The Nigerian government has reacted to a publication in a national daily credited to the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
In the said publication, the Governor had criticised the policies of the national government on subsidy removal and foreign exchange rate.
Reacting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris in a message issued on Thursday night, said the Governor’s comments were not strange rather the opinion was myopic
According to Idris, “The statement credited to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, which was used as the lead front-page story in Thisday Newspaper of Thursday, August 24, 2023, did not come to anyone as a surprise. However, it is essential to clarify certain narratives for a more informed public discourse.”
“Governor Obaseki has in recent times, shifted focus to the nation’s economic challenges as cannon fodder to divert attention from his poor performance at the state level since his move to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While it is common for leaders to have divergent views, it’s crucial to align criticism with reality and to premise discourse on tangible results.
“Governor Obaseki’s comments regarding the APC-led Nigerian Government’s decisions on fuel subsidy and foreign exchange market reforms perhaps overlooked the broader economic picture,” the Minister said.
Idris said; “It’s well documented that Nigerians, State Governors across party lines, and global institutions, including the World Bank and IMF along with various economic experts, have consistently advocated the removal of fuel subsidy because of the fiscal distortions and burden it has placed on the economy.
“This burden includes many months of zero accretion to the Federation account by the NNPC which left states and local governments with less money from FAAC, as a result of payment for fuel subsidy, which the national oil company regularly charged to the Federation account.”
The Information Minister said Edo State has benefited immensely from the gains of subsidy removal therefore; Governor Obaseki should utilise the resources to change the fortunes of his State.
He said; “For perspective, Edo State under Governor Obaseki’s leadership, has notably benefited from the fuel subsidy removal, which is evident in the more than doubling of the FAAC allocation between June and July 2023 to Edo State – more than it had ever received pre-fuel subsidy removal.
“Our advice? Rather than delving into narratives which do not provide the complete picture, the focus should be on how the Edo State Government will be using available resources to drive impactful projects that genuinely uplift the people of Edo State.”
Idris stressed that the decisions taken by the current administration led by President Tinubu were impactful and would engender economic development.
He said: “Nationally, decisions led by President Tinubu are based on foresight, with the primary aim of engineering a resilient and sustainable economy. This vision is consistently echoed within the National Economic Council, where significant economic decisions are made.
“We want to clearly state that Edo State, alongside other 35 States plus FCT, can access more FAAC revenue, due only to the bold and courageous economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu since he assumed office. These decisions have been applauded across the globe because they are the decisions that need to be taken to reposition the national economy for better output.
“We are still at a loss on what could be the trigger for Governor Obaseki to issue such blatantly false accusations against the Federal Government.”
The Minister drew the attention of the citizens of Edo State to the absence of Governor Obaseki at meetings of the National Economic Council (NEC).
He said; “Constitutionally, Governor Obaseki is a member of the National Economic Council (NEC) where far-reaching decisions were taken on the issues he talked about, in his media address by his colleagues, while sitting in-Council with the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.
“Even as Governor Obaseki will have an explanation to make to the people of his state on why he was absent at the two NEC meetings under the current administration, we will like to inform him that his colleagues praised President Tinubu for finding the courage to remove the ghost of fuel subsidy which crippled the finances of the 3 tiers of government for decades.
“It would be helpful if Governor Obaseki participated in these meetings to provide insights and align with the collective vision.”
The Information Minister noted that the Nigerian government is working very hard to address the challenges confronting the nation.
“The Nigerian Government understands the current difficulties Nigerians are facing and is working very hard with the states and local governments to bring succour to our people.
“President Tinubu is guiding our country through very challenging times. We are supremely confident that we will soon turn the corner into a prosperous future,” Idris said.
“What is required at this time is for leaders at all levels to cooperatively bind together to make life better for Nigerians, not to play cheap politics that serves no better purpose.
“As President Tinubu has admonished, the time for politics and politicking is over. We are now in the season of the serious business of governance to build a stronger, more viable, socially cohesive, and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
