Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has told former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that he is awaiting the letter from her lawyers, but that she should explain to Nigerians how so much sleaze went unnoticed under her watch rather than parrying the issues.
Okonjo-Iweala on Wednesday disclosed that she had put Oshiomhole on notice that her lawyers were ready to explore all legal means after the governor accused her of complicity in an on-going government probe of a $2.1 billion arms contract.
She said Oshiomhole was after her because she stopped him from taking “a highly suspicious N15 billion loan”.
Reacting to the former Minister’s statement, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Prince Kassim Afegbua said rather than respond to issues, Okonjo-Iweala was making self-indicting statements on how she denied Edo people the funds needed to develop critical infrastructure.
The state reads: “She (Okonjo-Iweala) should be ashamed to even state that she denied Edo people infrastructure loan, when she could not redeem what was due to the state. Would there have been need for loan request if she was truly in firm control of the economy under her watch?
“Is it not ridiculous that the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy pretends to be ignorant of the sleaze and primitive looting of the nation’s treasury under her watch? Does it not prick the conscience of Okonjo-Iweala that so much financial improprieties were perpetrated right before her nose and yet wants to be celebrated as a super Minister? Does she want to absolve herself of the abysmal performance of the economy under her watch during the Jonathan years?
“From the revelations so far and the manner in which our resources were plundered in the last administration, it is crystal clear that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was grossly incompetent to manage the nation’s economy especially on account of the huge sums of money running into billions of dollars that were stolen under her watch. Such incompetence will be further complicated if it is assumed that she looked away while some people helped themselves to the nation’s treasury. Either way, she is complicit.
“We have no doubt in our mind that, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, from all indications, has shown a remarkable attributes of a voodoo economist and one who rather than answer very simple questions by way of clarifications, easily condescends to base sentiments to divert attention. She has numerous questions to answer with respect to the management of our collective patrimony. What manner of a Finance Minister will allow huge sums of money to be withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria with whimsical stroke, dealing with individuals in a way that eliminate the usual control that should be the hallmark of such body? How can a World Bank former Managing Director allow such conduct right under her watch without raising concerns?
“Those organisations which have been trying to dash her awards must as a matter procedure carry out due diligence to properly score her, else, one would have cause to suspect that such awards may have been procured. Anyone giving her award will be doing Nigeria and Nigerians a great disservice in the face of on-going investigations and revelations that have exposed the rotten underbelly of the Okonjo-Iweala years. In the meantime, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole awaits the letter from Okonjo-Iweala’s lawyers, but she should be reminded that public officers are accountable to the people and should be ready to answer questions on their role while in office or out of it”
