•‘Nigeria not broke, not defaulting in debt repayment’ •We are trying to reduce poverty, say states

 

WHAT THEY GOT

•13% derivation N1.978tr
•Paris Club Refund $2.67b
•Ecological Fund N204b
•COVID intervention N50b
•Federal Roads repair N648b

 

FOR the second day running, governors were under fire yesterday.

Twenty-four hours after the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, blamed rising poverty and hardship on them, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said the states got N5.03 trillion support from the Federal Government in seven years.

The amount was different from the various intervention funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), among others.

Besides the N5.03 trillion, Mrs. Ahmed said the Federal Government also released to the states $3.4 billion during the period under review.

The minister, who spoke at the sixth edition of the presentation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration scorecard (2015-2023) in Abuja, said the country was not broke despite financial difficulties.

She said the funds were released as 13 per cent derivation for oil-producing states, ecological funds, refunds for construction of federal roads, support for stabilisation and COVID-19 interventions.

She noted that the funds were given to the states with different repayment terms, explaining that some were given as grants and others as loans with favourable repayment terms, including an amortisation period.

The minister said: “With respect to sub-national governments, the FMFBNP (Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning) goes over and above its statutory role to provide financial support for states.

“A total of N5.03 trillion plus an additional US$3.4 billion has been released to the states by the Federal Government over the life of this administration.

“Each of these payments has distinct repayment terms with some given as grants and others as loans with favourable repayment terms, including a long amortisation period.

“The support covers the 13 per cent derivation refund to oil-producing states, refund for construction of federal  roads, ecological support and support from the stabilisation fund, COVID intervention, among others.”

According to the minister, her ministry plans to disclose the details of its state-by-state release of the 13 per cent derivation refund.

The disbursement of the fund to the beneficiary states, she noted, has come a long way but about two months ago, the ministry negotiated and commenced another disbursement of the 13 per cent for 60 months.

She noted that since the fund is from the federation account, it is always taking a toll on what is available for distribution to the three tiers of government.

Mrs. Ahmed said: “On 13 per cent derivation, there are details that will be provided on state-by-state releases. These releases are not just starting now.

“In my report, you saw that it occurred in several periods. But for the recent one, we negotiated to disburse it over 60 months period and we just started that about two months ago.

“So, basically the governor was not sharing the recent one. But there are some that have been disbursed and concluded. There is a plan that it is supposed to be disbursed over a 60-month period.

“We took the pain to negotiate 60 months because of the tariff fiscal rate. So, the disbursement is from the savings of the federation account.

“If we give out from the savings, it is affecting what is available for distribution to all tiers of government.”

She gave the highlights as follows: 13 per cent derivation on refund to oil producing states (N1,978,422,189,787.76); special support (a) Paris Club Refund ($2,673,657,066.19); (b) SFTAS ($750,000,000); (c) others (N1,995,967,593,790.82); ecological support (N204,244,595,861.26); support from stabilisation fund (N37,000,000,000.00);  COVID intervention (N50,000,000,000.00); and promissory notes issued to states for a refund of construction of federal roads (N648,821,139,047.00).

The minister listed the benefiting states to include Kaduna, Gombe, Taraba, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Ebonyi and Cross River, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike recently expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for releasing the 13 per cent oil derivation funds.

His revelation culminated in the condemnation of others that kept sealed lips on the receipt of such funds, which Wike explained, helped his administration in the implementation of many landmark projects.

Following the disclosure, some of his colleagues in the Niger Delta have explained how they applied what accrued to them.

On the issue of the financial viability of the country, the minister noted that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, Nigeria is not broke.

Buttressing the state of buoyancy, the minister insisted that the country continues to generate revenues, which are shared at the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings monthly to the three tiers of government.

She said the non-oil sector has recorded a tremendous boost, increasing from 30 to 73 per cent revenue generation, while the oil sector has rebound from its challenges.

The minister recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recorded increase in oil production that soared to 1.3 million barrels per day in October.

She added that the rise in oil production has contributed more revenue to the government’s coffer.

Mrs. Ahmed said: “Nigeria is not broke. We continue to generate revenue on a monthly basis and these revenues are distributed at FAAC.

