PDP sticks to its guns spat over bailout funds

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained its position that the $2,1 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) component of the bailout for states was the initiative of the immediate past administration.

The administration, led by Goodluck Jonathan, saved the funds, contrary to claims by the Presidency.

The opposition party said the LNG dividend stood at $5,6 billion even before the handover date of May 29 and would have been shared but for the insistence of Jonathan that it be left for the incoming administration to manage.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said this was contrary to the impression earlier given to Nigerians and the international community that the new administration met a virtually empty treasury.

“It is gratifying to note that gradually the evidence of monies left behind by the PDP-led administration is coming to public light despite effort by the new government to hide the facts," said Metuh.

He said the public had been made aware that $2 billion was left in the ECA for which the Accountant–General and the APC confirmed approvals for the withdrawal of $1,7 billion.

"We know that surely, though slowly, a lot of other monies saved by the PDP and which are now under the control of the APC government will eventually be unveiled by this administration themselves and without any effort on our part whatsoever,” Metuh said.

PDP also urged the APC as a party in power to rise above board and endeavor to be honest in its dealings, especially if it wanted Nigerians to take it seriously.

"A situation where a ruling party will resort to a dishonorable act of altering a statement where it earlier acknowledged the approval for the withdrawal from the ECA, just to hide the truth, leaves much to be desired," said Metuh.


- CAJ News