Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance and Coordinating Minister under the Goodluck Jonathan administration has referred to the alleged $2.1billion unauthorized spending under her watch as simply a political and personal vendetta to tar her name.

Okonjo-Iweala, in a statement released by her media adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu expressed disappointment over the use of the National Economic Council, NEC, to tarnish her image.

She however expressed willingness to respond to enquiries of financial activities under her stewardship.

According to her this latest allegation is coming as a surprise as she had previously responded in detail to similar allegations of missing $20billion erroneously alleged against her by the Nigeria Governors Forum.

She further advised public officials to focus more on delivering the dividends of governance to the Nigerian people and avoid the temptation to politicize economic issues.

THERE WAS NO “UNAUTHORISED SPENDING” UNDER OKONJO-IWEALA: $2.1BILLION ALLEGATION IS LATEST CHAPTER OF POLITICAL WITCH-HUNT

The allegation by some governors that former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spent $2.1 billion out of the Excess Crude Account “without authorization” is false, malicious and totally without foundation.

We want to state categorically that no unauthorized expenditure from the ECA was made under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch in the Finance Ministry. Decisions on such expenditure were discussed at meetings of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) attended by finance commissioners from the 36 states.

It is curious that in their desperation to use the esteemed National Economic Council for political and personal vendetta, the persons behind these allegations acted as if the constitutionally recognized FAAC, a potent expression of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism, does not exist.

But Nigerians know that collective revenues, allocations and expenditures of the three tiers of government are the concern of the monthly FAAC meetings.

It is important to acknowledge the efforts of governors who are working hard to overcome the current revenue challenges facing their states without resorting to character assassination and blame games.

The former Minister is ready and willing to respond to legitimate enquiries about issues under her purview as Finance Minister. But 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.

It will be recalled that one of such attempts took place in May when some of these governors, hiding under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum asked Okonjo-Iweala to explain $20 billion alleged to be missing from the same ECA.

The Finance Ministry subsequently issued a news release and published an advertorial in national newspapers on May 25, 2015 giving details of what the Federal Government and states received from the ECA in the last four years. It also provided details of the use of the funds for payment of petrol subsidies for the Nigerian public and SURE-P allocations to the three tiers for development purposes.

After the publication, the accusers lost their voice. But the latest allegations show that these persons are still in the business of throwing up wild, unsubstantiated figures to damage Okonjo-Iweala’s name. For instance, within the last few months, Governor Oshiomhole and his fellow travelers have asked Okonjo-Iweala to account for “missing” $30 billion, $20 billion and now $2.1 billion. What they don’t seem to understand is that the strategy has lost all credibility because the falsehood is clear for all to see.

How can some governors who fought FG’s efforts to leave robust savings in the ECA and even took the Federal Government to court over the matter turn around to make such unfounded allegations?

The world knows that it was Okonjo-Iweala who pioneered, during her first stint as Minister of Finance in the Obasanjo administration, the practice of publishing monthly updates of all allocations to different tiers of government in order to empower Nigerians with information and knowledge of government revenues and expenditure. This enabled the Nigerian public to ask questions about the utilization of these resources. Of course many elected and appointed public officials were not happy with this development.

She continued this practice when she returned in 2011 and even added periodic updates on the Excess Crude Account, subsidy payments for verified claims by oil marketers for fuel imports as well as SURE-P payments to the three tiers of government.

Against this background, the idea that she spent $2.1 billion “without authorization” is simply not credible given that details of government receipts and expenditure are public knowledge.

We believe that Nigerians are too smart to be hoodwinked by this partisan desperation to tar the name of Okonjo-Iweala.

In the interest of the country, we advise that public officials should avoid the temptation to politicize economic issues so that balanced analysis can lead to real solutions.

Paul C Nwabuikwu

Media Adviser to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Source: http://www.post-nigeria.com/2-1b-allegations-buharis-nec-set-up-to-tarnish-my-image-okonjo-iweala/

Hmm

Hmmm politricks...let's keep on watching

If you are innocent, nothing can happen to you. Bet, it you are guilty. Madam OYO

The more Buhari gov attack past government,the more they cover themselves..if truly buhari is equal to the task,he should probe nd jail any body that is found guilty rather than noise nd canter reactions....oshiomole is keen in attacking this woman despite the fact that his commissioner for finance held meeting with the past government often!

Apc should get itself acquintted with governance nd stop all this reactions nd counters reaction or else,nothing ll be done in its 100 days in office...

How these clowns got into power is unexplainable.
I guess this woman got used to the idea that the otuoke clown left the economy in her hands to conduct world bank experiments.
people who actually govern states where the actual economy is located have been given back their right to make inputs.
A body that is empowered by law to do just what it was assigned to do is what this woman is calling a witch hunt.

Madam the NEC is also made up of pdp Governors so why would they want to tarnish ur image?
What I expected from you was a break down of how the money was spent
Ma we are wiser now so please say how u spent the money or face the music

oduastates:
How these clowns got into power is unexplainable.
I guess this woman got used to the idea that the otuoke clown left the economy in her hands to conduct world bank experiments.
people who actually govern states where the actual economy is located have been given back their right to make inputs.
A body that is empowered by law to do just what it was assigned to do is what this woman is calling a witch hunt.

waste of data and e-ink......bad belle is allowed.....APC still playing opposition even after clinching power, an excuse to perform below expectations..... Buhari had better sit up or else....2019 will be another period of tears for him.