“Again, to continue with the tradition of transparency, we actually disclosed how much is distributed on a monthly basis to the various tiers of government.

“Again, in my presentation, I said we have witnessed a significant increase in non-oil revenue.

‘While oil revenue is underperforming because of criminality, recently NNPC has reported that it has been curtailed and we are already beginning to see the pickup in the production volumes which is that more revenue has begun to come to the federation.”

She, however, noted that despite the increased revenue, there is still a deficit in relation to government expenditure.

On debt, Mrs. Ahmed said the government has no plans to opt for debt relief or restructuring because the country’s debt is still sustainable at 33 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The debts, which the minister said the Federal Government was monitoring closely, remain the lowest among the countries in Nigeria’s category, according to the minister.

She said: “Our borrowings have been practical. They are sustainable. They are guided by debt management strategies.

“The debt management is being followed religiously. Our debt is sustainable: 33 per cent of GDP. We are still the lowest with countries that plate our comparatives.”

The minister dismissed suggestions that Nigeria should restructure its debt.

Mrs. Ahmed boasted that the country is still on a sound footing, adding that it has not defaulted in its repayment of domestic and foreign loans.

She said: “We don’t have to restructure because we have a debt strategy that could be followed closely. We provide in our budget provision for debt service. It is taken as a first-line charge so we have not defaulted on any loan external or local.

“And we have projections in reaching out loans in the short and medium terms. This is the medium plan and very frequently it is revised.

“So, we are comfortable in terms of our ability to pay our debts. We have no fears about that happening. We are not going for any debt relief and we are not going for any debt restructuring.”

In the bid to boost the economy, she said the government has incentivised small and medium-scale businesses by pruning their taxes.

Mrs. Ahmed said from the implementation of the 2022 budget, the Federal Government has released N1.7 trillion for capital projects as of September.

She explained that what was reported was 17 per cent underperformance and not 17 per cent performance.

The minister said: “On capital budget release, what we have released today is N1.7 trillion for capital and the capital budget of the 2022 budget is N2.7 trillion so we have released N1.7 trillion to date in September.

“I don’t have the most current number. So, it is not 17 per cent. The report you saw said underperformance of target of 17 per cent, not 17  per cent performance but underperformance.”

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, recalled that the scorecard presentation was launched in October to showcase the numerous achievements of the Buhari administration.

He said: “No administration, since the beginning of the current political dispensation in 1999, has done more than the Buhari administration in supporting states with all sorts of financial interventions.”

The minister recalled how at least 27 states were struggling to pay salaries when the administration came on board in 2015.

Mohammed wondered what would have happened if the President had not offered a helping hand to the states without discrimination.

He said: “But for Mr. President, most of the states would have been plunged into serious socio-economic crisis, with dire consequences for the country.

“The support to the states came at a time when national resources had dwindled drastically, and also at a time of competing needs in many areas, including infrastructure, security, global pandemic, etc.”

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday accused governors of misappropriating the allocations of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in their states.

According to him, the misappropriation by unnamed governors is behind the stunted rural development in some states.

The president spoke with members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He alluded to “fraudulent acts” by some governors in the distribution of funds intended for the management of local councils, saying some governors collect money on behalf of council areas and remit only half of such allotment to the council chairpersons.

The council head, he added, always pilfered the remittance, thereby depleting public resources.

He chided the affected governors for lack of integrity.

Buhari said: “Speaking from personal experience, a Chief Executive of a state, a qualified lawyer, trained; what they did – this is my personal experience – if the monies from the Federal Government to state governments is N100million, let’s put it at N100m, N50m will be sent to the chairman with a letter that he will sign that he received N100m.

“The governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to and then, the chairman of the local government will see how much he must pay in salaries; to hell goes development! Monies for the salaries will be given and the balance will be put in his pocket. This is what is happening.

“This is Nigeria, it’s a terrible thing, You cannot say the person who was doing this was not educated, he was a qualified lawyer, he was experienced, yet, he participated in this type of corruption.”

Buhari attributed such conduct to a lack of integrity, noting that it contributes to the pervasive corruption in the country.

He added: “So, it’s a matter of conscience. Whichever level we find ourselves. As a leader, you sit here, with all the sacrifices the country is making by putting you through institutions and getting you ready to lead. The fundamental thing is personal integrity. May God help us.”

