‘Buhari misleading Nigerians, GEJ left $30bn’
Abubakar Sulaiman, the immediate past minister of national planning, has faulted the claim of President Muhammadu Buhari that he inherited “virtually an empty treasury”, saying former president, Goodluck Jonathan, left about $30 billion before handing over.
Suleiman described the report as “unscientific and unfair”, asking Nigerians not to accept Buhari’s claim until there is substantive evidence to back it up.
“It will be misleading for our respected President Muhammadu Buhari and indeed the ruling APC to claim to have met an empty treasury,” he said in a statement issued late Tuesday.
“Government can’t tell us that there is no Excess Crude Account (ECA), Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) or are we saying the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and related agencies had not in the last one month been generating revenue?
“Until they are able to prove they had no receipts from these government agencies in the last one month before Nigerians can now buy into Mr. President’s claim of an empty treasury.”
Lauding the administration of Jonathan, Suleiman justified the deficit that Buhari’s predecessor left behind.
“Money made by government is meant to be spent, and this the immediate past administration did responsibly,” he said.
“Every government, even in the so-called western world, including the US which today remains one of the largest debtors nations in the world, government operates on deficit.
“Is it not on record that President Obama inherited US$3 triillion debt, a collapsed banking sector and mortgage industry, yet he never raised any alarm. None of these has happened in Nigeria under Jonathan.
“Under Jonathan, Nigeria became the largest Africa economy and 26th in the world amidst deadly security challenges and dwindling international prices of oil. In spite of all these, the FG never owed salary.
“Upon inception of Jonathan’s administration, it is on record that the price of oil at the global stage was over $100 per barrel and at the close of the administration, it dropped to $46. Yet, there wasn’t collapse of government and federal civil servants were paid as at when due.”
He advised Buhari to hit the ground running and stop giving excuses.
Your comment..Person like Abubakar Sulaiman should be made to see psychiatrist. cos even d blind & deaf feel d atrocities committed by Jonathan administration. He is obviously an anti masses.
@Lekan: it’s obvious u are blind and absent minded. In no time, people like u will appreciate jonathan’s administration in terms of policies, infrastructure, tolerance and economy status. If I may ask, list one truth outside their daily excuses and lies, this present administration has told Nigerians and the entire world.
an economy that can not reflect in the pot/plate of a common nigerian is nothing close to good. Talking of infrastructures, if 3rd mainland bridge was built during GEJ’s administration, i believe you won’t let anybody cough. So pls name any infrastructure that can be measured with that. You guys are so blind to yourselves. Seek the face of God to enable you see the truth
Why the unnecessary digression, the issue raised is paramount government is a continuum, PMB said he has solution to Nigeria’s problems including the economy, he had his facts before, and while running for the office. He never backed out on claim that things are so bad he couldn’t fix it. Now he is coming out with blame game. Like Sulaman said President Obama met a deficit of over $3trillion, 2 major wars (Afghan & Iraq) a broken mortgage banking system, bankrupt auto industry, and very high unemployment. He rolled his sleeves and got to work not complain about this or that. If you can stand the heat or know how to cook get out of the kitchen
Its said that a chick caught by the hawk is crying out to for the hawk to leave it but for everyone to hear
Its voice. Pmb is crying out for Pple to be aware of what he met on ground not because he can’t fix it or he just wants to give excuses. He wants the record straight. Let’s know where the rain is starting so we can now where its stopping. We can only know if pmb has done well or badly if we appreciate what he met on board
@Leka,you are bunch of pathological hypocrite.You no de see
U’re wrong. D amount in d treasury wil surely av an impact on how soon he can fulfil his promises. Let’s be real. It’s damn early to assess him considrng d state of d economy wen he came on board. D least we can do is to give him some time
@ no rigging. Considrng ur comment, it’s obvious it’s not only Abubakar Sulaiman dat needs to see a psych, people like u ought to accompany him. Or are u just returning frm an exile? Is it not d same naija we’ve bn and witnessed all d mess during Jona’s admnstratn?
Abubakar is comparing Nigeria and America in terms of external debt,really he needs a Psychatrist,and this is one time a minister in Nigeria…it’s a shame. America got into external debt due to Iraqi war and the fight against insurgenxies,they have clear records on how the last dime was spent.Nigeria got into serious debt due to the people in the helm of affairs stealing the money that belongs to all Nigerians,you don’t have shame to tell us that government money needs to be spent. PMB go ahead with your mission,posterity will never forgive those Nigerians that stole our wealth,in fact people like Abubakar should be in jail for ever.
