Former Nigeria’s Coordinator of Economic and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has come out to denies report that he said former Nigeria’s president Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, lacked zero political power to save money when she served as Minister of Finance in the last istration.
About few days ago, a video surface online, where the former Minister spoke at the George Washington University. In the supposed video, Okonjo-Iwala said that Nigeria is currently in Economic hardship because the last istration lacked the political willpower to save some money.
In a statement released by her media aide, Paul Nwabuikwu, the former Minister said that her statement was taken out of context. According to her, some state governors and not former President Jonathan, were against saving some money in the excess crude (ECA) and in sovereign wealth fund (SWF).
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on what led to Nigeria’s economic situation.
No one better to know.
— Karo (@Karovoni) December 29, 2017
“Some recent media reports have distorted comments made by former Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala regarding how lack of political will negatively impacted national savings over the past few years. Contrary to the slant given by these loud headlines, Dr Okonjo-Iweala did not indict the Jonathan istration in which she served. Rather, she was referring to what many Nigerians already know: the strong opposition by some governors to the Jonathan government’s efforts to save in the excess crude and the sovereign wealth fund sabotaged this important national priority. The governors’ criticism of Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s many calls for the country to save for the rainy day is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians” the statement read