The president’s criticism came a day after the Federal Government criticised governors for prioritising flyovers and airports over improving conditions in rural areas, thereby, contributing to the country’s high poverty rate.

Buhari pledged that the recommendations contained in the presentation of SEC 44 will be painstakingly studied by the government, with the view to implementing them.

He praised his administration for building trust between the government and the people, adding that the report would largely assist in the provision of good governance to those at the grassroots and by extension win back their trust in government.

Buhari said: ‘‘I assure you that the report will be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. The government will study the report with the view to implementing the carefully detailed recommendations.”

NIPSS Director-General Prof. Ayo Omotayo said the course participants undertook study tours of 14 states, six African countries and six countries outside Africa.

He added: ‘‘This enabled them to have both local and international perspectives on local governance, how to overcome challenges in achieving it, identify the available opportunities to strengthen it and develop workable options to be considered by the government in strengthening local governance.”

Bayelsa State residents yesterday defied the heavy downpour to receive the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign train, led by its candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Tinubu, who addressed party faithful and supporters at Ox-Bow Lake Pavilion, venue of the rally, promised to turn Bayelsa State into an industrial hub.

He said Bayelsa will attain its potential as one of the country’s largest producers of oil. Tinubu said Bayelsa would not be what it is today, if oil was not first discovered in the state.

He lamented Bayelsa’s under development, urging the people to vote for the APC to ensure its upliftment.

Tinubu commended former President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from Bayelsa, for ensuring a smooth transition of power in 2015 after the APC won the presidential election.

He also lauded his his efforts to fostering peace and democracy in West Africa.

He said: “On behalf of the entire nation, may I say thank you Bayelsa for all that you have done for Nigeria.

“You have played a critical and leading role in the development of our national economy.

“Now, I am a man of fairplay. I believe a person, a state and even a nation should be repaid for the good and positive things they have done.

“It is high time that Bayelsa was duly acknowledged for its role in national development and even more fairly paid back in kind for that positive role.

“The entire world knows that Bayelsa is rich in oil and is among Nigeria’s largest producing states. The revenue from these things has been the backbone of government income and foreign exchange earnings.

“But what the world often forgets is that Bayelsa is more than just pipelines and oil installations. It is a community of decent and good people, proud of the culture and traditions, yet hopeful of what the future holds.

“You are fishermen and boat operators of great skill and reputation. You are farmers, businessmen, market women, teachers, students and professionals in all fields.

“If you vote for me and my team, that unfair day will surely end. We will reconstruct and maintain vital federal roadways such as the Mbiama-Yenagoa-Nembe-Brass highway. We will work with willing and capable private sector partners to build a comprehensive network of swamp bridges that connect swamp settlements with upland areas and the wider world.”

Tinubu said his government would make the safety and security of the people of the state its priority.

He said he would take the necessary measures to address security challenges on the waterways by winning the fight against kidnapping, oil theft and piracy in the Niger Delta region.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said Tinubu would sweep the state.

He described Tinubu as a great personality, who has a good track record of achievement that nobody could beat.

Sylva, who is the leader of the party in the state, added: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a track record that nobody can beat. And today when they ask me why I am so sure that Tinubu will win and is going to be the next president, I ask them, who is contesting with him because I don’t know anybody that is contesting with him.

“And then they say it is Peter Obi that is contesting with him. I say ehh, and then they say there is an Atiku that is contesting with him, and I say it is very clear that those people are no match for our candidate because we have to look at the record of a candidate.

“What did Obi do in Anambra State? Anambra State is a great state, a technological miracle waiting to happen. Obi was there for eight years and Anambra State is in no way an extraordinary state. But we can say after eight years of our presidential candidate in Lagos State, we have Lagos that is extraordinary.

“Obi prides himself as a frugal man who saves money, that he doesn’t spend money; he prides himself that he is a stingy man. But governance is not about stinginess, it is also not only about prudence. It is about creating the opportunity for you the youths.

“Today, Nigeria has a youth population that is largely unemployed. Who is going to produce those opportunities? Who is going to expand the economy to be able to accommodate these people that we are producing everyday?