Your comment. kudos to u.I like your words
Obviously some people only repeat what they heard others say. My brother get your facts correctly before you speak especially on social media.
PMB needs to start work, and show he has started work. Excuses will not fulfill campaign promises and certainly won’t move the nation forward. There have been quite some inarticulate statements on ‘virtually empty’ treasury, ‘debts running into millions’ and remove and reinstate military checkpoints. The president enjoys enormous goodwill and now is the time to consolidate that. Move on Nigeria!
I dont know why many Nigerians do not think before airing their views. Rather than air intelligent & constructive views, they exibit hatred & foolishness.
PMB stop giving excuses let him start to deliver the dividends of democracy that GEJ mismanaged the economy is why we nigerians voted for him because he made us to believe that he has the solutions to our age long problems.
Kelvin, you did not vote for PMB. Don’t claim that now and don’t expect magic from him. Just be patient you will soon sing his praise provided his probe does not get to you and those who looted our account
Period…
it is obvious that Mr sulaimon is taking side on Gej administration. I implore u to investigate the issue of bank and non payment of salary he mentioned,
buhari is so confused up gej
A truly idiotic statement only worthy of a GEJ minister.
To me , when you don’t have anything to bring to the table excuse is inevitable.
The bitter truth the supporters of don’t want to hear is that GEJ loot our Treasury. Everybody wants transpiracy and PMB is telling us what is on ground and thoses sympathizer don’t want to believe. Telling us he is giving excuses means nothing cos the man will say what saw for Nigerians to know. And all those who loot the Treasury must be brought to book and face the wrath of the law.
The most recent honorable president did not say Jonathan left empty treasury but near empty treasury. If may answer Joseph it’s the left over money pmb uses to transport himself in the bid to prepare him for good job.
The immediate past national planning minister know how much damage they have coursed before they left, he is just trying to cover up.
Your comment..we have had enough of these excuses, PMB should go ahead and work and stop complaining
Your comment..Anything built on deceit and lies can’t stand the test of time. PMB should live up to expectations and stop giving flimsy excuses. People voted for him to clean the ‘supposed’ mess Jonathan left behind.
We are all aware that the immediate past Minister of Finance told us that, they borrowed before they paid salaries. Why cant we agree with PMB comment on empty treasurer?
I think PMB should stop this direct access to the press because he in unwittingly heating the polity with his unguarded statements. These statements are self defeatist and have no bearing to reality. Let’s leave sentiments and face facts. The elections have come and gone and this is the time to work towards fulfilling campaign promises. Repeatedly vilifying the previous administration for corruption and financial recklessness runs counter to the promises made. These were allegations the APC bandied about throughout the elections, so they are not new. It wagon the basis of their claim to right the wrongs of the previous administrations that Nigerians voted them into power. Money earned must be spent. There is no living Nigerian who tells me he saves all the money he spends. And there is Nigerian living who will tell me that he does not fall back on his savings on a rainy day.
Under Jonathan there was need to run a government as well as conduct an expensive election. We were all witnesses to the fact INEC kept asking for more money to meet with exigencies. The PDP of course did not want to be accused of deliberately starving the electoral body of funds, so what is wrong in spending part of the savings? Government is a continuum. Even in Jonathan’s time there were periods of boom and fall in revenue, but as every government does you must apply the ways and means principle to tide over until revenue improves. That the downturn period coincided with the start of a new government is not an indication of an empty treasury. We are selling oil everyday and tax receipts are flowing in, so why is PMB raising unnecessary and childish alarm? He should form his cabinet quickly and get them together and brainstorm the way forward instead of this everyday one excuse we are tired of listening to.
thanks Ebifor. While i am not in support of reckless management of our resources, I also do not support mediocrity. After 26 days, our new president have no special Assistant or advisers, no ministers, no secretary to the government, in fact nobody to work with. i believe Mr president should just get down to business,constitute his cabinet and start delivering. I do not vote for PMB but so desperately want him to succeed for the good of us all. nonetheless, excuses like this are a distraction to success.
These are reckless statement to make. When FAAC met yesterday to distribute fund, who were the people that did that? Ghosts?
Stop this nonsence, he does not need advisers to work. He met Military Chiefs, gave directives to the Head of Service, so work is going on. Ministers is not the work. Without Ministers, the government will function efficiently. Most don’t add any value.
