Paris Club consultants: They want to take advantage of Buhari’s generosity to fleece Nigeria ― Fayemi

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Dr Kayode Fayemi, has alleged that the effort to deduct $419 million from state resources to pay Paris Club consultants is an attempt to take advantage of President Muhammadu Buhari’s generosity of spirit to fleece Nigeria. 

Responding to the claims made by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who had insisted that the money must be paid by states, Fayemi said they had tried to draw the money from past administrations but failed. 

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday night, the Ekiti state governor, expressed disappointment with the attitude of the chief law officer of the country. 

He said: “Frankly, I’m a little reluctant to do this. It is not really in the character of the Governors Forum to discuss matters that are subjudice in the public arena. 

“But the Attorney General had left us with very little option because this is a matter we have been discussing with him, with the president, with the chief of staff, with the minister of finance for the better part of the last seven-eight months. 

“The Attorney General was my colleague in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari and I would like to think he’s also somebody who occupies an office that I have tremendous respect for. 

“It is the only ministerial office mentioned in the Nigerian Constitution and he is the Attorney General of the Federation. 

“This morning, he said on your programme, the Morning Show, that he’s the Attorney General of the Federal Government. 

“I’m afraid, that’s wrong. He’s the Attorney General of the Federation and he should be defending parties – federal, states as well as local governments – rather than defending consultants. 

“That’s why I said it’s unfortunate that we would even be put in this situation.”

While noting that there are four legal cases that concern the states, he added: “I will like you to also recall that these are matters relating to the Paris Club refund as far back as 2005 and they’ve tried to get this money from the Obasanjo administration, they failed, they tried it with the Yar’Adua administration, they failed, they tried it with the Jonathan administration, they failed. 

“They have now resorted to taking advantage of the decency and the generosity of spirit of President Muhammadu Buhari to try and fleece the Nigerian people of these resources.

“It is $419 million and that may ring some bell in many places.”

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