Buhari Gets Angry: I will Recover Stolen Billions from Jonathan, Ministers, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari is very angry at the state in which met Nigeria's economy as handed over to him by Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking in Aso Rock on Tuesday, he assured state governors that the days of impunity, lack of accountability, and fiscal recklessness in the management of national resources are over in Nigeria.

Speaking with a red eye, Buhari vowed that no one will be allowed to get away with Nigeria's money.

In his words: “There are financial and administrative instructions in every government parastatal and agency. But all these were thrown to the dogs in the past.”

At a meeting with state governors in the Presidential Villa, Buhari also vowed that funds stolen by officials who abused their offices in the recent past will be recovered and systemic leakages stopped.

The Special Adviser to the Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the President as saying:

“Honestly, our problems are great, but we will do our best to surmount them. The next three months may be hard, but billions of dollars can be recovered, and we will do our best.”

Expressing surprise that the governors had tolerated the atrocities allegedly committed with the Excess Crude Account since 2011, President Buhari promised to tackle the issue decisively.

The President declared that the payment of national revenue into any account other than the Federation Account was an abuse of the constitution, adding that what he had heard was going on in many agencies and corporations, particularly the NNPC, was clearly illegal.

On the refund of monies spent on federal projects by state governments, President Buhari assured the that the Federal Government will pay the states, but insisted that due process must be followed.

He said that a comprehensive statement on the economic and financial situation inherited by his administration will be made to the nation within the next four weeks.

“We will try and put the system back into the right position. What happened in the 2nd Republic has apparently happened again, and even worse, but we will restore sanity to the system,” President Buhari assured the Governors.

On an immediate lifeline for states that owe salaries running into many months, President Buhari said a committee headed by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will look at the Excess Crude Account and see what can be shared immediately.