13% Derivation Refund: I Am Not A Fan Of Buhari, But I Owe No One An Apology For Thanking Him – Wike

In the last two weeks, several reactions have trailed the revelation of how President Muhammadu Buhari paid 13% oil derivation fund to the Niger Delta States by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Naija News reports that Wike has come out to say despite all the agitation by people and other Niger Delta governors over the payment of the backlog of oil funds, he doesn’t regret he appreciated the president for releasing the money to them.

According to him, he is not a fan of President Buhari, but he owes no one an apology for thanking him for releasing the money that was held back since 1999.

The governor was reported to have made his stand on Sunday at the conferment of awards on 162 Nigerians for their achievements, influential lives and services to the progress of Rivers State and the nation.

Wike in a statement signed by his Personal Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said he has been facing problems ever since he said thank you to the president for paying the money despite not being a fan of Buhari.

Naija News reported two weeks ago Wike had appreciated President Buhari for approving payment of a backlog of allocations to Niger Delta states since 1999.

He commended the president for not playing politics with the payment of 13% derivation arrears to Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Akwa Ibom states.

The governor said part of the state’s allocation was used for the numerous projects his administration undertook, including the flyovers, the law school and the cancer centre.

Wike said, “Monies that were not paid to the Niger Delta states since 1999 mainly 13% deductions, the President approved and paid all of us in Niger Delta states.”

However, in the statement he issued on Sunday, the Rivers State Governor noted that “Because I said ‘Buhari, thank you,’ I am having problems today. That is the country we are in. I am not a fan of Buhari.

“When a man has done well, say he has done well in this area. If he has not done well, you say so. I have no apologies for anyone. If Buhari had not released the money from 1999, which my party did not even release, I wouldn’t have been doing what I am doing.”