Niger Delta Ex-Agitator Calls On Gov. Diri To Account For 13% Derivation Funds, Issues 7-Day Ultimatum

A Niger Delta Ex-Agitator from Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, General Christopher Patrick has called on the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri to account for the monies received from the federation account as 13% derivation funds in terms of economic investments, developmental projects and human capital development in the State.

General Christopher who made the call while addressing some newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital, expressed his profound dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Governor Douye Diri since assumption in office, adding that the Governor is expected to perform far better than previous administrations concerning the constant monthly increase in Faac disbursements to the State.

The ex-agitator stated that he is totally dumbfounded with Gov. Diri’s poor performance of leadership in delivering good governance to Bayelsans, which is a serious concern for critical stakeholders in the State to take necessary steps by involving the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, and other Federal Government agencies fighting against corruption at this point in time.

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General Christopher using the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike as a case study, described the governor as the best performing governor in the south-south region in terms of economic investments, developmental projects, human capital development etc effectively and efficiently utilizing the 13% derivation funds in developing Rivers State in the past few years.

He further stated that the world pandemic (Covid-19) in 2020 that greatly affected so many economies across the globe, which was used as a major excuse of unusefulness by Governor Douye Diri not to embark on any developmental projects in the State, was the same year Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was busy commissioning multi-billion developmental projects.

“Douye Diri has no excuse to perform far better than previous administrations, as a governor who have been receiving huge monthly faac allocations including 13% derivation from the federation account since assumption in office, yet no commensurate infrastructure, human capital development in the State, stressing that educational and health facilities are in a dilapidated state.

“The Restoration Government led by Henry Seriake Dickson declared a wage bill of N2.83billion naira in February, 2019 after employing over one thousand graduates into the State Civil Service with the highest number of political appointees first in the history of the State, which is the last state civil service employment before the prosperity government, adding that it is impossible to have a N6billion naira wage in the State at this point in time.

“Douye Diri who knows the total absence of the private sector in the state as a result of lack of domestic and foreign investments, which he is expected to attract domestic and foreign investments to boost the economic growth and development of the state, he is rather busy deriving pleasure in attending irrelevant functions such as burials, weddings, and party campaigns on weekly basis.

General Christopher stated that Bayelsans and Nigerians at large expected Governor Douye Diri to perform far better than previous administrations as someone who became a Governor through the Supreme Court first in the history of the State, instead he has the lowest record of performance in infrastructure, human capital development, socio-economic variables etc in the political history of the State.

He added that Douye Diri is not only incompetent in managing the affairs of the State, but he lacks the requisite leadership experience, knowledge and ideas in delivering good governance to the people of the State, stressing that his leadership style so far has exposed the danger that will befall Bayelsans in his second tenure if he is reelected into office come 2024, which should be stopped with immediate effect.

“Douye Diri should tender his resignation letter as a Governor with immediate effect because, he is incapable of managing the state’s financial resources due to poor performance and mismanagement of public funds, stressing that the Deputy Governor has better leadership qualities to deliver good governance to well-meaning Bayelsans.

General Christopher urged well-meaning Bayelsans to reject Douye Diri’s reelection in the 2024 gubernatorial election, adding that the state is in great need of an experienced and intellectual leader with the requisite knowledge and ideas to embark on socio-economic projects that will transform the state’s economy, and Douye Diri is definitely not the rightful candidate.

He issued a seven days ultimatum to Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State to give a break-down of the monies received from the federation account since assumption in office as 13% derivation, including the monies received as backlog payment of 13% derivation illegally deducted by the Federal Government in previous administrations since 1999, or tender his resignation letter as Governor of the State.