The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has lampooned Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for blaming former President Muhammadu Buhari for the current economic challenges in the country.
Recall that on Tuesday, Mr Mutfwang, while swearing in his special advisers on Tuesday, said the past administration mortgaged the future of the Nigerian economy.
But reacting to the accusation, during a chat with the Punch, the APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, accused the governor of displaying ignorance on economic matters.
While exonerating the former president, Mr Ibrahim said, “I will say the governor is probably displaying his ignorance of macro- and micro-economies. When you talk about mortgaging the country or selling oil upfront for the future, I think he needs to go and learn how oil is marketed at the Rotterdam market.
“There are countries that produce oil, sell for upward of 10 years and payments made upfront. It is normal in the oil business. It didn’t start with Buhari even such a thing happened during his administration.
“For his (Mutfwang) information, Buhari is very versed and experienced when it comes to oil marketing and economy, having been minister of petroleum during the military regime. He has also been one head of state that built two refineries during his time.
“So he is very conversant with the economics of oil and anyone who knows Buhari will tell you he won’t do anything that will shortchange the country or put the future of Nigeria in jeopardy.
“On the issue of money printed, I believe that is being investigated by the National Assembly, and I don’t want us to start pre-empting the outcome. The governor is just playing to the gallery.
“It is not something new, but a normal statement expected from the mouth of the opposition. But in playing opposition, I always like people to play constructive and not destructive criticism.”
