A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned recent allegations that a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, supervised the alleged embezzlement of some funds from the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

According to Obi, the release of funds from the ECA cannot be done without the approval by the president. This he said was the trend not just under former President Goodluck Jonathan, but also during the tenure of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The former Anambra State governor said this during an interview with journalists.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, recently opened a floodgate of attacks against Okonjo-Iweala.

He had alleged that $20 billion was missing from the ECA and other sources. Thereafter, he said it was $10 billion, N720 billion and at another time he alleged that the amount was $2.1 billion. He had also accused the former minister of using $1 billion from the ECA to fund the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

But responding to questions from journalists, Obi said: “I don’t think that was correct.Let me clarify it properly: There was never a time the National Economic Council (NEC), governors’ forum or any other body approved the release of excess crude money.

“The release of excess crude money was only and only by the express approval of the president. The practice was that the Governors’ Forum would meet and agree to appeal to the president to release funds to assist them in fulfilling their various states’ obligations. I was a state governor during the presidencies of Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan and the procedure was the same.”

The former Anambra governor also described calls for the trial of the former finance minister as unfortunate, saying some Nigerians “have this attitude of trying to pull down our best.

“Okonjo-Iweala is a global star and only came back to serve her country and she did that with passion. We gain nothing trying to pull her down. We did it with Aruma Otteh, but we know what she is today?” he asked.
Continuing, Obi said he had been in several meetings where the former minister woman “was almost crying,” while urging governors and other policy makers to save for the rainy day.

“She advised that proceeds from excess crude sales should be saved in the Sovereign Wealth Fund for effective management. I have read newspaper reports that it is ironic that she spoke of a rainy day when it was already pouring.

“I personally remain indebted to her because it was from her persistent preaching on the need to save in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) that made me incorporate savings in foreign currency - that is why one third of it money we left on leaving office was in foreign currency, $156 million(N25 billion at that time). With interest now it would be about $170 million and with the current rate it is almost N40 billion,” Obi revealed.

Furthermore, he advised state governors that are finding it difficult to meet their obligations to cultivate the attitude of saving.
“Excess crude money should be saved in the SWF. No country will survive without saving for the future. Even in animals’ kingdom, the ants saves for the rainy days. We must save bearing in mind that natural resources that we enjoy today are depleting assets.

“I have said severally that there is nothing wrong with bail-out or restructuring of debts, but I insist that such reliefs must be with conditions to instill fiscal discipline; else we make it a bad habit,” he said

Tell them!

We know when the wise speaks.

.

It is because she is Igbo and it is called preemptive politics.

All the attack is calculated to stop / disqualify her from being Nigeria's first female President

Tell me what I should know that I don't know about Nigeria.

Why do people get easily sentimental?

Something that looks like a fraud was discovered, instead of finding out how these ills happened, and seek measures to stop them, we are busy letting our bias have the better of us.

Remember, the day anyone accepts a public office, he or she becomes a public citizen, and are held accountable and responsible for his or her actions and inactions.

If as a nation, we don't hold people we put in position of trust accountable, then we set the ball of impunity rolling, and of course, that has been the case with us as a people over the decades.

But all that has to change... Now.

Peter Obi should know that the state and her people reserves the right to ask anyone to come forward and give account of their stewardship if the need arises, and if their hands are clean, it further highlights their impeccable nature and integrity.

This is a practice all over the world, and Nigeria should not be an exception.

Well said

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
It is because she is Igbo and it is called preemptive politics.

All the attack is calculated to stop / disqualify her from being Nigeria's first female President

Tell me what I should know that I don't know about Nigeria.

Ngwakwe?! Bwahaahahaha!!

Obi is teaching that Ugly oshimole the rudiments of saving. When PDP take over in Edo state we all will see the monumental fraud perpetraed by iYamohh Puff Daddy

Tell sense into to zoo Governor adam osholo the cry cry chairman of apc Governors lier

We know those whose penchant is to attack successful Igbowomen.

They attacked Stella Oduah.

They attacked Bianca Ojukwu.

They attacked Ngozi Okonjo Iwuala.

