RIVERS: Wike threatens to sue NGF, FG over move to withdraw funds from ECA

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike, has threatened to sue the Federal Government over plans to withdraw more funds from the Excess Crude Account to purchase additional hardware for security forces to combat kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality across the country.

Wike added his administration will also resist plans by his counterparts under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to cede portions of their share from the joint account and funds to support the Federal Government in its move to stem the rising tide of insecurity in Nigeria.

The governor, noted that the same reason was given by the Buhari administration in 2017 to withdraw $1billion from the Excess Crude Account.

He expressed misgivings about how the money, purportedly withdrawn to fight insurgency in the Northeast, was spent.

His threat came barely 24 hours after chairman of state NGF, Kayode Fayemi, announced that the governors have thrown their weight behind the Federal Government’s move to procure more weapons for the military to restore peace and harmony in the country.

But Wike, while playing host to the the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, who was on a courtesy visit to him at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday, said  that the state would not support the plan for a fresh withdrawal  except  it is given 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 will tell my Attorney-General; you will have to prepare, we will go to court. I will not support that one except they will give us our 13 percent first from that Excess Crude Account”.

The Emir explained that his visit to Rivers State, the heart of the Niger Delta, is part of his fraternal tour to national leaders and traditional institution across the country.

The Emir urged Governor Wike and other regional leaders to continue to ensure that the region remains a welcoming environment for all Nigerians to thrive.

He said Kano and Rivers States, face similar challenges, urging political leaders to make the current challenges a bit more bearable for the common man.

“We have therefore made it a point every time we meet with traditional or political leaders across the country to ask them to do all within their powers to make the challenges of today’s life a bit more bearable for the common man”.