The war of words between the Minister of
Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr.
Rotimi Ameachi, 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.
Ameachi 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.”
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