Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has declared that former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, left Nigeria poorer than she met it.
Duke made the remark in response to an attack on his person in her book, “Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines.”
In the book, Okonjo-Iweala claimed that Duke advised her against taking up appointment with the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
His reason for the advice, according to the former minister, was to make Jonathan’s administration “weak and not succeed.”
But in his reaction to the claim, Duke said he only told her to be cautious in the consideration of the appointment when he heard about it.
He said he never mentioned that she should not take the appointment in order to make the administration weak.
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However, he said he had been vindicated by the poor state the economy of the nation was left as at the time the administration ended its reign.
The statement made through his twitter handle reads:
“It is true I met with Ngozi when the rumours were swirling about her being considered for appointment.
“As “friends”, she having been literally dismissed from an earlier appointment as finance minister, I urged caution.
“I made no mention of adding or subtracting credibility to anyone or government.
“It was “two friends” discussing careers. It ended there and she subsequently made her choice which I respected.
“However, I think it is in poor taste and demeaning of her to report a private conversation in whatever self laundering attempt she may be up to.
“With hindsight, I was vindicated, Ngozi, as Minister of Finance and Economy, despite massive revenue receipts, left Nigeria poorer than she met it.”