“Today, our population is about over 200 million. In 2025, our population is going to be about 250 million people and in 2050, the projection is that our population is going to be about 400 million people. It is not only about prudence, it is about creating opportunities. And if you read the Bible very well, it is very clear about creating opportunities and also about prudence. In the parable of the Talents, it said 10 talents were given to one; five were given to another and one talent was given to another.

“The man that was given the five talent increased the opportunity, invested it and created more opportunities and doubled the talents, so, when the master came back, the master was very happy with him that he had doubled the opportunity.

“The second man also doubled the opportunity and the master was also happy with him and the third man called Obi, buried his own talent and said he was a very prudent man and that he buried it because he did not want to lose it. He brought it out and gave to the master and the master said you are a very wicked man. You can see that it goes beyond prudence; it goes beyond not spending shishi.

“As for Atiku, his only mission, according to him, is that he wants to sell NNPC. He sold others before and he discovered he did not sell the NNPC. So, all he wants is to sell the NNPC. That is why he is saying doesn’t even want more than one tenure. So, why are we going to vote for people like that?

“We must vote for the man that will create opportunities for our youths, we must vote for the man that will create work for you, we must vote for the man that knows the way.”

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong and Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council, said Tinubu will rescue the country.

He said: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the only way. Tinubu understands the problem of Nigeria. All we are saying is that with Tinubu, we have a renewed hope in Nigeria. Everywhere we go, the song is that Tinubu is a winner and he will win.”

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said Tinubu is a tested and trusted man who deserved to be President of Nigeria.

He said: “Tinubu has religious tolerance. He has developed men and women of consequence and deserves our votes. No other man deserves our votes. He is a man to vote for. The cap fits him and he should be the one to wear it.

“I am suggesting that those who we running should run on their records unless of course they have no record to run on. This is a consequential time in Nigeria and we need somebody who has a good track record of achievement and that person is Tinubu.”

Former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, said: “Our Presidential candidate will be the next president and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces. Let me appreciate his running mate, a man who in the face of all challenges still brought hope to the great people of Borneo State.

“This election is particularly crucial to the people of Bayelsa State. I have hope and I know it to be the truth because when I was the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, I came to Bayelsa and saw how farmers’ farms were destroyed, how fisherman can no longer fish, how you dry your clothes outside and because of pollution, it changes colour.

“For you the people of Bayelsa, the issue of restructuring is important for you? Let it not be said that you are the proverbial fish who is in the river, but cannot drink the water because the river is polluted and poisonous.

“Our presidential candidate has the capacity and potential to deliver the country. Tinubu is insisting that Nigeria should not be run like a unitary system of government. He has courage to insist that in a true federal system, states, not Federal Government should be responsible for the creation of local governments. He didn’t just say it, he went ahead and created new local government areas in Lagos State. And what happened, he was punished by the PDP.”

On arrival in Yenagoa, Tinubu and his entourage paid a courtesy call on the Ibenanaowei of Ikpetiama Kingdom and Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in the state, King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada 1V.

The traditional ruler reeled out a lot of demands, including the construction of major roads linking the state capital,   revamping of Peeremabiri Rice Farm, of Aggeii Deep Sea Port and  Brass LNG.

The APC presidential candidate promised to uplift the state as a major oil producer.

But he told the royal fathers to urge their people to vote APC. Alluding to a Yoruba proverb, Tinubu said: “a woman that has not experienced a second husband will not know the difference between the two.”

The Wife of the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress  (APC) and chairman of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Team, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that the former governor of Lagos State will promise the welfare of Nigeria if elected in next year’s elections.

She urged eligible voters, especially women and youths, to vote for APC candidates.

Senator Tinubu gave the assurance at the flag off of the North-West rally of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign, at the People’s Square, Katsina, Katsina State capital.

A statement by the Media Office of the Campaign Team in Abuja said the rally was attended by Hajiya Nana Shettima, the Minister, Hajiya Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed and Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, wife of the Kebbi State Governor and North-West Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Campaign Team; the first ladies of Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Zamfara and Lagos states.

