Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela, the former coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has reacted to reports that she spent $2.1 billion from the Excess Crude Account without authorisation.
Vanguard; You lied, Okonjo-Iweala tells Oshiomhole, The Nation; APC: Buhari on course, ThisDay; APC: why Buhari’s government is slow, Daily Sun; APC crisis: you lied, Baraje blasts Akande, as well as The Punch; PDP thugs batter APC witnesses at Ekiti tribunal, makes the front pages of the national dailies for Wednesday, June 30, 2015.
VANGUARD reports that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela, on Tuesday, June 30, through her Media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu, in Abuja, described as “false and malicious,” the allegation by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, that she spent $2.1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) without authorisation. She said there was no unauthorised spending from the ECA under her watch in the Finance Ministry.
Okonjo-Iweala said the issues of withdrawals from the ECA were discussed at monthly meetings of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), attended by Finance Commissioners from the 36 states. She said Oshiomhole and others like him had made futile efforts at rubbishing her in the past, and assured that, this would also fail like the other attempts before it. She said: “it is clear that this is the latest chapter of a political witch-hunt by elements who are attempting to use the respected National Economic Council for ignoble purposes having failed abysmally in their previous attempts to tar the Okonjo-Iweala name.”
She wondered how some governors, who fought the Federal Government’s efforts to leave robust savings in the ECA and even took the federal government to court over the matter would now turn around to make such unfounded allegations. According to her, she started the practice of publishing monthly updates of all allocations to different tiers of government in order to inform Nigerians on government revenues and expenditure. She insisted that the idea that she spent the said money without approval is simply not credible given that, details of government receipts and expenditure are public knowledge.
Meanwhile, due to the criticism trailing the slow take off of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration by some Nigerians and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, THE NATION reports that the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday, June 30, through its National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed, said the President is on course. Speaking with journalists in Lagos state, Mohammed, who faulted the PDP’s assessment of the administration, said there has been motion and movement, contrary to what is being alleged by some people.
He said Nigerians have huge expectations from the APC government because of the promise it made to stop insecurity, eradicate corruption, revive the troubled economy, provide jobs as well as restore hope. The secretary admitted that the expectations are high and urgent, adding that Buhari’s government has started addressing them, despite the gigantic challenges that it faces, ranging from an empty treasury and an economy that has almost collapsed.
He said any government that is truly desirous of bringing about real change will not act hastily and without the necessary understanding of what is on ground. He said Nigeria has never witnessed this kind of transition, because what has been obtainable is transition from one government to another under the same ruling party, not from the ruling party to the opposition as we have now. He noted that it is a new learning curve, which will definitely have its attendant hiccups.
According to him, never before have Nigerians been this expectant from any leader or any government, which is why it has to get things right, once and for all in order to permanently end the vicious cycle of hopes raised and dashed. He said the President has started fighting corruption by setting up National Economic Commission as well as fighting terrorism by galvanising neighbouring countries, including Chad, Cameron and Benin Republic, to combat the Boko Haram terrorist group. He added that the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), with headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad, would be deployed on July 30, to boost the fight against insurgency. He said this is the same force the past government could not mobilise for six years.
THISDAY reports that APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, on Tuesday, June 30, speaking with journalists in Lagos state, in a reaction to the growing public perception that the Buhari-led administration is moving at a snail’s pace, said it is a strategy adopted to avoid the pitfalls of the past and to make sure it fulfills its promises to Nigerians. He said the Buhari-led government is already making remarkable progress, adding that the party understands and appreciates the concerns of Nigerians as far as the perceived pace of the administration is concerned.
The publicity secretary, who noted that the APC government could not make excuses, blamed the apparent slowness of the administration on the delay in getting the handover notes from the past government. He alleged that this did not avail the government the opportunity to appraise the situation of things. He, however, urged Nigerians to grab a front row seat so they can watch clearly as events unfold in the anti-corruption fight in the days ahead.
Meanwhile, giving succor to quell the tension trailing the slow movement of the Buhari-led administration, Senate President Bukola Saraki, has assured Nigerians that the Senate would not delay the confirmation of ministerial nominees when the list is eventually sent to it by the President. He stressed the readiness of the Senate to reconvene and quickly conduct the screening of ministerial nominees while receiving the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gaver, during a courtesy visit to his office.
DAILY SUN reports that a leader of the All Progressives Congress, Kawu Baraje, on Tuesday, June 30, while reacting to the crisis rocking the National Assembly, blasted the party’s former interim National Chairman, Bisi Akande. Baraje, who is a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, described as ‘unfortunate,’ a statement credited to Akande, who claimed that principal officers of the National Assembly are getting support from some oil business interests and anti-Buhari elements.
Baraje, who described Akande’s statement as hypocrisy, reminded him of a meeting, where an unnamed governor from the North-West and a leader of the party from the South-West and himself (Akande) were cautioned about the crisis in the party. He challenged Akande to provide proof to substantiate his claim and allow Nigerians make their judgment. Describing Akande’s statement as “fabrication”, Baraje expressed disappointed that Akande, who had led the party and served as a governor, made a comment that can divide the nation by setting the North against the South-West. He said: “I remain committed to the APC principle and the positive change promised our people by President Buhari. As a democrat, I will continue to abide by the provision of the Constitution of Nigeria. I will, however, refuse to be blackmailed by those who believe that they must have their way at all times.”
THE PUNCH reports that suspected thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti state, on Tuesday, June 30, beat up witnesses who testified for the All Progressives Congress before the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal. It was reported that the tribunal is hearing a petition filed by the APC senatorial candidate for Ekiti Central, Gbenga Olofin, against the return of Senator Fatimat Rasaki of the PDP.
Olofin was said to have closed his case after calling eight witnesses while his opponent, Rasaki, opened her defence by being the first witness to testify in support of her election. Justice A. N. Erabor, the Tribunal chairman admitted the voter register in evidence after a counter-argument between the petitioner’s lawyer, Yemi George; and respondent’s counsel, Jude Ogodi.
It was gathered that while the hearing was ongoing, the thugs, who waited outside pounced on the petitioner’s witnesses and supporters as they stepped out of the courtroom. It was further gathered that the hoodlums also ambushed APC members and supporters at the gate of the court complex, but some of them upon sighting the assailants quickly fled. It was gathered that riot policemen attached to the tribunal had to use car to wisk the witnesses out of the court premises. Reacting to the incident, Justice Erabor, who expressed shock, warned the parties involved in the case against a reoccurrence of such impunity. Reacting also, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, spokesman to Olofin, confirmed that the victims are currently receiving treatment in a private hospital in Ado Ekiti.
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