Okonjo-Iweala Did Not Indict Jonathan Administration – Aide

The former Coordinating Minister for the Economy Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has debunked some media reports purporting her to have indicted the President Goodluck Jonathan administration of lacking the political will to save for the rainy day when oil prices were high.

Citing her speech on “Inequality, Growth and Resilience,” at the George Washington University, United States of America on Thursday, some media reports had quoted the former minister to have indicted the Jonathan administration of not having the political will to save when oil prices were selling at over $100 per barrel.

But reacting to the reports on Friday via a press statement captioned “Low Savings: Okonjo-Iweala Did Not Indict the Jonathan Administration”, her Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, said Some recent media reports have distorted the comments.

“Some recent media reports have distorted the comments made by former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala regarding how lack of political will negatively impacted national savings over the past few years” he said, adding that contrary to the slant given by these loud headlines, Okonjo-Iweala did not indict the Jonathan administration in which she served.

“Rather, she was referring to what many Nigerians already know: the strong opposition by some governors to the Jonathan government’s efforts to save in the Excess Crude Account and the Sovereign Wealth Fund sabotaged this important national priority,” the former minister’s aide said.