Former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke on Wednesday described the inclusion of a private conversation between him and former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in the latter’s new book as being in “poor taste.”
The former minister of finance recently published a new book, titled, ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines’, detailing her experience as a minister of finance.
In the book, Okonjo-Iweala said Duke had urged her not to serve in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government in 2011.
This, she said, was to deny Jonathan’s government credibility so that it would be “weak and not succeed”. However she rejected his counsel and served in the government.
This revelation didn’t sit well with the former governor as he took to his Twitter handle to react.
He wrote; “It’s true I met with Ngozi when the rumors were swirling about her being considered for appointment. As “friends”, she having been literally dismissed from an earlier appointment as finance minister, I urged caution. I made no mention of adding or subtracting credibility to anyone or govt. It was “two friends” discussing careers. It ended there and she subsequently made her choice which I respected.
However, I think it is in poor taste and demeaning of her to report a private conversation in whatever self laundering attempt she may be up to.
With hindsight, I was vindicated, Ngozi, as Minister of Finance and Economy, despite massive revenue receipts, left Nigeria poorer than she met it.”
