Poor Allocation: Amaechi Accuses NNPC Of Looting

The Rivers State Governor and the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Chibuikke Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday attributed the reduction in the funds accruing to states as monthly allocations to the alleged ongoing looting in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) treasury.
Amaechi stated that though the issue of oil theft in the country could not be ruled out, it was not enough to reduce the state’s monthly allocation from N25billion to N12billion.
The governor, who spoke yesterday in a radio phone-in programme, maintained that the negative effect of corruption in NNPC was affecting the fortunes of some states compared to oil theft.
He also insisted that Rivers State was not broke despite the reduction in its monthly allocation from the federation account, adding that the state cannot borrow to pay workers’ salaries.
He said, “The fact that our oil wells in Soku have been given to Bayelsa, in Etche to Abia, it will naturally bring down our revenue. But beyond that is the fact the stealing is going on in NNPC.
“The President (Goodluck Jonathan) is talking about oil theft; what quantity of oil can they steal that will bring down revenue from N25billion to N12billion? So, the stealing is more in NNPC.
“Oil theft is a different thing and the stealing going on in NNPC is a different thing. Corruption in NNPC is undermining the revenue the states are getting. Our corruption index has gone down by nine points.
“So, all the gains we made under Obasanjo have disappeared. We are now known as one of the worst corrupt countries in the world.”
On the recent Forbes report rating Jonathan as the sixth richest president in Africa, Amaechi disagreed with the president’s denial, insisting that Forbes is not a gossip magazine.
He said, “Forbes magazine rated our President as the 6th richest President in Africa and he is denying it. Forbes is not a gossip magazine; it is what they see that they present to the public.
“This is the first time someone is denying his ranking in the magazine. People are saying I am abusing the President, I have never abused him. The only thing is that I state the facts the way they are. Forbes published that our President is the 6th richest African President, it is not Amaechi.”
On the financial condition of the state, the governor maintained that the state government was not broke and explained that he would rather break into the monthly savings of the state to pay workers’ salaries than borrowing to do so.
He said, “Rivers State is not broke. Even if we are broke, we have savings and I can break into the savings and collect money from there. You should not forget the fact that the savings are mine in the sense that no other person has access to it. So, I can go back to the savings if I am broke.
“The problem we have is that the Federal Government, out of outright stealing from NNPC, is not able to pay to the states the required funds the states are entitled to; to enable them not only to pay salaries, but to run state affairs. We are going back to the Shagari days when they owe everybody.
“The only reason we have not gotten there is because the governors are very ingenious; they are doing everything to ensure they can pay salaries, but some states cannot pay. Wait, election is coming and the opposition will begin to publish their names.”

Member, House of Representatives, Hon Andrew Uchendu (left), conferring with Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof Barineme Fakae, during the convocation ceremony of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, recently