They attacked Arumma Oteh.

Even they want to protest they blocked the entrance to a company own by an Igbowoman Stella Okorie.

My daughter will soon arrive, I will raise her in a phenomenal way so that these people will be attacking her,

We love their barksssssssss

Beremx:
Ngwakwe?! Bwahaahahaha!!

Adanna, let me narrate one pointblank message from Pastor Bakare to you from one of his Sunday messages.

As part of matters arising from 2011 Presidential election, Bakare said "former President Obasanjo told Buhari to drop him and go for Dr Okonjo Iweala to earn his support" reason simply put, Buhari has no experience on democratic and institutionalized governance hence needed an expert hence his recommendation of Dr Ngozi Iweala as Vice President.

I believe you understand the power play.

[s]

coolcharm:
Why do people get easily sentimental?

Something that looks like a fraud was discovered, instead of finding out how these ills happened, and seek measures to stop them, we are busy letting our bias have the better of us.

Remember, the day anyone accepts a public office, he or she becomes a public citizen, and are held accountable and responsible for his or her actions and inactions.

If as a nation, we don't hold people we put in position of trust accountable, then we set the ball of impunity rolling, and of course, that has been the case with us as a people over the decades.

But all that has to change... Now.

Peter Obi should know that the state and her people reserves the right to ask anyone to come forward and give account of their stewardship if the need arises, and if their hands are clean, it further highlights their impeccable nature and integrity.

This is a practice all over the world, and Nigeria should not be an exception.

[/s]

Nice one Obi

Lol. What says he about Dasuki? Okonjo is good but Jonathan used her to rape Nigeria. She did well with Obasanjo but disappointed greatly under Jonathan.

Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, Oby Ezekwesili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ernest Ndukwe, Chukwuma Soludo and Barth Nnaji all served Obasanjo's Government and they were Igbos. They were all part of Obasanjo's few but significant success story.. How come they were revered and loved across the country? It is only those that worked under Jonathan that have lost their reputation with Barth Nnaji as an exception. He was fired for improving the power sector and his Geometric power deliberately blocked from functioning.

You are a fool even at 43. Daft

[s]

abagoro:
Lol. What says he about Dasuki? Okonjo is good but Jonathan used her to rape Nigeria. She did well with Obasanjo but disappointed greatly under Jonathan.

[/s]

APC

Foolish old man. Some of those people are your age mates but you have not achieved a single thing for yourself while you continue to live with your poor old mother.


[s][quote author=abagoro post=36351211]Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, Oby Ezekwesili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ernest Ndukwe, Chukwuma Soludo and Barth Nnaji all served Obasanjo's Government and they were Igbos. They were all part of Obasanjo's few but significant success story.. How come they were revered and loved across the country? It is only those that worked under Jonathan that have lost their reputation with Barth Nnaji as an exception. He was fired for improving the power sector and his Geometric power deliberately blocked from functioning. [/quote8][/s]

Lalasticlala, kindly do the needful

I personally remain indebted to her because it was from her persistent preaching on the need to save in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) that made me incorporate savings in foreign currency - that is why one third of it money we left on leaving office was in foreign currency, $156 million(N25 billion at that time). With interest now it would be about $170 million and with the current rate it is almost N40 billion,” Obi revealed.

Welldone bro, you are a good manager of resources unlike other governors who only spends without any iota of management ideas.

Oil soup trash

[s]

coolcharm:
Why do people get easily sentimental?

Something that looks like a fraud was discovered, instead of finding out how these ills happened, and seek measures to stop them, we are busy letting our bias have the better of us.

Remember, the day anyone accepts a public office, he or she becomes a public citizen, and are held accountable and responsible for his or her actions and inactions.

If as a nation, we don't hold people we put in position of trust accountable, then we set the ball of impunity rolling, and of course, that has been the case with us as a people over the decades.

But all that has to change... Now.

Peter Obi should know that the state and her people reserves the right to ask anyone to come forward and give account of their stewardship if the need arises, and if their hands are clean, it further highlights their impeccable nature and integrity.

This is a practice all over the world, and Nigeria should not be an exception.

[/s]