Nigerians Stash Away $400 Billion Abroad, Ex-Minister Says The former minister argued that it was not the president that was weak, but the Nigerian system. A delegate of the North Central geo-political zone to the National Conference, Mustapha Bello, on Tuesday informed the conference that Nigerians have about $400 billion stashed away abroad. He stated this during the resumed debate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech to the conference at its inauguration on March 17. Lamenting the increasing cases of corruption in Nigeria, the delegate asked the anti-graft agencies to look into the matter. Mr. Bello, a former Commerce Minister, who did not elaborate on how he came about figure or whether they were all stolen funds, however said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, were looking into the matter. He urged the conference to find a way to intervene by ensuring that Nigerians who took monies abroad were granted amnesty so that they would return them to develop the country. He explained that that a former President of Indonesia employed a similar method and it worked for that country. Mr. Bello commended Mr. Jonathan’s leadership style, saying the president would not want to hurt anybody; and hence was described sometimes as weak. The former minister argued that it was not the president that was weak, but the Nigerian system. Hs stated that the model of presidential system Nigeria practices made the president look weak, adding that the same situation obtained in the United States hence President Barracks Obama found it difficult to push through certain polices. Mr. Bello therefore canvassed a blend of parliamentary and presidential system for Nigeria. Premium Times.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:17:41 +0000
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