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HomeNewsWike to FG: I got N17bn not N34bn from Paris loan refund

Wike to FG: I got N17bn not N34bn from Paris loan refund

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday dismissed claims that the Federal Government disbursed N34 billion to Rivers State as its share of the Paris Club loan refund, challenging the Federal Government to publish the account where it paid the money.

The governor said the lies, deceit and negative propaganda being dished out by the Federal Government had reached an embarrassing level, accusing the Federal Government of deliberately short-changing Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states by ignoring the approved payment plan.

Wike, who spoke during the first session of the 8th synod thanksgiving service of the Anglican Province of Niger Delta, said the Federal Government released N14 billion as Paris Club loan refund to Rivers State, but only released another N3 billion after protests that the state had been shortchanged. He said that so far, the Federal Government had released a total of N17 billion to the state, which he said had been judiciously deployed while also monitoring the use of local government funds, especially in the payment of outstanding salaries to workers in the council areas. He said: “As I speak to you, no N34 billion has been paid to Rivers State. I challenge the Federal Government to show Nigerians the account they paid the N34 billion into.

“I read on the pages of newspapers that Rivers State received the highest amount of the Paris Club loan refund of N34 billion. I want to say categorically that it is not correct. “The President approved that every state and local government should receive 50 per cent. They came to say that they cannot pay 50 per cent, but they can pay 25per cent.

Now, the 25per cent of the 50 per cent they paid Rivers State government and local government areas was N14 billion. “They short-paid Rivers State, they short-paid Akwa Ibom and they also short-paid Delta State, which are all PDP states.

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“We are the only states that were short-changed. They paid all other states completely. So, we started fighting. We raised the alarm and they said we still have N3 billion. “For the remaining 25 per cent, they called a meeting. They now said we cannot pay you that 25 per cent fully. We will pay you part of the 25 per cent now, pay part in September, pay part in December.

“If they pay part now, part in September and pay part in December; then it will mean that they have paid Rivers State government, N34 billion. “If they say that we are entitled to N34 billion, Okay. Being entitled and paying the money are two different things,” he said.

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