Wike kicks against $1bn ECA fund for FG

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state on Friday kicked against the authorization for the federal government to withdraw the sum of $1billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) belonging to all tiers of government.

He was at the presidential villa, Abuja to brief President Muhammadu Buhari on the current security situation in the state after which he told State House correspondents that the withdrawal from the fund by the federal government would be illegal.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) had approved the money for withdrawal by the federal government to aid it in the fight against insurgency in the north east.

Governor Wike however said that he was in support of the federal government’s fight against insurgency.

He said: “Even though for me it’s illegal, for me it is. However, we are told we are fighting insurgency and no right thinking person in the country will say that he would not support the government in fighting against the insurgency.

“But on the other hand too, I believe that when you are talking about environmental issues in the Niger Delta particularly the Ogoniland, I believe that we can also take money from there (Excess Crude Account) to solve the problem of Ogoniland and other Niger Delta areas. That is my position.”

On the meeting with President Buhari, he said he updated the President on the security situation in the state.

Wike said the meeting focused mainly on security and other developmental issues in Rivers state, adding that he was happy with the discussion.