Also at the rally were  Asabe Vilita Bashir, national coordinator of the APC Women Campaign Team and her deputy, Lauretta Onochie, who has recently been nominated as chairman of the board of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Also present were Zahra Buhari-Indimi and Hanan Buhari, daughters of the First Lady and grand patron of the APC Women Campaign Team, Dr Aisha Buhari.

On arrival in Katsina, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Emir of Katsina, and the Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

Some states yesterday said they were doing their best to tackle poverty in rural areas.

They were reacting to the claim by Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, that states were not doing enough to address deprivation.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the minister said rather than complement social intervention initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, the states misdirect resources to projects that have no direct bearing on the people.

While some of the states absolved themselves of blame, others declined comments when our correspondents contacted some of the officials.

Ondo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) placed the state as having the lowest percentage of households deprived of education, monetary poverty, and basic infrastructure.

She said the Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) was created to stimulate economic development.

“We are flying high in Ondo State. The comments do not apply to us.

“The administration of Governor Akeredolu is committed to lifting people out of poverty, securing the lives and property of Ondo residents and ensuring that we build a better economy for everyone in the state. We are aiming higher.”

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, through his Chief Press Secretary Onyebuchi Ememanka, said: “What the minister said doesn’t apply to us.

“Abia State is third on the list of least poverty-stricken states released by the Federal Government.

“The multi-dimensional index released by the NBS placed Abia at No.3 of least poverty-stricken states.

“What it means is that Abia is making a huge impact economically and the administration of Ikpeazu is repositioning Abia.

“Majority of our projects are deliberately and carefully designed to achieve positive macro and micro impacts.”

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, faulted Agba’s claim.

He said his administration has been delivering people-oriented projects, including roads to link agricultural communities to nearby markets.

The governor, who spoke while inaugurating the first road to Rumuodogo, a set of communities that had never had a tarred road in Emohua Local Government Area, said the minister should have investigated his claims before making them.

He said the road to Rumuodogo was evidence that his administration had been constructing rural roads to boost agriculture.

Wike said: “I watched one of the ministers on TV. When they go on television they open their mouth and talk anyhow. He said governors were the problem because they don’t do rural roads.

“You have not been anywhere to go and check whether the rural roads are being done or not and you open your mouth because you have the opportunity as a minister to talk anyhow.

“Come to Rivers and see whether we are doing roads that will lead to agricultural communities before you open your mouth.

“We are not doing roads in the city alone; we are doing roads in rural areas. Governance is about the happiness of the people.”

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni’s spokeswoman, Mamman Mohammed, said it was wrong for the minister to make such a general statement.

According to him, Yobe’s investment in the Cargo Airport will bring foreign investment that will rub off on rural communities.

“The minister, unfortunately, made a general statement not minding the peculiarities of the individual states.

“In Yobe for instance, the government has trained quite a number of youth in various trades like automobile repairs, interlocking, paint making, metal work and others.

“In our case, the construction of a cargo airport would turn around the economy of the state,” Mamman said.

Delta State government rejected the minister’s claims.

Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said it was unhelpful for the minister to play the blame game.

He said: “I think at this point in time, it will not be healthy for anybody whether at the state or federal level, to be looking for who to blame for the challenges we have.

“What is most important is that we need a concerted effort to be able to deal with the very multi-dimensional level of poverty in our country.

“At the federal level, their policies, rather than take people out of poverty, pushed them more into poverty.”

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Stephen Odo, faulted Agba.

He said: “Yes, we are building bridges and flyovers and roads but if you look at what is happening in Ebonyi, we are investing resources in the rural roads.

“We are one of the states that are interconnected to the state capital by all the local governments.

“There is no local government that does not have access roads to the state capital.

“So we may not be among the states that are concentrating development at the centre because every part of the state has a fair share of development and we have the evidence. It is verifiable. The facts are there.”

On the airport, the commissioner added: “There are benefits that will accrue to Ebonyi and the people of the state from the airport.”

Oguike Nwachuku, the spokesman of Governor Hope Uzodimma, said Imo was not one of the states the minister was referring to.

Plateau State Commissioner of information, Dan Manjang, said: “II don’t speak for governors. I speak for the Plateau State government.

“If he (minister) had narrowed it down to Plateau, I would have reacted.”.

Bauchi Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Ningi, said: “I can’t speak without the governor’s permission.”

Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, did not pick up his calls.

The row over the 13 per cent derivation arrears released to oil producing states raged on yesterday with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike throwing a challenge at his colleagues.

He told them to dedicate three weeks for project inaugurations the same way he had done instead of criticising him for commending President Muhammadu Buhari’s gesture.

The governor recently lauded the President for releasing the refunds which were withheld when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held the fort between 1999 and 2015.

According to him, some Niger Delta governor hide under groups such as Akwa Ibom Professionals and Ijaw Professionals to insult him and called on them to stop behaving like cowards and come out openly.

Speaking at the inauguration of the first-ever road to Rumuodogo communities in Emohua Local Government Area, Wike said some of his critics spend four years to execute one project.

Wike said he expected his colleagues to join him and thank President Buhari for releasing the money instead of attacking him.

The governor boasted that whereas some of his colleagues were made governors by their godfathers, he had no godfather and was able to defeat a sitting governor.

He said: “What is my crime today in the Niger Delta states? I said God thank President Buhari for giving me money to do this road. Did I commit any offence. I don’t know the offence that I committed for saying thank you.

“Let me tell those who are making noise. Whether you are a governor I don’t care. Whoever you are I don’t care. I came to run as a governor of Rivers. No governor said I want to put you as a governor.

“I came on my own. We defeated the sitting governor. Some governors were brought by their godfathers. I never had a godfather to bring me as a governor. The only godfather I had was God and the people of Rivers State.

“So, when some governors are talking, they should know those they are talking with. We are not on the same level. We can’t be on the same level. Let these small people keep quiet. If you are not prepared for governance, give up. I am prepared for governance. I will prepare till I leave.

“I am not a fan of Buhari. I am not one of those who go to Abuja to see them. But the truth must be told. When somebody had done well in an aspect, you say so. No matter how you hate me, won’t you give me the credit that I did Rumuodogo road?

“Even if you don’t like Buhari and I say he released money I am using to do something, is anything wrong in that? Some people are not grateful in life, even when you help them they can never be grateful. I will continue to be grateful. People open their mouth and say three kilometre road in their state is more than how many flyovers in Rivers.

“Rivers is a Niger Delta State. It has riverine and land areas. I don’t know who can claim they are more riverine than Rivers State. I didn’t tell you to give account. All I say is thank Buhari. What I expected them to do is to join me and thank Buhari. Now they are saying we receive this and that. What’s my business? If you say you have more water do the ones you have water let us see.

“I have never done any project more than a year and half. I challenge anybody. I can tell you the contractors doing job in this state. Name the ones doing jobs in your state. Do your own, not to do one project for four years. I will never do any project for four years.

“People have been sending their people to insult me and I laugh. Some people they call them Akwa Ibom professionals. They were insulting me. I say tell the man who sent you to come out. We are not kids. I am waiting for you. Some people say Ijaw professionals, you sending them come out. It is you I am looking for. Not all these fries.

“That we are doing 12 flyovers, did I ask you not to do? I am not doing only roads.  Go and see what we have done in the health sector. See what we are doing in Yenagoa Law School. We put over N5bn to recover that school in the Southsouth. When they gave us a licence we built our own law school campus within 10 months.

“I challenge any state to commission projects in three weeks every day. So, what are you talking about? I am not running an election. I don’t need to be a sychophants. But the truth must be told at all times. If you want to face Wike come and face me. I have the capacity and I have told them to be careful.

“I have never gone to a meeting with anybody in life and we agree on something and I abandon it. I am not a betrayer. It is not in my blood. Tell them to face their problems. We started inauguration on November 14. We will end tomorrow. By Monday, we will start flagging off new projects. I will pepper them. The politics today is not to talk but operation show your report card.”

The Rivers governor said he started inaugurating projects to shame those who predicted he would not have money to pay salaries when he took office in 2015.

He said: “You know why we are commissioning these projects, you remember in May 27th,  2015, our brother who was a governor on his birthday while he was leaving office told us that there was no way we would get money to pay pensioners and gratuities not to talk of doing projects.

“We say God you must show that you are God. God in his infinite mercy showed the love he has for this state. He did not only provide money just to pay salaries, pensioners and their gratuities. He has provided money to do this road.”