Who’s this ex-Minister that doesn’t know $30Billion CBN Reserve IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE to FG cos it ALREADY collected & SPENT it as Naira?
A liar will always remain a liar for the rest of his life. Someone who can’t keep to his promise is not to be trusted.
Sorry to say that Lekan,just like many Nigerians,are blinded by hate mentality.This mentality forecloses their ability to see and face the truth.Pls fellow Nigerians tell Buhari to go to work,and stop making excuses and complaints.Time will not wait for him oo!
at 70 buhari declared dat he will never run for d President post again (iashala) but today he is d President of Nigeria.. so why do him want us to believe him now???
Your comment..Sulaiman may be you are among the looters, that empty our treasury.
What do I have to say than that Buhari should bury his complaints and excuses and hit the ground running like he promised,time no dey.Enough of the aspersions fellow Nigerians.
Where was this $30bn when madam Ngozi was borrowing N500bn ($2.8bn) to pay salaries? Clearly Abubakar Sulaiman is telling us stories. $30bn indeed
I pray that Mr President succeeds. He I’d good man.
$30bn indeed, where was this $30bn when madam Ngozi was borrowing N500bn ($2.8bn) to pay salaries? If the govt was making so much money why would they have had to borrow? Please spare us the lies, simple questions like
It’s baffling when you hear a former minister comparing Nigeria with highly developed countries like US. In the first place people like GEJ can never become a president in those countries. On the other hand, the cluelessness, recklessness and impunity exhibited by GEJ govt cannot be tolerated in any country in the world except in Nigeria.
In this regard, the ex-minister is the one trying to deceive the Nigerian public.
Dr. Abubakar is always positioning himself to defend PDP government he served as if he is a saint. While in NPC, he stifle all voices of dissent even asking that if we were in his shoes, what would we have done boasting that he has spies amongst the staff who gossip to him about what they hear people say.
For a start, Abubakar was the worst Minister national Planning ever had. When he came, his first agenda was to deliver Kwara for GEJ, second was to get something for his people of Kwara and third agenda was Kwara centric as well. So from the onset Abubakar was a failure in understanding the essence of leadership.
Abubakar employed more than 40 Kwarans into the National Planning Commission without any due process, changed Directors at his whim and caprices without following extant rules.
He has distaste for following laid down rules and regulations. He virtually destroyed the normal process of carrying out activities in the Commission by nomination Kwarans from outside the Commission, who are not entitled to such priviledge, to go on courses meant for civil servants across the nation.
He, even, usurped the right of other MDA to nominate the staff of their choice for courses by nominating Kwarans not minding whether they are the best fit to attend such courses from other establishment.
On top of that Abubakar, embezzled a sizable amount of funds belonging to the NPC in various forms. For this, NPC needs to be probed so that they can determine the extent of Abubakar malfeasance in NPC.
Abubakar should bury his head in shame and stop positioning himself as the conscience of the erstwhile GEJ government. He was a big disappointment while in NPC.
Your comment..
We know he is slow. But the people that started running b4 they saw the tracks ended in Otuoke – crashed.
The former minister should be probed. Maybe he is keeping the money for PMB. Over t EFCC.
I thought we were done with campaigns and bombs of hates, but disappointed to see that so many Nigerians still don’t want to face truth.
GEJ was voted out on the grounds of “incompetence and corruption”, and PMB voted in on the grounds of “competence and probity”. Time will tell.
Should Nigerians still be breaking their heads on matters like this,,,empty or #3 trillion treasury?
If you are not reasonable enough to detect and perceive truth, then use your megabytes for something else because these inhumane politicians are using the people’s heads and emotions. Tomorrow you’ll see PMB & GEJ chatting over life and matters you tore your shirt for.
But Mr President, it’s like you are forgetting your campaign promises in a hurry. Nigerians want solutions/performance and not alibies full of reasons and excuses why you should also fail. Leave GEJ alone and get to work.
Any new government that begins with the loud “empty treasury” campaign is trying to give excuses before it fails.
Nigerians be reasonable…..Leave GEN alone, don’t be easily deceived, you are not fools.
“Government can’t tell us that there is no Excess Crude Account (ECA), Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) or are we saying the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and related agencies had not in the last one month been generating revenue?
IS LAST ONE MONTH GEJ ADMINISTRATION OR BUHARI?????
Your comment..the word of God says everything worketh for good to dem DAT no God please whether.money in treasure.or excuse from Pmb let us believe dat d future of this country is bright it’s our duty to being to pray for this country
I have seen that many Nigerian are born blind therefore will never see and will learn even if you open their brain nothing will enter so I don’t blame them when they are making some silly comment am not surprised.
