Foremost elder statesman from Nigeria’s South South, Pa Edwin Clark, has accused the region’s governors of corruption and embezzlement of 13 percent oil derivation funds allocated to their states.
He made the allegation on a Channels Television programme: “Inside Sources,” which is anchored by Laolu Akande.
The 96-year-old former Federal Commissioner of Communication under a military regime in the old Midwestern Region claimed that the governors have been misappropriating the oil derivation funds meant for the development of their respective states, describing the action as a deeply-rooted problem plaguing the region.
The prominent Ijaw leader and politician, who spoke on the highly acclaimed political television programme on Friday, offered his valuable insights on various pressing national issues.
He also provided viewers with a comprehensive analysis of how the South South governors fed fat on the oil derivation funds for personal gains, luxurious lifestyles, and political patronage, rather than directing them towards the welfare of the people of the region.
Oil derivation funds are a significant portion of revenue allocated to oil-producing states to compensate for the environmental degradation caused by oil exploration and exploitation.
READ ALSO:
UNILAG Speaks On Five Fake Professors Allegedly Linked To It
Lagos Police Arrest Three For Staging Street Carnival
As Kids Return For The New Academic Term, By Rasak Musbau
Tinubu’s Minister Confirms Someone Got N585m Meant For Thousands Of Poor
Chief Clark, with his vast experience and knowledge of the region’s political landscape, argued that the governors’ actions were hindering the much-needed progress and development in their states.
He expressed his disappointment at the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of these funds, which he believed were essential for infrastructural development, education, healthcare and overall socio-economic growth.
He said: “Most of our governors are corrupt.
“They utilise this money for themselves.
“To imagine that my former governor built a university with our derivation money.
READ ALSO:
Boxing: Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou Heavyweight Clash In Saudi Arabia Confirmed
Policemen Filmed Picking Money At Benin Airport Won’t Be Dismissed – FPRO
“It’s unheard of.
“Warri, which is the headquarters of the oil-producing community in the South… until the new governor came in to say no Warri must be developed.
“So what am I saying?
“Our governors, most of them derailed due to corruption.
“Corruption is a cankerworm which is eating and disrupts anything in our country.
“In fairness to Muhammadu Buhari, he said we must kill corruption, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
“I reported the Governor of Delta State for misusing our derivation money.
“Today, 90 percent of the oil that generates revenue for Nigeria is found in the Niger Delta or what you call South South today.
“Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa produced 90 percent in August this year of the oil, whereas Abia produced 0.7 or 8, Imo produced 1.02, Ondo produced less than 4 percent, Edo produced less than 5 percent, but people who produce oil are excluded from everything.
“From the operations of the oil, the children are not employed.”
Speaking on the failed Naira Redesign Policy under the previous administration and the ongoing travails of the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Chief Clark gave an insight into what transpired during the period.
He made startling allegations, alleging President Buhari’s involvement in the failed initiative.
Clark, who said that the former president was directly involved in the Naira Redesign Policy, alleged that Buhari utilised the influence of the embattled CBN boss to implement the policy through a company owned by his brother-in-law.
He also asserted that the ex-president was fully briefed on the ill-fated initiative as against insinuations from some quarters that he wasn’t aware of it.
It would be recalled that a damning report was recently presented to President Bola Tinubu by a Special Investigator probing the CBN, Jim Obazee.
It was alleged that Emefiele opened 593 foreign bank accounts without the approval of either Buhari or the CBN’s Board of Directors.
Similarly, it was also alleged that the recent naira redesign was not expressly approved by former President Buhari.
According to the special investigator, it was Buhari’s aide, Sabiu Tunde Yusuf, who came up with the idea.
Commenting on the issue, Chief Clark dismissed the notion that Emefiele was working alone.
He said the ex-CBN governor approached the former president regarding the Naira Redesign Policy and Buhari expressly gave his approval.
He went further to say the former president ordered Emefiele to engage the company owned by his brother-in-law against the intention of the suspended CBN governor, who had other plans to go abroad for the naira redesign, but later succumbed to Buhari’s directive.
He said: “If anybody says Buhari was not consulted, let me go further and tell you, I’m a free citizen of this country perhaps nobody knows about this.
“Emefiele was to print this currency abroad.
“So when he took it to Mr. President as we used to do, let them prove me wrong, it was the president who noted in it that use local printers because his wife’s brother was the Managing Director of those who printed this money,
“So it was Buhari who did it.
“If they had taken it abroad, they would have printed enough money.
“Emefiele, whatever he is facing today, I know Nigeria because of the situation that happened before the election, scarcity of money and all sorts, but many Nigerians are very short-sighted.”
When asked to comment on the investigation that was put out by the CBN investigator that indicted Emefiele for not getting the approval of the former president, Chief Clark berated the report, labelling it misleading and falsehood.
He said: “Those investigators should examine themselves.
“I still have a retentive memory.
“I heard Buhari when the Minister of Finance, the lady, Zainab Ahmed, was questioned, she said she knew nothing about the changes even though the financial control is within her, while the Central Bank man is on the monetary aspect.
“It was at that stage Emefiele went back to Mr. President and the President did not listen to his Minster of Finance.”
During the interview, Chief Clark also expressed his disappointment in President Buhari’s administration, which had promised to tackle corruption and prioritise transparency and accountability.
The elder statesman said his government failed to instill discipline, alleging that corruption grew larger in his cabinet.
Pa Clark, who applauded former President Buhari for not being a corrupt man and exonerated him from corrupt practices, however, frowned at his disposition in power, saying: “He did not fight corruption.
“Rather, corruption grew higher around him in Aso Rock.
“He encouraged corruption.
“He, Buhari, is not corrupt.
“He is a straightforward man, but he hadn’t gotten the ability and the foresight.
“I don’t think he enjoyed good health enough to know what was going on in this country.
“If anybody says Buhari ruled very well, that man is an anti-Nigerian.
“He is the greatest enemy of Nigeria.”
EAGLE ONLINE
