Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, told the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero that he was not in support of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF)’s endorsement of fresh withdrawal of fund by the Federal Government from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight insecurity.
The Emir and Governor Wike, held a crucial meeting on insecurity and other challenges threatening mutual co-existence of different tribes in the country.
The Governor said he wonder what happened to the $1bn withdrawn from ECA in 2017 to fight Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.
He added that he would only support the move for fresh withdrawal if Rivers State would be given its 13 percent share from the account.
He said: “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.”
Wike expressed regrets that current political and religious leaders were not building on past successes, reminding the Emir how his late father and other leaders in their time worked hard in promoting love, peace and national unity among Nigerians.
Wike explained that they were rather reducing every relationship, appointment, policy and programme of government to political and religious considerations.
He insisted that Nigeria belongs to everybody and no section could assert itself over others adding that he had provided conducive environment for all ethnic groups in Rivers State to coexist.
“It is important that where we are now, everybody, particularly traditional rulers, should know that they have major role to play in ensuring that peace reigns in this country.”
“This is the first time in Nigeria when we have so much ethnic divide, so much religious divide. It has never happened like this before. After the civil war, people had seen Nigeria as one country. We have seen ourselves as the same people but what we are facing today is a different thing.”
“We are not even talking about the issue of insecurity, but the issue of ethnicity, and religion which have taken centre stage in our life which is not supposed to be.” He stated.
The Governor also accused heads of security agencies, particularly the Inspection-General of Police of politicising security by posting Commissioners of Police to the State on the order of a politician in the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero said his visit to Rivers State was part of his fraternal tour to national leaders and traditional institution across the country.
He then urged Governor Wike and other regional leaders to continue to ensure that the region remained a welcoming environment for all Nigerians. While also expressing his appreciation to him for the protective and fatherly role he had continued to play in turbulent times of the country’s history.