WHY DID NIGERIANS ALWAYS BEHAVE IRRATIONALLY,IT TOOK JONATHAN 11 MONTHS BEFORE STATRTED RUNNING IN 2011,GO AND CHECK YOUR FACT,WHERE AS THE MONEY LEFT BY YARADUA GOVT THEN WAS $32BILLION, GO TO DMO OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO CONFIRMED.
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT HIM TO DO WHEN YOUR I DON’T GIVE A DAMN AND CLUELESS JONAH STARTED SPENDING OUR MONEY TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIS RE-ELECTION, U GUYS ARE BUSY COLLECTING IT, NOT KNOWING THAT JONAH ‘S SPENDING MONEY THAT’S MEANT FOR THE RAINNIG DAY ON HIS RE- ELECTION BID.
EVEN IF JONAH EMERGED AS THE WINNER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HE ‘LL STILL ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM.
IF NOT WHICH MOST NIGERIANS ‘LL STARTED CASTGATING ME FOR SAYING THE TRUTH,WHY DID HIS GOVT CONTINUED BORROWING TO PAY FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANT FOR THE PAST 6MONTHS?
Poor ex-minister! If only he was retained by the new regime, he’s reason properly that income minus huge debts equal deficits! He’s equally ignorant of the economic fact that you may spend your revenue in advance!Little wonder why GEJ’s cabinet was filled with apologies!
Buhari just a disgrace to those that voted him. Nigeria dont expect magic from me. Our manifestoe is not bible and koran that does not change. We need face reality on ground now nt those campaign promises. My age will limit my perfermance. Today is the treasury is empty! BUHARI GET DOWN TO WORK MY FRIEND
If you call a man who’s barely 1month old in office a disgrace what would you call one who spent 6 years and achieved NOTHING. Webster may help you there!
I support PMB to come in but even then I’m tired. It is a month now and no committee, nothing. Already gone to about 4 countries. I hope there is wisdom in all these. He should hit the ground running. The first 100 days is key in an administration’s life but the first 30 is already wasted for him. I really don’t know. Meanwhile APC is imploding. If PMB is not serious, PDP will regroup, recall its errant ex-party members and dethrone him next election. A word is enough for the wise.
My Point is that all the Campaign Promises and assurances made to Nigerians was not centred on how much money He will find sitting in the bank. Hope these are Not geared towards precluding the fulfillment of these promises.
U’re wrong. D amount in d treasury wil surely av an impact on how soon he can fulfil his promises. Let’s be real. It’s damn early to assess him considrng d state of d economy wen he came on board. D least we can do is to give him some time
FG did not owe salaries? How can you post such a thing. You don’t reside in Nigeria?
GEJ REMAINS D BEST PRESIDENT WE HAVE HAD.PMB PROMISED US THAT HE IS COMING IMPROVE THE SYSTEM,I HE SHOULD START RATHER THAN BLAMING
Truly most nigerians are as ignorant as donkeys. pundits of parochial intellect and ignoramus rampagious! How else can one explain d plenty rubbish dey’re saying here. People get ur facts right and stop displaying ur ignorance and poor sense of judgement.
Am afraid , APC is a party of mixed ideologies and may be in trouble ruling Nigeria. I hope those closer to the President should tell him the truth and nothing but the truth. The system is becoming heated and he has to come up with precise modalities . Should get on to work now all will not achieve his objective of coming to power. Democracy is a different ball game . What we are seeing in the lower house now .25/6/15 is the beginning of bigger problem s to come .
Time will tell. Where is the true.
A man that understand the he has a problem, will fully know that he have a lot of work to do, pmb has identify this as a challenge to him, so let us all give him the support he needed to go to work’ and stop all this kind of language here, what is happening here is just anoyin
The President needs to start executing those he claimed emptied the treasury to justify he met an empty treasury, I am confident this administration would achieve a lot and am not in a rush. The past administration blessed us with poverty, Terror, bad leadership,corruption and mismanagement .
Your comment..u dat is saying dat JONATHAN did nt Lve any money in d tresure.hw do dat did any money.u ar out of ur mind.Shot ur big mouth
As gentle as Buhari claims to be, it would be inappropriate to link him with this issue of inheriting empty treasury from his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. After all, there are a lot of potential social or political prostitutes around the Daura-born opportunist, and a pocket of religious fanatics like, Lai Mohammed.