OKONJO-IWEALA: OSHIOMHOLE’S YET UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Adams Oshiomhole, the Edo State governor, should be commended for raising issues on the economy, argues Suleiman Abubakar

There have been a plethora of ostensibly sponsored articles and opinion write-ups commenting on the issues raised by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State concerning the management of the Nigerian economy and finances by the immediate past Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. In most of the opinions I have read in the last one month or so, the thematic focus seems to lose steam from the main issues raised by the Edo Governor. First, there are still several unanswered questions by Okonjo-Iweala, which I believed should be the platform upon which we can truly anchor the issues. The few columnists’ opinions I have read also left utter disappointment and sour taste in my mouth if Nigeria has actually degenerated into this mindless bubble that we do not seem to appreciate issues from objective point of view but from the microscopic lens of ethnicity, leaving the real issues unattended.

First, we must understand that Okonjo Iweala ran the economy of the nation throughout the Jonathan administration. Whatever impression we have about the economy during those five sordid years must be derived from the way and manner that she handled the economy. It was almost like a unanimous conclusion that the Nigerian economy suffered a lot of stress and pains during the Jonathan era. The naira plunged to an abysmal level, production reached its lowest ebb, textile factories closed down at will, power generation and supply plummeted, job creation suffered, agricultural rejuvenation was more of paper work than actuality, the general fabric of the Nigerian society was eroded to an unimaginable level. News of stolen and missing funds was replete on our airwaves and print media. Altercations and counter-altercations amongst members of the same government became the theatrics of a system that was patently rudderless. The rot in the system got to a head that over 18 people lost their lives in the disingenuous manner with which job seekers were treated at the various stadia in the country; thus exposing our crudity of purpose and ostentatious greed by those who were appointed to serve the people.

It is not in doubt that the economy suffered certain straits. Why then would anyone in his right senses want us to excuse Dr. Okonjo-Iweala from the economy that suffered such straits? Or should we remove the economy from her and pretend that we never had a Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the economy? What manner of a people are we? Are we people who shy away from the truth and promote falsehood on the altar of ethnicity and clannish sentiments when it is convenient to so do? Reading through some of the viewpoints of these columnists tends to compel me to think we do not really know what we want for our dear country. We are just a bunch of pretenders masquerading about like some patriots, but deep inside our hearts, we are not showing any manifest desire to alter the ugly narrative and put the country on the pathway of sound leadership, accountability and probity. What is truly wrong in asking Okonjo-Iweala to account for her stewardship if we are really a serious-minded nation of intelligent and decent people? What did Comrade Oshiomhole ask from Okonjo-Iweala that appears to be so novel to warrant all the fusses and pollutions?

Rather than visit attack on the Edo Governor for raising some very critical questions concerning the handling of the nation’s finances under the watch of Okonjo-Iweala, I think we should commend Oshiomhole for having the uncommon guts to speak out about the economy and the finances of the country. From my understanding of the issues, the following summary might suffice to lay bare the grey areas that are still begging for response.

First, Okonjo-Iweala has not been able to explain the whereabouts of the alleged $1b and $2b dollars respectively that he withdrew from the Excess Crude Account. Secondly, she has not told us whether it was within the purview of the former president to unilaterally approve such withdrawal. Thirdly, she has not been able to explain to us why it was convenient to publish allocations to states on a monthly basis, while refusing to publish balances in the account. What Oshiomhole said was that she should come out clean on the issue of balances in the ECA, so that Nigerians would know exactly what transpired during that regime. Are these questions too difficult to render appropriate response[s] or have they assumed the status of a puzzle for the acclaimed World Bank technocrat? Rather than run from pillar to post trying effortlessly to instigate a hate campaign in the minds of the people, using columnists to address the tissues instead of the substance of the

discourse, one expected Okonjo-Iweala to boldly come out and offer once and for all, cogent explanations on these very disturbing issues. Could it be that she has suddenly capitulated under the weight of the allegations that appear to be convincing that something is truly amiss?

Again, the story of our rumoured growth in the agricultural sector is one that equally needs further probing. While the erstwhile Minister of Agriculture proudly boasts of breaking new grounds in the sector, it is a contradiction of some sort that the granting of import waivers stymied local production and frustrated local manufacturers especially of rice and other consumable products. While it is convenient to write on paper the so-called achievements of the agriculture ministry, quoting figures and bamboozling us with unrealistic statistics, what obtains on ground is a far cry from what was claimed. The question is; where are the new fertiliser companies during this year of boom? Where are the new silos? Where are the new rice mills? Or re-bagging centres? While importers would be granted waivers to import say, one million bags, they will end up importing 20 million bags, with a one million bags waiver document. Does that not amount to fraud?

I think very seriously we must derive the moral courage to interrogate our leaders and those who preside over our collective till from time to time. We shouldn’t expend energies condemning those who derive such uncommon courage to ask questions like Comrade Oshiomhole is doing. We expect those who were in charge like Okonjo-Iweala to come out to clarify these issues and rest the matter once and for all. Till date, there hasn’t been any plausible explanation from the former Minister of Finance on the serious allegations of Comrade Oshiomhole. The earlier she does this the better for our dear country Nigeria.