Barely 24 hours after President elect Muhammadu Buhari vowed to look into the accounts of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday ordered the immediate release of the forensic audit of the corporation’s account
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Reuben Abati who spoke with newsmen at State House, Abuja also dismissed allegations that the Jonathan led administration was engaged in “last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service”.
The President spokesman insists that contrary to suggestions by spokesman of the All Progressives Congress that the Jonathan Administration is trying to “tie the hands” of the incoming government, the President is merely continuing to discharge his constitutional responsibilities until the end of his tenure
Despite all his attempts to explain or wish it away, the allegations of a missing $20bn stands out like a sore thumb and President Jonathan according to his spokesman is deeply concerned
The remedy for now is to immediately release the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts to the public
But the question many will be asking is, why did government wait until the President elect had made a pronouncement on the matter before this decision ?
Government is also strenuously denying allegations that engaged in “last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service”.
The exchange of brickbats between the two spokesmen has brought to light the tension that underlies this transfer of power
On the one hand the outgoing administration is trying to maintain a legacy of good governance which these allegations may tarnish. On the other hand the ominous threat of a probe hangs like a Sword of Damocles and if the incoming government should review all actions of the present government the results may be anyone’s guess
