Governors Ask Okonjo-Iweala to Explain $20b Oil Revenue

After nearly two year‎s of crisis, governors of the federation in the early hours of Tuesday asked the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to account for $20 billion oil revenue. The unified meeting was the first since May 24, 2013, when the governors’ crisis broke out because of the election in which Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau state who scored 16 votes got the Presidency’s recognition over Rivers state governor, Chibuike Amaechi, with 19 votes. Reading the communiqué of the meeting at 1.08am, the chairman of the forum, Amaechi, said, "In the light of the fact that funds in the Excess Crude (Account) were last disbursed in May 2013, there is need for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, to provide explanation for accruals to the account from June 2013 to April 2015‎ which is estimated at over $20 billion."

The governors added, "We are hereby reconciled and united as a single united umbrella association of the 36 state governors of Nigeria regardless of party or region."

In view of this, Amaechi said that Governor Abdullazeez Yari of Zamfara state was now the chairman of the Governors Forum by consensus for a one year period of May 2015 to May 2016.

The governors also congratulated the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, and commended the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, for conceding defeat.

Amaechi announced that there would be a retreat in June this year aimed at equipping new and returning governors with knowledge of global best practices in establishing and running their offices.

The communiqué further said that the NGF will establish an institution to be known as the "NGF Leadership Academy" which would be responsible for capacity building of Governors and other officials holding public office. The academy will be overseen by the NGF secretariat.

Governors from both factions in attendance at the Monday reconciliation meeting included Kashim Shettima of Borno, Chibuike Amechi of Rivers, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, deputy governor of Imo state, Eze Madumere, Abdulrahaman Yero of Kaduna, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, deputy governor of Kano, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Idris Wada of Kogi and the Governor-elect of Akwa Ibom state, Emmaneul Udom, as well as Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state.

Others were Abiola Ajumobi of Oyo state, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state, Babangida Aliyu of Niger state, deputy governor of Nasarawa state, Abdulaziiz Yari of Zamfara‎, Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state and Gabriel Suswam of Benue state. (Thisday)