A coalition of militant groups from the nine states of the Niger Delta region have slammed as ‘provocative and deceitful” the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa’s outburst over the allegation of alleged misuse of 13 per cent derivation by governors of the region and the moves to release the funds to oil communities, declaring that the direct payment to oil communities and not state governors will lead to effective development of the region.
The militant groups, under the umbrella group of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), described the defense of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as provocative and an attempt by the Niger Delta governors to continue the alleged diversion of 13 per cent derivation meant to develop oil producing communities and the region.
The RNDA, in a statement issued and signed by its leader, Johnmark Ezonebi also known as Obama, condemned in totality the statement ccredited to the governor of Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa opposing the stand of the presidency over 13 percent derivation funds and that the oil and gas producing communities in Niger Delta cannot control the 13 percent derivation funds and that it is the governors that can manage the funds on behalf of the oil producing communities.
” This is a great insult and deceitful position by the governors known to have embezzled the funds meant for the development of the region. Governor Okowa and his mates should come out to tell us what they have done with the 13 per cent derivation funds and many other funds accrued to the region. ”
Okawa’s position is also an insult to the agitating militant groups in the creek and the oil producing communities and traditional rulers from the region. These Niger Delta governors like Governor Okowa cannot continue to enslave and mortgage the future of our youths and that of our unborn children in the creeks. ”
The Niger Delta governors like Okowa should not provoke the wrath of the gods upon their lives and if he and the other Niger Delta governors refuse to stay clear from the 13 percent derivation funds that they have been illegally hijacked and mismanaged for all these years, they are moving us against them. These governors should not provoke the RNDA, with nine other militant groups in the creek to declare war against them and tag them as enemies to the under development of the oil rich region.
“In our years of agitation, we have observed the damages and the devastating effects caused by these greedy self-centered state governors from the region. The oil and gas producing communities are saying enough is enough. Therefore, Ifeanyi Okowa, with his counterparts from the region, has been warned to stay clear from the 13 percent derivation funds or else they will face a severe consequences which may lead to destruction of all oil facilities in the creek. ”
The RNDA, however, absolved President Muhammadu Buhari of the new agitation by militant group and oil bearing communities against the continued diversion of the funds accrued through the 13 per cent derivation fund, saying “We believed that President Muhammadu Buhari is not the cause of the under development that is affecting the region rather it is the bad corrupt leadership of the 16 wasted years of previous administrations with the Niger Delta governors that led to the massive under development of the region”
“Today, therefore Mr. President should do the needful and Mr. President has the power enshrined in the constitution and he should give a presidential directive not to pay the 13 percent derivation funds to the governors of the region anymore because the 13 percent derivation funds is on the exclusive legislative list. Mr President has the prerogative right and jurisdiction on all matters on the exclusive legislative list, including oil and gas of the No.39 in the act which no state governor or state assembly can legislate on.
“Any matter on the exclusive legislative list is provided for the President to decide upon. The President, who is the commander in chief, has the power to decide where this funds should be channel to. The RNDA, with the coalition of the nine militant groups in the creek now use this opportunity to write an open letter to president MUHAMMADU BUHARI who is the commander in chief of the federal republic of Nigeria to direct the revenue allocation sharing Office to pay the 13 percent derivation funds directly to the oil and gas producing communities by creating presidential 13 percent derivation funds monitoring and state IMPLEMENTATION committees.”
The group recalled that it was during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari that derivation funds was 1.5 percent to mineral producing communities, President Shehu Shagari directed, as mandated by the provisions of the law on the exclusive legislative list, to administer the 1.5 percent derivation funds by the presidential monitoring committee and state implementation committees. It is the exclusive legislative power of Mr President to direct the legal implementation on 13 percent derivation funds.”
“The RNDA demand that for the interest of peace and development in the region, President Buhari should do the needful and give a presidential executive order to pay the 13 percent derivation funds to the awaiting presidential monitoring committee and state IMPLEMENTATION committee’s as it is in the Armed Forces with other law enforcement agencies and that should also be applied to the oil and gas wish is on the same exclusive legislative list number 39 of the exclusive list.”
” RNDA want to challenge the governor of Delta State to pin point the massive urban infrastructural development he has done so far with the trillions he has collected from the 13 percent derivation funds from the presidency since when he assumed Office as governor of Delta State 2015, and the RNDA Militant groups want to ask the governor that he established the Warri and Uvwie development agency to revive the dead life of Warri and Uvwie environs which does not have any passable good road and we’re is the Riverine Coastal Areas development Agency which supposed to be number one to be established and supposed to be funded by the 13 percent derivation funds he is collecting from the federal government monthly”
“The RNDA Militant group want to remind the governor of Delta State that the billions and trillions he is collecting from the 13 percent derivation funds are coming from the proceeds of oil and gas from the oil producing communities in the creek. Therefore the governor of Delta State has been warned not to incite and provoke the oil and gas producing communities not to create serious tension and trouble in the once trouble Niger Delta region by his statements and rather he should toe the part of honor and join hands with the courageous leadership position of the deputy Senate president who is equally from oil producing community in Delta that is on the page of asking Mr President to direct the payment of the 13 percent derivation funds to the oil producing communities by setting up an agency or establishing a presidential 13 percent derivation funds monitoring committee wish will purely in charge of the 13 percent derivation funds.”
