Honourable Philip Shuaibu represents Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He was a Minority Whip in Edo State House of Assembly for two years and later became the Majority leader for six years. He was also a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students. In this interview he says that it is the rebels in the All Progressives Congress, APC, are causing the crisis and that the situation now does not need federal character. He also speaks on other issues.

Akure—ONDO State government weekend debunked insinuations that it received a bail-out from the Federal government to pay outstanding workers salaries. Instead the state government said that it only received N2.2 billion accrued to it from taxes, being part of June allocation from the Federation account.

WE are in an upbeat mood. Money is beginning to flow again. At least from the federal main supply, to the state and local government taps, and of course the federal tank which collects 52 percent of distributable funds. After months lamenting lack of funds, N804.7 billion was made available to be shared. I wonder what effect this will have on exchange rate as chunks of these funds flow through the tributaries of Bureau de Change and smuggling, into the larger oceans of world finance.

Yenagoa—No fewer than 13 persons died in last Thursday’s Agip pipeline explosion along Tebidaba-Clough Creek trunk line in the mangrove swamp of Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The story by Okechukwu Nnodim, writing from Abuja went on to say that “The Nigerian Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network, which was inaugurated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission about two months ago has collapsed.” Reading the report, it is obvious that the NERC and the members of the Nigerian Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network, NECAN, cannot agree about who is to fund the programme. There is fault on both sides as will be demonstrated presently. But first a few questions need to be answered.