The director general of the Voice of Nigeria raised questions over the whereabouts of the 23 billion dollars supposedly awarded during the Jonathan government, for the building of refineries
According to Okechukwu, the Buhari government was determined to restructure Nigeria’s sub-structure, even though it had inherited an almost failed state.
The director general of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Osita Okechukwu, has berated the Ijaw National Leader Edwin Clark, over the ultimatum he issued to the federal government, to constitute a negotiation team on the demands of the Niger Delta region.
According to reports, Okechukwu made his comments in a chat with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday August 2.
Okechukwu advised Clark to join hands with the Buhari government to develop the country, instead of engaging in propaganda.
At a recent news conference, Clark had given the federal government until August 1, to constitute a negotiation team to engage in talks with Niger Delta stakeholders.
However, Okechukwu stated that the Buhari administration was working to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians, and told Clark to ask Niger Delta senators what was delaying the signing of the loan to start projects in the region.
He stated: “We were given a four-year tenure to start with; and if it suits the Nigerian people, they will re-elect the APC and president Muhammadu Buhari again or any other candidate in the APC.
“I was not very impressed with Chief Clark, a man I have respect for, because he is sounding as if everybody is opposed to devolution of power.’’
Okechukwu berated the Niger Delta chieftain for neglecting to better the lots of his people during the previous PDP administration.
According to Okechukwu, Clark rather “started building a private university, married a new wife and was enjoying himself without showing seriousness in matters affecting the region and its people”.
He stated further: “Clark was there on May 13, 2010 in president Jonathan’s regime when the minister of finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told Nigerians that they had awarded 23 billion dollars for three refineries.
“The refineries were to be in Bayelsa, Lagos and in Kogi states; we didn’t see the 23 billion dollars and we didn’t see the refineries.”
According to Okechukwu, the Buhari government was determined to restructure Nigeria’s sub-structure, even though it had inherited an almost failed state.
The VON director-general stated that within two years of its tenure, the Buhari administration had spent about one trillion naira in bail-out funds to address issues of salary arrears in states.
Okechukwu further added that through a 500 million dollars foreign loan, Niger Delta roads had been rehabilitated by the current administration.
Credit: naij.com
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