Nigeria's ex-minister lambast Jonathan on power firms sales

Former Nigeria's federal capital territory minister, Mallam  Nasir El-Rufai has said that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration did not understand what transparency means and accused him of bias in the sales of some of the power distribution companies.

Ex GCT Minister, El-Rufai

In his reaction to President Jonathan allegation that past efforts to privatize public enterprises were bungled by those who were in charge of the process, the minister said the president should cast the first stone by name names.

President Jonathan who spoke in New York said the privatisation of public utilities by his administration was being done in a transparent manner.

“In the country’s past privatisation, we know what happened there and yet those who sat over the exercise are the same people who are opening their mouths wide to attack this administration,” the president said

However, the former minister said, “President Jonathan is dealing in innuendo as is the tradition of his government. He should make specific allegations against specific persons since he claims to know what went on in the previous privatization regime.

“We are all witnesses to how rules have been bent in the ongoing power privatisation in favour of investors with close ties to government. This government does not understand transparency, and is in no position to practise it.”

Reacting to the allegation of shoddy performance as the chairman of the National Council of Privatisation, Atiku said he was proud of his achievements.

Atiku who spoke through his Media Adviser, Malam Garba Shehu, expressed confidence that his tenure was not in President Jonathan’s frame of reference.

Shehu said, “(He) acquitted himself well when he held sway at the NCP.

“We are very proud of Turaki’s legacies at the NCP and that his vindication is there for all to see in the reports of the separate investigations by both the Senate and the House. We have our records. Let us see his own.”