Money printing saga: APC governors react to Obaseki’s claim

A group of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Progressive Governors’ Forum has countered a claim that the federal government printed N60 billion as part of federal allocation for March.

Recall that the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki at the Edo transition committee stakeholders engagement last week had stated that Nigeria is in huge financial trouble and N60 billion was printed by the federal government.

“When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share,” he had said.

Countering Obaseki’s claims via a statement signed by the governor of Kebbi state, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on Friday, the forum said Obaseki’s claim did not reflect the true positions of things.

“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,” the forum 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.”

The PGF 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.”