Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, has said former president, Goodluck Jonathan, left funds in government coffers while handing over power in 2015.
The minister’s claim seems to contradict that of President Muhammadu Buhari, who claimed he met an empty treasury when he took over power from Mr Jonathan.
“I hope we are starting gradually,” the president said while addressing State House Correspondent at the Aso Villa, Abuja weeks after he was sworn in as president.
“Treasury is virtually empty and debts running into millions of dollars. The fact that state workers and even federal workers have not been paid their salaries is such a disgrace for Nigeria,” he added.
The Nigerian leader has since then been repeating the claim at any given opportunity with his predecessor debunking the claim.
Mr Buhari defeated the former president in the 2015 presidential election. It was also the first time an opposition candidate would unseat a sitting president who sought re-election.
The Nation Newspaper which quoted Amaechi to have made the claim said the minister hinted that Jonathan left about $2.5billion in the nation’s treasury.
The national daily reports that the former Rivers State governor stated this at APC presidential campaign rally held on Tuesday in Akure, the Ondo state capital. Yemi Osinbajo, vice president was said to be at the event.
The minister who is the director-general of the APC presidential Campaign Organisation was reported to have also claimed that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, left $68bn while leaving office.
