The war of words between the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi,
seems not to be over as the minister has described the latest call for
her probe by the governor as a campaign of falsehood against her person.
Amaechi had called on the House of Representatives to probe the
Minister of Finance and Minister of Water Resources, Stella Ochekpe over
the alleged seizure of the World Bank and African Development Bank
loans approved by the National Assembly for the state.
He had said, “The
Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is using her position to
undermine the safety and health of the people of Rivers State. I can’t
afford to give all Rivers people bottled water, but all I can assure you
is to ensure the provision of potable water.
“But
the Minister of Finance has refused to release it and I think I should
put that before you (House Committee on Water Resources). They want
Rivers people to die.”
Okonjo-Iweala while replying in a statement issued on Tuesday night said it was “unfortunate that Amaechi is persisting in his outrageous and totally illogical campaign of falsehood” against her person.
The
statement signed by her Special Adviser on Communication, Mr. Paul
Nwabuikwu described as “complete fabrication” Amaechi’s statement that
the minister was responsible for the delay of the African Development
Bank water project.
It reads in part, “As the ministry had
previously explained, the project is going through the processes and
must get final approval from the board of the African Development Bank
and the Federal Executive Council before the Minister can sign it.
“So, the idea that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has refused to sign it is preposterous and totally inaccurate.
“Dr.
Okonjo-Iweala is not responsible for managing the N257bn that Rivers
State has received from the Federation Account within the first 10
months of 2013 so the suggestion that she is somehow responsible for the
challenges confronting the state doesn’t make sense.”
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/53543.html
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/53543.html
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