Government criticised for handling of financial figures

The Good Governance Advocates, a pro-democracy organisation, has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress for giving conflicting figures regarding money used on key projects and events.

“Our country has never had it raw in political history where a ruling party will be diagnosed of numerical elephantiasis, dialysis, jaundice, and dysfunctional,” said Ifedayo Obi, an excutive with the organisation.

“With the torrent of conflicting figures from the current ruling party on daily basis, it seems   better for Nigerians to align with the confession of Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola,” said Obi.

The former Lagos governor who is now Federal Minister of Power, Works and Housing, during the Ministerial screening conducted by the Senate recently, is said to have confessed he lacked numerical knowledge as he was trained as a lawyer.

“Thus his financial recklessness of N3 million website to N78 million was justified and celebrated by many gullible Nigerians. While we thought it was only synonymous to Fashola, records so far have proved us wrong,” said Obi.

He said at the foremost, in October , Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, posted on his facebook page that Goodluck Jonathan, immediate past President spent N64 billion on the independence anniversary from 2010 to 2014.

He is said to have placed it beside N70 million spent by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for the same anniversary this year.

“However, this came out false as N 2,2 billion(where N1,7 billion was for Golden Jubilee in 2010 including investitures) was expended. From the record, money spent in 2013 was N45 million. Thanks to BudgIT, the company that brought out details,” said Obi.

He said there was an allegation made by Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State that N140 billion was paid as consultancy fee for Second Niger Bridge by Jonathan's administration.

“However we got a twist that the project was  to cost N117 billion. Thus we ask how come consultancy fee will be higher than the project.”

Obi said Nigerians were made to believe former National Security Advisor, Sambo Dasuki, misappropriated US$2,1 billion and N650 billion meant for arms deal but only to charge him and others to court for N32billion.
“These instances are few of many numerical dysfunctioning of Buhari and his co-travellers in APC. It is surprising that the Presidency usually turns deaf ears to this numerical hypertension just to keep enjoying the melody of praise singers. Another setback is that none of these false trumpeters has apologised for misleading innocent public whenever the truth unfolds.”