PIA: FG Should Have Allocated 5% To Host Communities, Says Peter Obi

A former Governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the
Federal Government to invest the funds being borrowed in profitable
ventures to enhance the nation’s socio-economic development.

Obi made the call on Thursday, while speaking with newsmen
shortly after his courtesy visit to Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi
Makinde, in Ibadan.

On the newly signed Petroleum Industry Act by President
Muhammadu Buhari, he said the law was needed.

“But, the government would have considered the five per cent
being demanded by the host communities.

“We must learn to care for those who are generating resources
for us, whether it is petroleum, VAT or other things.

“We should consider supporting communities or areas where we
generate the income we are sharing,” he said.

Obi, who is the Pro-Chancellor of Dominican University Ibadan,
led top management of the institution on the courtesy visit.

He said that debt was not bad when rightly applied and used for
investment that would improve the economy.

According to him, but borrowing for consumption is bad.

The former governor said that the economy would have been doing
better if funds borrowed had been invested and rightly spent.

Obi, a Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP in 2019 elections), urged government to use the funds
wisely.

According to him, what develops a nation is education, health
and things that can pull people out of poverty.

Obi said that more people would be thrown into poverty, if the
government failed to invest in those things that would improve the
economy.

On the forthcoming Anambra Governorship election, the former
governor called for the conduct of a free, fair and credible
election.

He said that votes of the people should count, urging
politicians to stop preparing for election as if they were
preparing for war.

Prof. Anthony Akinwale, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, said
the delegation’s visit was to seek the intervention of Makinde on
categorisation of the institution as a business enterprise by the
state’s Board of Internal Revenue.

Akinwale also sought for assistance of the governor for
provision of good road access to the proposed new campus of the
University at Igbo-Owe in Akinyele Local Government Area of the
state.

Makinde had pledged to look into the demands by the management
of the university in a way that would favour both parties.

He also thanked the Catholic community for being magnanimous to
its host community and for contributing positively to the health
and education sectors in the state.(NAN)

A former Governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the
Federal Government to invest the funds being borrowed in profitable
ventures to enhance the nation’s socio-economic development.

Obi made the call on Thursday, while speaking with newsmen
shortly after his courtesy visit to Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi
Makinde, in Ibadan.

On the newly signed Petroleum Industry Act by President
Muhammadu Buhari, he said the law was needed.

“But, the government would have considered the five per cent
being demanded by the host communities.

“We must learn to care for those who are generating resources
for us, whether it is petroleum, VAT or other things.

“We should consider supporting communities or areas where we
generate the income we are sharing,” he said.

Obi, who is the Pro-Chancellor of Dominican University Ibadan,
led top management of the institution on the courtesy visit.

He said that debt was not bad when rightly applied and used for
investment that would improve the economy.

According to him, but borrowing for consumption is bad.

The former governor said that the economy would have been doing
better if funds borrowed had been invested and rightly spent.

Obi, a Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP in 2019 elections), urged government to use the funds
wisely.

According to him, what develops a nation is education, health
and things that can pull people out of poverty.

Obi said that more people would be thrown into poverty, if the
government failed to invest in those things that would improve the
economy.

On the forthcoming Anambra Governorship election, the former
governor called for the conduct of a free, fair and credible
election.

He said that votes of the people should count, urging
politicians to stop preparing for election as if they were
preparing for war.

Prof. Anthony Akinwale, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, said
the delegation’s visit was to seek the intervention of Makinde on
categorisation of the institution as a business enterprise by the
state’s Board of Internal Revenue.

Akinwale also sought for assistance of the governor for
provision of good road access to the proposed new campus of the
University at Igbo-Owe in Akinyele Local Government Area of the
state.

Makinde had pledged to look into the demands by the management
of the university in a way that would favour both parties.

He also thanked the Catholic community for being magnanimous to
its host community and for contributing positively to the health
and education sectors in the state.(NAN)