– Goodluck Jonathan noted that his administration spent excess crude oil revenue because pressure from governors was much

– He said he tried to fight corruption but the effort was frustrated

– He said his performance in the agricultural sector was the best in Nigeria’s history

Goodluck Jonathan has revealed how he was forced to spend from the excess crude oil revenue account during his administration.

The former president made this revelation during interview programme with Bloomberg TV.

Jonathan revealed that state governors were to blame for pressurising him to spend from the reserve fund thereby reducing the $20 billion at the inception of his administration left by Olusegun Obasanjo to about $2 billion when he left office on May 29, 2015.


Goodluck Jonathan

“At any time the earnings (from oil) drop, the governors would insist that there is no place in our laws that actually say that the federal government should keep the reserve. They always insisted that a part of it (excess crude revenue account) should be brought.”

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Jonathan pointed out that while some argued that the crude oil reserve account was to be used for rainy days, others said it should be used during time of financial difficulty.

“Yes, it is also part of our own reserves. But, when I was there, I tried to make a special fund called a sovereign wealth fund, so that it would not be easy for one to take from there.”

The former president identified the agricultural sector as where he made the biggest transformation and that it was the best in the country’s history.

He said this achievement led to the then minister of agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, to be elected president of the African Development Bank.

He however regretted that his administration did not do well in the mineral sector industry despite all efforts to attract investors.

“The blue print and everything was worked out. So, if somebody says I did not diversify the economy, I will say that is not true. Of course, I was president of Nigeria. Sometimes, when people ask me question, it would seem I was the president of Nigeria from Independence till 2015. I was president for five years.”

On the issue that corruption was commonplace during his administration, Jonathan said there was nothing new about it as it had been the case since the country’s independence.

“Perception is based on what people say. In Nigeria, somehow it has been a routine. From the collapse of the First Republic, what the military said was the reason for taking over was corruption.

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“When the Second Republic collapsed, the same was the story. If there is a major change in government where one political party is taking over power from another one, there must be issues that would be raised.

“Yes. I cannot say the country, from beginning of independence, there was no corruption. Yes, there was corruption. I did well to cut down on corruption. My approach was not to make money available to anybody to touch.”

The former president said his administration was able to eliminate corruption in fertilizer subsidies but could not do same in the oil industry.

“The very people that have been accusing us of corruption are the very people that frustrated it. It’s unfortunate,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, Jonathan also admitted that he has been investigated for alleged corruption during his administration by President Muhmammadu Buhari’s government.

When asked if he has been investigated, Jonathan replied: “Of course, obviously, they investigated and I’ve been investigated.

https://www.naij.com/852012-pressured-squander-crude-oil-savings-biggest-regret-president-gej.html?source=index_trending

Gbam! And many of them are in APC now serving and licking a$$e$ pretending not to know anything

But you would have stand firm like a man, stick to your

words .....Guyz am not gonna share anything. Like OBJ

did

when he was about to leave office

Admittance of guilt. After crushing criticism and lampooning over various social mediums.

#Where are the waillers....??

Food is ready...

Forced u? how? aren't they under u? they just manipulated you on account of ur 2015 ambition. Maybe I humbly assumed u failed on that part. that notwithstanding... you are still better

All the 36 states' share is 46% soif they forced you why did you not save 54% of the FG,where is that one??

omonnakoda:
All the 36 states' share is 46% soif they forced you why did you not save 54% of the FG,where is that one??

Stop this propaganda. Where did he get money to pay petroleum subsidy, develop agricultural sector and railway industry? APC told us there was corruption. At the end they were investigating only PDP campaign funds.

MRSALT:

Stop this propaganda. Where did he get money to pay petroleum subsidy, develop agricultural sector and railway industry? APC told us there was corruption. At the end they were investigating only PDP campaign funds.

and Obasanjo that left $20 billion for him did not pay subsidy? We are talking of EXCESS account that means IT WAS NOT in the budget.Presumably subsidy was already budgeted for? You think you are chatting with your beer parlor colleagues?

Let us even assume that is what he used the money for why not say so.Why say GOVERNORS FORCED HIM ? what is the connection between governors forced me and I used the money to do XYZ? Please stop making noise,you are unruly

The question is why couldn't u save ur own share

They forced you to share the money in Excess Crude Account??
Even though you're the Chief Executive, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, your subordinates forced you to do something?
And you're shamelessly saying it??

Okay. Tell us. What formula was used for the sharing?
Also tell us, where did you keep the share you got?
Where did you keep the Federal Government's share?