Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri is facing scrutiny from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the management of N21 billion allocated to the state’s eight local government councils. This sum, which was part of the withheld 13 percent oil derivation refunds released by President Muhammadu Buhari to oil-producing states, has become a focal point of contention. The APC has announced plans to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Diri administration’s handling of these funds, as well as to demand accountability for over N100 billion the state received from the same source.
During a recent Correspondents’ Forum held by the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Yenagoa, APC state chairman Dennis Otiotio raised concerns about the alleged mismanagement of the funds. He pointed out that each local government area was supposed to receive approximately N3 billion, totaling N21 billion, yet there are currently no elected officials overseeing these councils due to the governor’s failure to conduct local government elections. Otiotio questioned how the funds were being managed in the absence of elected officials and suggested that the money might be used to support candidates in upcoming elections.
Otiotio further criticized the Diri administration for what he described as bad governance, which he claims has resulted in significant hardship for the people of Bayelsa State despite substantial monthly revenue allocations from the Federation Account, including the 13 percent oil derivation funds. He emphasized that the APC is committed to regaining power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he claimed had illegitimately retained control following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the APC’s victory in the 2019 governorship election.
The APC chairman expressed frustration over the lack of transparency from the Diri administration, noting that despite receiving over N100 billion from the Federal Government, the governor subsequently sought additional loans from the state Assembly. Otiotio questioned the rationale behind taking loans when substantial funds were already available. He criticized the government’s transparency briefings, asserting that they failed to disclose the receipt of these significant funds, which were only revealed after Governor Nyesom Wike’s disclosure.
In response to these allegations, Governor Diri had previously stated that the 13 percent oil derivation funds were being used prudently, primarily for infrastructure development. He also claimed that his administration had nothing to hide and that the state’s monthly allocations from the Federation Account were consistently made public through transparency briefings. However, the APC argues that the current administration has mismanaged resources, leading to suffering among the people of Bayelsa State and undermining the fundamental purpose of governance, which is to foster an environment conducive to business and public welfare.
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