The former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke has accused the former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of leaving the economy in a worse state than she met it.
Duke said this while reacting to the ex-minister’s claim that he tried to dissuade her from joining the Goodluck Jonathan administration in order to undermine it.
Okonjo-Iweala had recently published a new book, titled, ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines’, detailing her experience as a minister of finance.
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In the book, Okonjo-Iweala said Duke had urged her not to serve in President Jonathan’s government in 2011 because he wanted Jonathan’s government to lose credibility, become “weak and not succeed”.
She however claimed in the book that she rejected his counsel and served in the government.
The ex-Governor in a tweet, while admitting he met with Mrs Okonjo-Oweala, hit back at the former finance minister over the claims, saying that under her administration the economy of the country did not make any significant improvement.
“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.”