Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio spoke with reporters on the offshore/onshore controversy, lopsided federal structure and imperative of a new revenue allocation formula. Emmanuel Oladesu was there.
What is responsible for the raging controvery over the onshore/offshore dichotomy?
When we had the onshore and offshore problems in 2000 for about nine months, President Olusegun Obasanjo offered a remedial measure. N600million was given to Akwa-Ibom. That lasted for about nine months. The situation was corrected and Akwa-Ibom started to receive derivation revenue.
Also, in September, 2000, and the records are available at the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) and Ministry of Finance, my state also collected N3.7 billion. At that time, the state that collected the highest derivation was Delta. I think Delta collected N5 billion or more, Rivers came second, Bayelsa came third and Akwa Ibom came fourth. Later, Rivers used to come first, Delta second, Akwa-Ibom third and Beyelsa fourth. Later, Akwa Ibom came first, but it used to change, based on oil production and militancy.
There is a dichotomy on revenue from oil. The onshore and offshore issue is still there. It has not been totally removed. The compromise position was that states are to be paid for oil wells located within 200 meters isoberg. They said they have agreed on 200 nautical miles; that was said in an interview to incense the North. Two hundred nautical miles on international waters, no African country has the capability to produce oil there. But what the man said in his interview was that they are paying derivation for 200 nautical miles, that is, deep on international waters. There is an element of falsehoodin order to cause violence. He knows the truth; he said it so that he can get support. I know Nigerians. If the totality of dichotomy is removed, Lagos will produce the highest quantity of oil because, Bonga oil field is located within the Lagos area. It is a deep sea oil, it can produce 800,000 barrels of oil a day. If the issue of dichotomy is removed today and they say there is no longer dichotomy, the state that might be the highest oil-producing state in Nigeria is Lagos. Go and look at the amount that they pay derivation on. It is not commensurate with the oil sourced because the rest of oil wells are beyond 200 metres isoberg. The governors are saying that exploration is affecting aquatic life, it impacts on the sea, on the livelihood of the people on the shore because life there can never be the same.
How did militancy affect it?
When the activities of militants reduced, Shell could tap a lot of oil. Then, the production in the Niger Delta would pick. So, what they have done now is that they are calculating derivation on monthly basis because sometimes, Mobil can have oil spill and you cannot but suspend production. So, for that month, our own resources will have to dwindle. Then, it may go down because you have a major spill and that, of course, will eventually affect the final derivation. In that wise, for that month, we might come to number four or number three.
Generally speaking, we have, at least, four major states that collect their derivation levies; Delta State, River State, Bayelsa State, and Akwa Ibom. Now, Edo and Ondo have also joined.
The money being so much does not translates to development. It is the vision, it is the dedication, it is the sincerity, it is the commitment, it is the totality of your being.
How are you fighting unemployment in your state?
I was at a Council of State meeting in 2011 when a deputy governor was telling us about Borno State economy. He told us that his governor left behind N64 billion. But if you look at Borno and how much it gets in a month, for Borno to have saved up to N64 billion, and the new governor met N64 billion, the press should have asked questions. What did he leave behind? He left behind Boko Haran and N64 billion in the bank. That is why sometimes, they say if you don’t give to God, you will give to devil. If you don’t spend the money for the benefit of your people, you will use the money to cure the problems you have created.
The reaction to the neglect of the poor, pauperized and the weak, to the neglect of human capacity building, would come. In an attempt to say you are not corrupt, you keep billions in the bank in order to attract interest. And your business is booming while the society is dying and you are now saying, if the EFFC comes, you can account for the money. Is that governance?
Why do you often describe yourself as an angry governor?
I served as commissioner for five years and I knew that where I met the state is not where it ought to have been. I used my money to repair this Calabar-Usi Road when I was commissioner. Obansajo was to pay a visit to the state. I went and brought a heap of sand to fill potholes along the road. So, I went to the governor at that time. I said sir, let’s do something about the road. He said, get out, is it my father’s road? Let him (Obasanjo) come and see how he has been neglecting Akwa Ibom. I said sir, but the visitors that are coming, they would think this government is not performing. He said, is it my business to fix the federal roads? Will you get out of this place? So, I was a man who over advised. If you over advised government, you become an opposition, despite your good intention.
An international award was given to me in Kenya and a television correspondent who came to interview with and asked: ‘what was your motivating factor for all you have achieved in your state which won you the award? I was stunned because that was not the question I expected he would ask. I said anger. What motivated me was anger. Do you know that after my speech, they set up a panel of discussants on Kenya Television to discuss ‘the anger of the Akwa Ibom governor? And the conclusion was, let Kenya produce many angry politicians who can on the spur of anger bring monumental and phenomenal development to the country. If you are not angry with the state of insecurity, underdevelopment, poverty in the society, lack of infrastructure, and lack of employment, then, you have no business in governance.
Can you say you have honestly fulfilled your campaign promises?
Obasanjo came here and described the three segments of Akwa Ibom society, those who support Godswill Akpabio, those who are neither here nor there and those who are in total opposition to Godswill Akpabio. Those who are in support of Godswill Akpabio said ah, the governor is performing excellently. Those who are neither here nor there say the man is trying and those who are in opposition say yes, he has done well, but he has money. My prayer is that anybody that is coming to Akwa Ibom should have money and should also do well. The fact is that what Akwa Ibom is receiving is 0.00001 per cent of what comes from the Federation Account monthly. On a monthly basis, what I use is 0.00001 per cent of the Federation Account.
All the states in the Federation collect 24 per cent of Federal Revenue. What the states draw collectively is 24 per cent, the local governments collect 15 per cent, the Federal Government takes 52 per cent, the collectible fund is about 3 per cent, nine per cent goes to the FCT and another one per cent is Intervention Fund. If the Federal Government has agreed to increase derivation and Akwa Ibom is able to get one per cent, I would have transformed Akwa Ibom to a small Dubai and you wouldn’t need to go abroad again.
