[size=15pt]We are not – Kano, Edo, Benue, others; reject merger[/size]

By Our Reporter 30/10/2011

It’s plain nonsense, Enugu government






Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chukwudu Achife said: “It is grossly irresponsible and mischievous for anyone to say that Enugu state is facing bankruptcy. It is either that whoever published that thing did not do his homework well or that he acted in mischief. Everyone knows we are not a rich state but we can make bold to say that we know how to manage our resources.

How can Enugu be bankrupt when we were able to pay October salaries even the federal allocation for the month has not been shared? Even with all the massive infrastructural development going on Enugu State, not a single contractor is being owed. So it is clear that such a claim is totally unfounded, it is plain nonsense.”

Author Chancellor of Eastern Mandate Union (EMU), Dr. Arthur Nwankwo views the suggestion to merge some states on the grounds of non viability as a ploy to deny the South East an additional state.

According to him, the suggesting is an excuse to ensure that South East does not get the additional states that the people of the zone are clamouring.

“When did they start to use economic health of as a paradigm for creation of states? When these existing states were created, were they created on the basis of economic viability?, Nwankwo queried.

“We are not talking of viability. What we are talking of is equalization. If North West has seven states and other zones six each leaving South East with five only, it amounts to gross injustice and marginalization. I have been telling them all the time: let us discuss Nigeria, but one way or the other they jeopardize the proposal. Let us discuss the way forward, the grounds for a strong united country but they say no.

“Have you seen this kind of thing before? I insist that if North West has 7 states, South East should be given additional 2 states for equality sake. And I can tell you that no state in the South East, and indeed the whole of the South can be said not to be viable. The only thing needed to be evolved is resource control,” Nwankwo posited.



Benue not going bankrupt –Gov’s adviser

Special adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State on media, Dr Cletus Akwaya says the issue of merging the state with another does not arise.

In his view, solution to whatever financial crisis exists in any State can be found outside of merging because something made some of he states to be financially handicapped to the extents that they cannot meets their obligation to the people. He cited the recent increase in minimum wage. He called for the reviewed of the revenue sharing formula.

Former Lagos state police commissioner, Alhaji Abubarka Tsav described the senate report on the financial status of the state as unfortunate. But he advise the states to try to generate revenue of their own instead of depending on federal allocation



We are not broke, says Edo Govt

Edo State Government also rejected reports listing it as one of the states in a critical financial situation.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion said the has continually met its obligations to contractors and the people of the state.

His words, “Whatever the notion behind the debate is good if it is aimed at releasing more funds to the states. But Edo State is not poor. It is not correct to say that the state is poor.”

Former Peoples Democratic Party Senatorial aspirant, Barr. Henry Idahagbon said it would be wrong to merge states in the country.

Barr. Idahagbon noted that all states in the country are broke in terms of revenue according to them from the federation account.

He explained that the National Assembly should review the revenue sharing formula to give more funds to the states.



Blame ruling oligarchy –Tunji Abayomi

Human Rights Lawyer, Tunji Abayomi, noted that corruption by the ruling oligarchy across the states has continued to put the states’ finances in a serious mess.

Merging the states in such a precarious situation, he said, could only be possible if the people voluntarily agree to be merged.

His words, “The truth of the matter is that corruption is the most highest common factor in this country by the ruling oligarch. We are being governed by a ruthless, corrupt oligarchy.



Amaechi, Rivers ACN disagree

The Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state have disagreed over the Senate’s assessment of the General Sates of the states of the federation.

Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), maintains 36 states do not have enough funds, he wants upward review of revenue sharing in favour of the states.

The Rivers governor reiterated that his administration obtained N40 billion loan from Zenith Bank, with N6 billion already paid.

He noted that extra N10 billion loan would still be taken from a commercial bank, with approval already got from the Rivers House of Assembly for N200 billion bond from the capital market.

Amaechi said with the short dry season in a state with swampy terrain, it would not be ideal to rely on monthly allocations from the federation account to embark on capital-intensive and people-oriented projects.

However, the opposition ACN, through its Rivers Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, yesterday in Port Harcourt, insisted that the state, rich in crude oil and gas, was broke.

The party said: “Amaechi’s government is into huge debts and making desperate moves to raise long-term loans from the capital market.



Kano faults Senate

The Kano State Government yesterday faulted the position of the Senate that it is in financial distress.

The State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Yusuf Bello Dambatta said the claim by the Senate and the criteria used to determine whether some states in the federation are broke or not is still unknown, and declared that Kano as far as he is concerned is not bankrupt but “financially moderate.”

Bello, in an interview with The Nation in Kano said the confusion on the financial categorization of states, revolves around the revenue allocations to states from the excess crude oil account.

He said the deductions made from allocations to the states to fund the new Sovereign Wealth Fund, have the tendency of putting the states in precarious financial situation.

“If the state government receives between four and six billion Naira from the federation account every month, we would be able to address capital projects in the health, electricity, education and other sectors,” he said.



Osun is not distressed - Finance Commissioner

Osun state Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, yesterday said there are indices to prove that the economy of Osun State is healthy.

However, the commissioner agreed that there is a need for upward review of the revenue allocation formula in favour of the states of which Osun would be among the beneficiaries.

He maintained that since the commencement of the new administration in the state, Governor Aregbesola has taken full control of the state finance and has given it a good shape.


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/24568-we-are-not-%E2%80%93-kano%2C-edo%2C-benue%2C-others%3B-reject-merger.html

All this can be resolved if the report is just made publicly available so we can see with our own eyes what metric(s) they are using.

Without numbers, we are all just pissing in the wind.

hahahaha! spin masters at work. Show us the money!

Hahaha !
See as all of them won remain for status quo!
Dr. Authur Nwankwo has a solid point though. Viability was never the bases of state creation in Nigeria, so why now?? Notwithstanding, I must say, some states should have never been created.