Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have berated the attack on Edo state Governor Godwin Obaseki by their counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged printing of N60 billion by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The PDP Governors Forum in a statement by Director General, Hon CID Maduabum, Saturday, said it was alarmed at the partisan slant a patriotic advice to the federal government by Governor Godwin Obaseki on its monetary policies has assumed.
“It is unhelpful for the Progressive Governors Forum to join the fray in the manner it did by its recent statement attacking Governor Obaseki who merely warned the monetary authorities about the danger of uncontrolled use of ways and means that is, the printing of Naira, to support government’s expenditure,” the forum stated.
Continuing, it said, “Governor Obaseki has a background in economics and finance and is a very responsible Governor who talks in a measured way. His advice, which by the way has been corroborated by none other than the Governor of the CBN himself, and the international ratings agency FITCH , should be heeded rather than being crucified for sounding a note of caution.
“No doubt the federal government has been supporting the states in the area of agriculture, budget, refund of Federal Government executed projects by states and a few other areas of intervention. Is CBN trying to be vindictive and vengeful by recalling its loans to the states because of an informed advice by a Governor? It is unfortunate that governance has plummeted to this level.
“The federal government should plug financial leakages in the system and curb wasteful expenditure of billions of Naira on projects that can be executed by the private sector and save a lot of money in the process, thereby relying less on Ways and Means by the CBN, which brings pressure on the Naira with its inflationary consequences. Inflation in Nigeria is currently at 18.2 %, the highest in recent years. We should all be concerned to find ways of stemming the tide.”
