The controversial joint State-LGA account in which governors seize funds allocated to local government councils in Nigeria was said to have been introduced by former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke.

A narration by Dominic Kidzu, of the history of the ugly situation through which governors squander monies meant for the development of local communities, has it that it started during the 4th Republic and became a national malaise in 2003.

He said- “The seizure of local government funds started right at the onset of the fourth republic. By 2003 the funds had been fully corralled throughout the federation and local government councils disabled and safely tucked under the armpit of the governors.

“It is assumed that the very idea was formulated in Cross River State by the then Governor Donald Duke (but no concrete evidence).

“What I remember vividly is that when Governor Duke announced the idea to the chairmen in the Executive Council chambers of the Governor’s Office, many of them kicked against the idea.

“The chairmen who vociferously opposed the joint account allocation committee, JAAC, included Chief Jake Otu Enyia, chairman of Boki local government council, Barr. Ebaye Akumjum of Ikom, Bassey Ekefre of Calabar South and Dr. Salem Joshua of Akpabuyo.

“In government circles they were seen as the ring leaders. I was the chief press secretary to the governor and my brief was to get these opposition chairmen to speak to the camera endorsing the proposal.

“As they stepped out of the meeting I invited all four of them to my office, where the press boys were waiting, camera at the ready. As I was shoeing them into my office, Dr Salem Joshua threatened to slap me if I touched his hand again.

“He thereafter went downstairs and granted a heated interview to Ofonime Ummanah of the Punch newspapers and the now late George Onah of Vanguard. He spoke tough, deprecating the state governor and rejecting the setting up of JAAC in its entirety.

“Back in my office, the three gentlemen were in a rage. Otu Enyia was threatening fire and brimstone and refused to speak to the camera. The other two did, unwillingly too, accepting the JAAC proposal. The governor had told them in the meeting that whoever opposed the idea stood the risk of being removed.

“It was not long before the chairman of Akpabuyo was actually removed. Otu Enyia would have been removed too if I and Barr. A. B. Tase did not hold him down for hours at Metropolitan hotel, prevailing on him to take things easy and not try to be a hero.

“He had already reported the governor to late elder statesman, Chief M. T. Mbu who spoke to the press in Lagos straightaway, condemning governor Duke’s move.

“The party waded into the issue and under the one big umbrella, tempers were brought down. The state House of Assembly was then given the task of making a law to that effect. The governor signed the bill that freed up local government funds, ostensibly for the overall development of the state. Now the rest is history.”