The consultants working on the Paris Club refund alleged that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) had demanded and received $100 million to prosecute elections in some states. If accurate, this would have been shared by the NGF members, which have a mix of political parties. Though the Governors have denied the allegation. But in the eyes of the public, can there be smoke without fire?
The Paris Club refund has shown that our Governors are united regarding sharing the perks of political spoils, but pretend to be enemies on political platforms, and yet use religion and tribe to divide the people.
Meanwhile, the Federal government says it has to deduct the $418 million Paris Club refund from the states, which the states are resisting. The Federal Government says that this money belongs to the Federation Account and by extension, to Nigerians. But the NGF believes otherwise. When the Governors took this money, what were the contractual terms- a grant or a loan they signed?
The most confusing part of the entire Paris Club saga is that Hon. Ned Nwoko, who is the lead consultant for which the $418 million Paris Club deductions are to be made to his firm emphatically stated, “what the States owe for the Paris Club buyback is $68 million, and not $418 million.”
The Federal Government says the fund belongs to the Federation account, but the Governors see this as a no-go area. Does the National Assembly have the whole truth about this Paris Club deal? I thought these disjointed revelations from high-profile Nigerians, which are discomforting, should worry our lawmakers.
What are the roles of the EFCC, the ICPC, and the National Assembly in unraveling the half-truth allegation of the NGF against the consultants, the positions of the Federal Government, and Honorable Nwoko’s part?
I beg, who knows the details of these million-million dollar allegations? Who can help us connect the dots because one gets more confused as the day passes? Grace and peace!!!
