13% derivation: Okowa ‘an example of fiscal transparency’, says Niger Delta Group

The Niger Delta Rights Assembly (NDRA) has described Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as a transparent and frugal manager of resources.
Against the controversy over the release of arrears of 13 per cent derivation and other refunds to nine Niger Delta states by the Federal Government, the group described Okowa as one of the governors who have justified the receipts from oil proceeds.
The NDRA which comprises mainly youths drawn from across the Niger Delta states in a statement in Lagos on Sunday, December 4, 2022 and signed by its president, Chief Israel Bokromo, said from its assessment of developments within the Niger Delta region, Okowa has deployed resources meant for the state to various development projects.
The group said the only difference is that Okowa may not be as loud as some others in celebrating the many accomplishments of his government in a state that was once a theatre of conflicts and violence.
The statement reads inter alia: “Against the backdrop of recent debate over how Niger Delta states have managed revenues received as part of 13 per cent derivation refund, we acknowledge that nine Niger Delta states received various amounts of money from the Federal Government, but we counter the narrative that the refunds were wasted.
“As a pan-Niger Delta group interested in the development of the region, we are aware that in Delta State, in particular, Okowa has surpassed all governors in the region in the area of road construction consisting of over 750 roads spanning a distance of over 1,932Km and 977.84Km of drainage channels, 15 bridges with six completed and the rest nearing completion.
“We also affirm that Okowa remains the only governor who has deliberately taken development to riverine areas, constructing roads within communities that had never had the privilege of using asphalted roads, and in some cases linking such far-flung communities with bridges.
“It is worthy of note that whilst some governors concentrate development in the state capital, Okowa has spread development to every part of Delta, including the remotest rural areas.
“Our findings also showed that Okowa has surpassed all governors in the area of education with four functional and well-equipped state universities, technical colleges and model colleges all operational in the state, in addition to federal and private universities. This is in addition to the giant strides in healthcare and sports development which has guaranteed regular production of healthy sports men and women by the state. This is evidenced by Delta winning the National Sports Festival six times in a row under Governor Okowa, thus bringing back the glorious memories of the old Bendel State, then known for sporting excellence.
“All this coupled with the state’s high performance in education are possible because of Okowa’s conscious investments in human capital development. And he does this without noise, that’s the difference,” the group said.