The River State governor, Nyesom Wike has thrown his weight around his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki over the claim that N60 billion was printed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fund the government.
Governor Obaseki had claimed that the federal government printed N50 – N60 billion in March to bridge the shortfall in the distribution of federation revenues amongst the three tiers of government.
This claimed triggered reactions from several parties including Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, the Progressive governors Forum(PGF) and the All Progressive Congress (APC), who have vehemently denied the claim.
According to the PGF chairperson, Abubakar Bagudu the impression the forum got at first was that it was an off-the-record remark made in a private meeting by Mr. Obaseki and was shocked to see yet another response from Mr Obaseki to the rebuttal by the Finance Minister, insisting that the March 2021 FAAC was augmented via the printing of currency.
Backing Obaseki’s claim, governor wike said the claim shouldn’t be falsified, citing that Obaseki was once a member of the party.
“Obaseki was in APC, so he understands them. So, Obaseki couldn’t have come from the blues to say they printed N60 billion. He knows them,” Wike said.
“Instead of answering the question, he (Emefiele) said governors have to pay back the bailout loan. Bailout is a loan, if you want to take it, go and take it. But answer the question whether money was printed or not printed.”
“Obaseki was in APC, so he understands them. So, Obaseki couldn’t have come from the blues to say they printed N60 billion. He knows them.
“Instead of answering the question, he (Emefiele) said governors have to pay back the bailout loan. Bailout is a loan, if you want to take it, go and take it. But answer the question whether money was printed or not printed,” he said.
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