The Federal Government has slammed Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, over his comments on Nigeria’s economy.
Obaseki, while speaking with journalists in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, said the country’s situation was taking a turn for the worse due to bad policies by the Federal Government.
The governor lashed out at the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the latter’s administration failed to plan and effectively respond to the fuel subsidy removal, which he said inflicted hardship and suffering on Nigerians.
He further described the Federal Government’s palliative concept as fraudulent.
However, the government, while reacting via a statement issued on Thursday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Governor Obaseki should focus on how his administration will use available resources to drive impactful projects that uplift the people of Edo State.
Idris stated that the Edo State Government has benefited from the fuel subsidy removal through FAAC allocation between June and July 2023, adding that the governor should work with other Nigerian leaders to make life better for the citizens and not play cheap politics that serves no better purpose.
The minister stated: “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.
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“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 needed 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.
“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 Federal 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.
“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.”
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