Obaseki doubles down on claim, asks FG to end ‘monetary rascality’

The war of words between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, intensified on Thursday with Obaseki doubling down on his criticism of the federal government’s handling of the economy.

Obaseki had last week said that the Central Bank of Nigeria printed an additional N50billion to N60billion to make up for state allocations, a claim the Finance Minister described as “very sad and untrue,” on Wednesday.

But in a series of tweets on Thursday morning, the Edo State Governor said he believes it is statutory to offer useful advice for the benefit of the nation and accused the
Finance Minister of ‘playing the Ostrich’.

He also called on the Federal Government to end ‘monetary rascality.’

“While we do not want to join issues with the Federal Ministry of Finance, we believe it is our duty to offer useful advice for the benefit of our country, Obaseki tweeted.

“The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, should rally Nigerians to stem the obvious fiscal slide facing our country.

“Rather than play the Ostrich, we urge the government to take urgent steps to end the current monetary rascality, so as to prevent the prevailing economic challenge from degenerating further.

“We believe it is imperative to approach the Nigerian project with all sense of responsibility and commitment and not play to the gallery because ultimately, time shall be the judge of us all,” he said.

Obaseki’s reply came few hours after the Minister of Finance at the end of Wednesday’s 41st virtual Federal Executive Council meeting, debunked his claim that the Central Bank of Nigeria printed an additional N50billion to N60billion to make up for state allocations.

“The issue that was raised by the Edo State Governor, for me, is very sad because it is not a fact.

“What we distribute at FAAC is revenue that is generated and in fact, distribution revenue is public information. We publish revenue generated by FIRS, the Customs, and the NNPC and we distribute at FAAC.

“So, it is not true to say we printed money to distribute at FAAC. It is not true,” she said.