The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, insisted that contrary to claims by the Presidency, the $2.1 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) component of the bailout for states was actually saved by the immediate past Goodluck Jonathan-led government.
A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh, declared that “in actual fact, the LNG dividend stood at $5.6 billion even before the handover date of May 29 and would have been shared but for the insistence of former President Goodluck Jonathan that it be left for the incoming administration.”
The party praised President Muhammadu Buhari for making it possible for Nigerians to know that money was left behind by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
It stated that “despite attempts by the APC-led administration to hide the truth, the issuance of the bailout with funds from the LNG proceeds and the Excess Crude Account (ECA) has exposed the fact that the PDP administration actually left behind huge sums of money, contrary to the impression earlier given to Nigerians and the international community that the new administration met a virtually empty treasury.”
According to the party, “It is gratifying to note that gradually, the evidence of money left behind by the PDP-led administration is coming to public light despite efforts by the new government to hide the facts.
“The public had been made aware that $2 billion was left in the ECA for which the Accountant–General and the APC confirmed approvals for the withdrawal of $1.7 billion,” the party added.
“We know that surely, though slowly, a lot of other money saved by the PDP and which are now under the control of the APC government will eventually be unveiled by this administration themselves and without any effort on our part whatsoever.”
