In a statement today, Dr. Abati quoted what exactly the President said at an interactive session with Nigerian community in Amsterdan thus:”As at the time, the Finance Ministry was saying they had not been able to reconcile only 10 billion dollars. There are issues in NNPC but we are on it. President Jonathan went on to reassure Nigerians of his administration’s continued commitment to openness, transparency and probity in the aftermath of the unsubstantiated allegations. The Federal Government had authorized a professional forensic audit of NNPC accounts to clear the air.”
He described media report in Nigerua quoting the President as “confirming” in Amsterdam that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wrongly withheld $10 Billion from the federation account as completely false and a total distortion of the President’s comments during his meeting with the Nigerian community in the Netherlands.
“At no time during the well-attended reception did President Jonathan also confirm any “irregularities” in the NNPC.
“Sensational reports in the media to that effect are reckless, mischievous and unprofessional misrepresentations of the President’s restatement to the Nigerian community of the Federal Government’s position on the allegation that $20 Billion is “missing” from the NNPC or the Federation Account, by reporters who were not at the event or even in Holland at all.”
Abati insisted that President Jonathan’s words while responding to questions from members of the community on the allegation and other domestic issues were clear and unambiguous.
According to him, the President did say that the allegation that various sums-$49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion- missing were inconsistent and lacked credence, adding that the President deplored what he called “the mischievous and unethical distortion of his comments in the media.”
The Presidential spokesman advised the media to show greater regard for truth and accuracy when reporting on the President.
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