How Buhari cleared Niger-Delta States unpaid derivation deductions since 1999-Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike at the opening of the new Law School in Port Harcourt on Friday praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his exemplary leadership.

The governor, in the presence of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who represented Buhari at the event, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, chairman, Body of Benchers, judges and other senior lawyers revealed that his administration has been able to do much in terms of development and infrastructure, especially building 11 flyover bridges because of the money President Buhari approved and paid to oil producing states outside their regular monthly federal allocation.

Speaking further at the commissioning of the Nabo Graham Douglas Law School, Wike said he used the special fund approved by President Buhari to build the law school, the newly commissioned Peter Odili Hospital which he said was built and equipped with world class medical facilities by Julius Berger at the cost of N29billion.

According to Wike, part of the money has been used for the numerous projects built by his administration.

Wike noted that he has not always praised the President because they belong to different parties and his wish was the APC led Federal Government should not do well so his party PDP can take over the federal administration.

Wike, however, added that President Buhari has never played politics with development and in his relationship with state governments and governors from opposition parties.

The Rivers State governor further revealed that the money in question were deductions from the 13% derivation fund belonging to oil producing states.

Wike said: “Monies that were not paid since 1999, the 13% deductions, Mr. President approved and paid all of us from Niger Delta states.

“For me, it will be unfair not to say to the public. It is not from FAAC money; it is the money paid to me as Rivers State, Delta State, Akwa Ibom State, Edo State and Bayelsa State.

“So I want to sincerely, from my heart and on behalf of the government and people of the state, thank Mr. President for this because as an opposition government, he may have as well say don’t pay, you can’t do anything.

“After all since 1999 the money has not been paid. Did we do anything? So I want to sincerely thank him just on that one,” he said.