Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi stated has faulted claims by Governor Godwin Obaseki that the federal government printed N60 billion to share to states.
Atiku, who is the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), a group of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Obaseki’s claim did not reflect the true positions of things.
In a statement on Friday, he urged state governors to work collaboratively in tackling the economic challenges present in Nigeria “rather than resort to cheap and demagogic point scoring in our quest to rescue the economy.”
“As a trained economist who has been a governor since 2016, Mr. Obaseki is aware of all the support states have received from President Buhari in coping with the shocks that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic recession,” Atiku said.
“Not only have we received budget support, bail out support to meet salary obligations and infrastructure refunds to all states, this was implemented in the overall public interest without discrimination on the basis of party affiliation.
“This unfortunate and inaccurate assertion by Governor Obaseki becomes even more worrisome when juxtaposed with the official statement released after the meeting of PDP Governors last week, calling for restructuring and greater devolution of powers to the states.
“It would appear that matters that require the collective resolve of all leaders are now being turned into purely partisan, point scoring claims.
“Given the constraints faced by the Nigerian economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria had responded commendably well while still working hard on exchange and interest rates.
“We urge the Governor, management and staff not be distracted.”
It may be recalled that Naija News had earlier reported that Obaseki had accused the federal government of printing N60 billion to support states’ allocations in March.
“When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share,” he had said.
Reacting, Zainab Ahmed had said the claim by the Edo governor is a lie.
She also described as sad a situation where a sitting Governor can make such an allegation.
She said: “The issue that was raised by the Edo State Governor for me is very, very sad. Because it is not a fact.”
But the Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele stated that the money was meant as loan from the apex bank.
“If you understand the concept of printing of money, it is about lending money. There is no need for all the controversy around money printing as if we are going into the factory to print naira and then distribute on the streets,” Emefiele had said.