Stop playing the Ostrich, Gov. Obaseki replies Finance Minister

In less than 24 hours after the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, denied that the Federal Government printed and shared about N60bn to the states as Federal allocation for the month of March, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has again defended his statement while hinting that it was the minister who is in error.

It would be recalled that after the 41st virtual Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House on Wednesday, Mrs Ahmed told journalists that Governor Obaseki’s  claim was very sad as well as untrue.

She further clarified that the nation’s debt profile, which currently stands at 23% of the total GDP, is at sustainable levels.

In a swift response however, Governor Obaseki issued a statement he personally signed on Thursday in which he sought to clarify the misconception in Mrs Ahmed’s refutal.

He said, “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.

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

Gov. Obaseki also offered some advise to the Minister to stem the tide of what he described as “monetary rascality by the President Muhammadu Buhari- led Federal Government.

“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.