13% derivation fund: CLO warns politicians against inciting tension in A’Ibom

Ini Billie, Uyo

Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has cautioned politicians against inciting tension in the Akwa Ibom State over the Federal Government’s refund of the 13 per cent derivation fund arrears to the state government.

Politicians and non-governmental organisations have released various figures against the N186 billion declared by the State Commissioner of Finance, Mr Linus Nkan as the amount so far received by the government which has elicited mixed reactions from citizens.

Speaking on Wednesday in Uyo during a press conference, State Chairman of CLO, Otuekong Franklyn Isong said it was disturbing that politicians were capitalising on the refund of the 13 per cent derivation arrears to creating tension in the state and profiting from it through “incendiary and inciting statements”.

Isong stated that the peace in Akwa Ibom which has earned the state’s status as the most peaceful in the country in the past seven and a half years is threatened by the deliberate misinformation and misrepresentation of the issue by politicians.

He said the tension resulting from the issue was unnecessary and distracting, adding that it was capable of causing a re-enactment of the 2011 pre/post-electoral crisis where investments worth millions of naira were destroyed.

“CLO observes with dismay that some politicians in the State are attempting to make political capital out of the statement credited to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on the 13% Derivation Funds arrears refunded to the State by the Federal Government through deliberate misinformation and misrepresentation of the fact in issue in a manner that is capable of fuelling unrest and derailing the course of governance, peace and security in the State.

“CLO, however, considers the tension and the furore surrounding the issue of 13%

Derivation Fund refund is unnecessary and distracting. CLO cautions against any situation that can lead to a re-enactment of the 2011 pre/post-electoral and worth hundreds of millions of Naira were destroyed,” he stated.

The CLO Chairman said that to ensure accountability of the government and to verify that the 13 per cent derivation funds said to be spent on projects were executed, the organisation’s tour of projects showed that the government has so far executed 55 projects spanning through road, health, education, agriculture, industry, power and aviation among others across the state.

He mentioned that the CLO also embarked on project tracking of both executed and ongoing constituency projects by the three senators, 10 Federal House of Representatives Members and 26 State House of Assembly Members.

The CLO commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for the projects executed in the state, and called on the people to own the projects, as well as support and encourage the government to complete all ongoing projects.

It further urged political office seekers and their supporters to adhere to democratic tenets and the law as the 2023 election approaches, and abhor actions that could breach the peace and security of Akwa Ibom.

“CLO also embarked on a three-month (March to June 2022) tracking of projects executed and/or facilitated by the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel from its inception in 2015 to the present year, 2022.

“In summary, more than 50 road projects were inspected and found to be either completed or at various stages of completion.

“On the power sector, the CLO team observed that about 85 per cent of the 2,274 gazetted villages in the State has been connected to the national grid attesting to the State government’s huge investment in the power sector, which is critical to economic activities of the people of the State,” he explained.