The former Chairman of the Special Task Force on Petroleum Revenue, Nuhu Ribadu, on Saturday in Kano challenged the 19 northern governors to account for the N8.3 trillion that accrued to their states between 1999 and 2010.

Mr. Ribadu, who was speaking at a two-day summit of Northern Development Focus Initiative, NDFI, lamented that there were no significant achievements on ground to show for the huge resources at the state and local government levels for the period.

According to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, despite the fact that each of the 414 local governments in the north currently has budget in excess of the N8.3 trillion of the entire Northern Region under the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, successive administrations in the region have failed to meet the expectations of the people.

He blamed corruption for the problem, noting that at least 90 per cent of the nation’s resources were being stolen by public officials.

“When Major Nzeogwu made his speech to justify the takeover of power on January 15th, 1966, he mentioned that the military took over because the first republic politicians were collecting ten percent bribes. But nonetheless, it presupposes that at least they were using 90 percent of the resources to do the work. It would be great to pose the question: ‘What is happening now’?, he asked.

He said today public officials steal 90 percent of funds allocated to their agencies while allowing 10 percent for the purpose for which the funds were earmarked.

Others, he said, out rightly loot the treasury, stealing directly from source as revenues accrue to their governments or agencies.

Mr. Ribadu recalled the statement credited to the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, that the revenue received by Nigeria in 2012 from the sale of crude oil was more than the yearly aid the entire sub Saharan Africa received.

“Where is the money, where is the improvement?” he asked

The former EFCC chairman decried the under-development of the North and erosion of the legacies of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello.

According to him, the last annual budget by the late Sardauna for the whole north was just 44 million pounds, with Northern Nigeria, which Ahmadu Bello led at independence, now 19 states, the federal capital territory, Abuja and 414 local government areas.

These 19 states and over 400 local government areas, he said, got a total of N8.3 trillion from the federation account between 1999 and 2010.

He said every local government areas has budgets per annum that is more than the budget of the entire old northern region during the Sardauna era.

“My take is that they were not corrupt and that was the reason they achieved so much with so little. What is really happening now with all these huge sums we have?

“These local government areas do not even repair township drainages. They do not maintain existing markets and motor parks amongst many other things that would take a while to mention. Nobody knows what they generate as revenue internally, because all the sums quoted in the reports and newspapers are just what they get from the federation account monthly. They hardly meet in council except when there are subventions to be shared.

To make matters worse, he said, many legislators, especially from the northern states, hardly attend sittings to defend the interests of their constituents, adding ” are mostly busy traveling to various parts of the world with their new found wealth”.

Ikengawo: I voted Ribadu last election, though i understand this is political posturing for him CPC/ACN candidacy.
He's trying to show that he's 'hard on the north' while quoting an igbo man to put igbos at ease with his candidacy.

Cable Date: 2007, Dec 31

Ribadu: Discusses Move On Him, Yar,adua, Ibori And Obasanjo — Embassy Abuja (Nigeria) -

¶8. (S) Ambassador asked about Obasanjo and his daughter, National Assembly Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who is currently being investigated over contracts to an Austrian company. Ribadu said that the EFCC had called her in on
December 27 and questioned her for hours. They also had documents on the transactions and questioned the head of the Austrian company. In the end, he added, we determined that there was no illicit enrichment of state funds, but a
business deal gone badly between two parties, where promises were made and not kept, and one party getting mad at the other. On former president Obasanjo, the Commissioner said, he really knew how to play the game.

Although he created the EFCC and understood its importance for him with the international community, Ribadu explained, that by far &even more than the Abacha days where he was the sole thief, corruption under Obasanjo,s eight years was far worse, because everyone stole, no doubt he did as well.8 However, he added, &Oba was a political machine and knew how to play the game for the international community, cover his tracks and for good or bad &got it8 as regards to what the EFCC,s role was and should be."

Ikengawo: I voted Ribadu last election, though i understand this is political posturing for him CPC/ACN candidacy.
He's trying to show that he's 'hard on the north' while quoting an igbo man to put igbos at ease with his candidacy.

PointB: Now this is the hypocrisy I hate hearing. Why does he have to bring in Nzeogwu in a matter that is strictly directed at Northern Governors? Couldn't he make his comment without bringing in the man they so much detested in the North for trying sanitize the system.

Anyway, that's by the way. But I will not rush to praise Ribudu for this 'attack' cos I perceive another layer of hypocrisy in effort itself. As substantial period of the 1999 - 2010 period covering Ribadu's interest happened to be when he held sway as the Head of EFFC. His job then was to prevent the type of corruption he is pointing at. Or to detect and prosecute.

How well did Ribadu do his job within the period under review? And what took Ribadu so long to voice out?

I see 2015 written all over this outburst!

kingoflag: Seriously, do you guys have mental problems or is it just in your genes to always ignore the truth and base everything on only tribe and religion.

PointB:

Thunder fire your blokos for this comment. Your level of intelligence is very questionable if that's all you could decipher from my comment.

PointB: Now this is the hypocrisy I hate hearing. Why does he have to bring in Nzeogwu in a matter that is strictly directed at Northern Governors? Couldn't he make his comment without bringing in the man they so much detested in the North for trying sanitize the system.

Anyway, that's by the way. But I will not rush to praise Ribudu for this 'attack' cos I perceive another layer of hypocrisy in effort itself. As substantial period of the 1999 - 2010 period covering Ribadu's interest happened to be when he held sway as the Head of EFFC. His job then was to prevent the type of corruption he is pointing at. Or to detect and prosecute.

How well did Ribadu do his job within the period under review? And what took Ribadu so long to voice out?

I see 2015 written all over this outburst!

Boss13:

You are a very annoying person.

Omo_Tier1:
These days you come across as unreasonably reasonable