talking, they should know those they are talking to, we are not at the same level and we can’t be at the same level.”

The governor said he has always made sure that no project his administration has approved lasts longer than 14 months.

Nevertheless, he chastised Mr. Clement Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, for showing a lack of comprehension regarding how governors plan development projects in their various States. 

Governor Wike took a shot at the minister in his remarks at the ceremonial opening of the 13.86-kilometer Rumuodogo 1 and 2 Road in the Oluua-Rumudogo community of the Emohua Local Government Area on Thursday.

The Rivers State governor said Mr. Agba was wrong when he said that governors were the causes of poverty because they focused on building flyovers, airports and other projects in the state capitals, while neglecting to invest in rural communities to directly uplift the living standard of the people.

“He said governors are the problem, they don’t do rural roads, and I ask him, where and where have you been? You just sit there (Abuja), you’ve not been to anywhere to go and check whether rural roads are being done or not.”

Governor Wike pointed out that the development plan of his administration was holistic with critical infrastructure delivered not only in the State capital, but across the 23 Local Government Areas.

He advised the minister to take time out, leave Abuja and visit States, particularly, Rivers State.

Governor Wike emphasised that there were quantum of projects in rural communities with the Rumuodogo road inclusive, which had improved the socio-economic status of rural communities.

“Come to Rivers State and see whether we are doing roads that will cause agricultural produce to be brought out to the cities or not before you open your mouth. We are not doing roads in the city alone. We are doing roads in all local government area of the State.”

Governor Wike also said that it is worthy to note that Rivers State spent over N5 billion to recover the Yenagoa campus of the Nigerian Law School, while the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Campus in Port Harcourt was completed within 10 months.

The governor urged Rumuodogo people to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Siminilaye Fubara and all other candidates in the 2023 general elections.

He further charged them to use their votes to punish the party of the former State governor, Chibuike Amaechi for refusing to construct the road for them.

“A governor then that had all the money refused to do this road. He thinks that people of Rumuodogo will still be backward . God said no, the time has come for Rumuodogo people to be remembered. The time has come that people must know this community call Rumuodogo and today is your day. Now you have to pay them back with your PVC.”

Providing a description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Special Projects, Deinma Iyalla said the Rumuodogo 1 and 2 Road is a rural road that has opened up the benefitting agrarian communities to increase economic activities and enhanced property value.

He explained that the road measures 13.86km in length, with width that measures 7.3meters, has a total of 13.96km length of drains and 17 culverts.

On his part, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, noted that the Rumuodogo 1 and 2 road was a promised made by governor Wike to two of his political associates who joined him to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the 1st October 2020.

He pointed out that with the project delivered, governor Wike has shown that once a need is determined, he awards the contract, dedicate fund to it and ensure it is completed on schedule, a leadership style that remains unbeaten.