The Governors Of South-South States Meet At Rivers State Government House; Demand Derivation From FG

The South-South Governors comprising; Delta(Ifeanyi Okowa), Rivers(Nyesom Wike), Akwa-Ibom(Udom Emmanuel), Bayelsa(Seriake Dickson), and Edo(Phillip Shuaibu) States met at the Rivers State Government House Yesterday. The Cross River State Governor was however absent.

Governor Wike who received  the governors led them into the meeting which was held closed-door.

At the end of the meeting, the governors resolved to ask for 13% derivation from the Federal Government as they plan to withdraw $1billion from the excess crude account.

Goernor Dickson who briefed the press, said that the demands were in the spirit and in line with true federalism.

Seriake said: "We took the collective view that with respect to the Federal Government's effort to withdraw $1billion for national security, our position in this zone is in line with the constitutional provision on derivation.

"While we have no objection to the Federal Government spending money on security, including security of this zone, we believe the constitutional provision on 13percent derivation be applied and fully respected.

"We will communicate that to the appropriate authorities so that whatever amount that is withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account, being proceed of crude oil sale is subject to the 13 percent principle enshrined in the constitution."

The South-South Governors also declared: "We also agreed that the bill currently making rounds in the National Assembly which we understand is an Executive Bill on management of water resources. We are of the view that the provisions of the bill are offensive and obnoxious.

"We disagree with the centralized control of water resources as we are already dealing with the problem associated with over centralization of our country and we have agreed that the bill should be immediately withdrawn by the Federal Government and further consultations be made on that."

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