Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says Nigeria Governors Forum endorsement of fresh withdrawal of fund by the Federal Government from the Excess Crude Account will be contested.
The governor wondered what happened to the $1 billion withdrawn from Excess Crude Account in 2017 on the stance that it will be used to fund the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.
Governor Wike stated this when he played host to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, who was on courtesy visit to him at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.
The Rivers State Governor said he will not support the plan for a fresh withdrawal except Rivers State is given its 13 percent share from the account.
“Yesterday, I was told that the governors agreed that they will take money from Excess Crude to support military. What of the one they took before, the $1billion that they gave to the military?
“Now again! This one, I’ll tell my Attorney General; you will have to prepare, we will go to court. I will not support that one except they’ll give us our 13 percent first from that Excess Crude Account.”
Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday said it will dedicate portions of the excess crude account, natural resource development fund and the economic stabilisation fund to provide support for the procurement of necessary military equipment to address the insecurity challenges in the country.
Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi who also doubles as chairman of the forum announced the decisions following the kidnapped of Kagara school students on Tuesday.
Fayemi said the agreement was reached by the governors after an emergency meeting held at the banquet hall of the state house.
