The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the sack of Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, over Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki’s allegation that the Federal Government printed N60 billion to support March allocation.
The party made the demand in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
Recall that Obaseki said that Nigeria was in financial trouble and resorted to printing N60 billion to support federal allocation for March.
The finance minister refuted the claim, tagging it untrue and sad.
Reacting in the Friday statement, the PDP condemned “the attempt by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to deny the printing of N60 billion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at its behest”.
The party asserted that the “admission by CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, that the apex bank has been printing money at the bidding of government, has vindicated its earlier stand that the Buhari-led APC administration is characterised by concealments, deceit and falsehood”.
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The party added that the minister was attempting to “mislead Nigerians by denying the revelations by the Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, that N60 billion was printed in March to support federal allocation to states”.
“Governor Obaseki, as a financial expert, who is not known for flippancy, must be commended for his act of patriotism in exposing the dire economic situation our nation has been plunged under the Buhari administration.
“A situation where the Federal Government cannot articulate and implement policies favourable to wealth creation but resorting to borrowing and indiscriminate printing of currency notes, only goes to further confirm that the Buhari administration lacks the credibility and capacity to run a nation.
“Indeed, the admission by the CBN governor that “Nigeria is unfortunately in a very bad situation” further justifies our position that the Buhari-led APC administration has wrecked the economy of our nation.
“Our party is worried over the huge negative impact of indiscriminate printing of currency which has led to the unprecedented rise in inflation rate to 18.17% as disclosed by the Bureau of National Statistics (NBS) on Thursday.
“This situation has led to further economic hardship with surging prices and fallen purchasing power throwing millions of families in distress and unable to afford the basic necessities of life,” the statement further read.