Paris Club Refund: Federal Government lied against Rivers ―Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that the Federal Government did not disburse N34billion to Rivers State as Paris Fund Refund, saying that the level of lies, deceit and negative propaganda by the Federal Government has reached an embarrassing level.

Governor Wike challenged the Federal Government to publish the account where it paid N34billion in respect of the Paris Fund Refund due to Rivers State saying the state only got a total of N17 billion.

Speaking during the First Session of the 8th Synod Thanksgiving Service of the Anglican Province of Niger Delta, Governor Wike said: “As I speak to you, no N34 billion has been paid to Rivers State. I challenge the Federal Government to show Nigerians the account they paid the N34billion.”

He said that the Federal Government released N14billion as Paris Club Refund to Rivers State adding that after protests that the state had been short-changed, the Federal Government released another N3billion to the state, totalling N17 billion.

He explained that the State Government judiciously deployed the N17 billion and monitored the use of the Local Government funds for the payment of outstanding salaries.

Governor Wike accused the Federal Government of deliberately short-changing Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states by ignoring the approved payment plan.

He said: “I read on the pages of Newspapers that Rivers State received the highest amount of the refund of the Paris Club to the tune of N34billion. I want to say categorically, that is not correct.”

“The President approved that every state and Local Government should receive 50 per cent. They came to say that they cannot pay 50 per cent, but they can pay 25 per cent. Now, the 25 per cent of the 50 per cent, they paid Rivers State Government and Local Government Areas, N14 billion. They short-paid Rivers State, they short-paid Akwa Ibom and Delta States, which are PDP States.”

He added: “We are the only three states that were short-changed. They paid all other states completely. So we started fighting. We raised alarm and they said we still have N3 billion.

“For the remaining of the 25 per cent, they called a meeting. They now said, we cannot pay you that 25 per cent fully. We will pay you part of the 25 per cent now, pay part in September, pay part in December. If they pay part now, part in September and pay part in December; then it will mean that they have paid Rivers State Government, N34 billion.”

“The governor stressed: “If they say that, we are entitled to N34 billion, Okay. Being entitled and paying the money are two different things.”

He assured the people of the State that the Paris Club Refund will be used to pay for the Garrison-Trans Amadi-Elelenwo road, the Woji-Akpajo Bridge and road, the Elelenwo-Akpajo Road and other key projects across the state.

“They should come to Rivers State and see what we are doing with our money in comparison with the ‘change’ states.”

Speaking further, Governor Wike charged Christians to actively participate in the 2019 General elections to determine their leaders.

He said Christians must discard the lukewarm attitude to governance. He urged Church leaders to mobilise their members to register in the course of the ongoing voters’ registration.