The front-page story of the Sunday Punch of April 19 alleging that the Presidency spent a whopping N2 trillion on the 2015 General elections, and that a Committee of Five has been set up by President Jonathan to conduct an audit of how the funds were disbursed by party members and state officials is mischievous, false and embarrassing.
The President has not set up any committee as alleged in that story. It is also not true that the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party used state funds, or spent N2 trillion during the campaigns. The innuendoes are wrong-headed; the motives behind the story are suspicious.
The story alleges, for example, that the Presidency spent N2trillion on elections and embarked on a money-sharing spree to party members, support groups and state officials. The authors of the story and their self-appointed megaphones further insinuate that public funds were deployed in this regard. Their allegation of a theft of public funds is extremely malicious.
How much is the budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria? The annual budget of the Federal Government is a little over N4 trillion. The story is practically suggesting that half of the federal budget was spent on elections. This kind of reckless insinuation is meant to incite the public and instigate national crisis.
With FAAC having to do everything possible every month to ensure disbursements and with the Federal Government heavily committed to the war against terror in the North East, where is the alleged N2 trillion from the Federal purse? President Jonathan and the People’s Democratic Party conducted the 2015 elections in strict accordance with the rule of law. The suggestion of any unlawful conduct cannot be sustained under any circumstances.
President Jonathan has done his best to protect and strengthen democracy and promote peace. He justly deserves all the accolades that he has received from both Nigerians and the international community for this. Certain persons and interest groups may not be happy that his profile has further risen and that his legacy is assured; but they do their country gross disservice when they act so unpatriotically.
Anyone who is engaged in imposing a crisis on the country by any means is not being fair to Nigeria. We can only appeal to the public to be wary of such reckless tactics now on display, which form the substance of an odd, malicious campaign after the elections.
We are particularly worried that since the March 28 and April 11 elections, some persons have continued to work very hard to diminish the Jonathan Presidency. They need to be reminded that the time for politics is over; it is now time to focus on the in-coming government, with emphasis on national development and moving the country forward.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
April 19, 2015
Story 4 d gods.
ReplyDeleteWell the story becoms believable when you remember that Nigeria has not yet implemented the. 2015 budget and the first quarter of the year is almost gone. It's possible he spent half and wants to implement half just before the 2nd half of the year. Your boss is a thief! Sue punch newspaper if their story is false before you come up with stupid press releases.
DeleteDifferent news daily. All these political witch-hunting needs to stop.
DeleteThe pen is mighty, I think Journalists should refrain from allowing themselves to be used as a tool of 'political witchery' by politicians. When a story as big as this breaks, then your source should be a very credible one.
Now the APC is feeding fat on this story. May I ask where or how they got the all money they spent on the elections? Because we all know a huge amount of money went into their campaign. (They even hired the guy Obama used during his election. He was their chief strategist. He was paid a huge sum of money).
Perhaps, they'll give us the silly story about public donations (from nameless people), but we know better. eg Rivers money that served as one of the sources. Same with Lagos & a few other APC controlled 'rich' states.
In the US for instance, there is always transparency and accountability when a donation is made (the source & amount is always stated). But Nigeria? No way! Because our leaders steal state funds to campaign.
This is just a case of two rotten factions trying to mudsling the other by constanting digging dirt (non-existent maybe).
I heard the 'cabal' (the oil bloc owners) sponsored Buhari's election in a bid to get favourable considerations when their license expires.I took with a pinch of salt anyway, same way I would take this story... Until I see some sort of evidence.
The incoming govt should forget about trying to score cheap points on social media & rather carry out their own independent investigation to ascertain the extent of damage (on out national coffers) caused by the present administration. As the state of the national treasury would tell on them greatly (negatively or positively).
If he doesn't deny den he knows he's only paving his way faster to jail...
DeleteBut I can call like 10names of elites from various parts of d country dat Jonathan gave 3billion each to garner votes from their regions,dey collected and pocketed it bcos they saw his chances of winning were slim,so wat was d point stressing and wasting resources...now isn't dat 30bill already,dats just for dose I know!
The fool actually spent all that money,dis report isn't a lie,he just failed notwithstanding bcos there is a God dat catches d wise in their craftiness#rme#
In addition Queen Bee, the federal govt is yet to explain why they've refused to disburse state allocation funds to certain states since January. Hence, leaving civil servants aggrieved. Why? Yet there was money to go round for election. No matter the amount spent, I don't care, but some workers haven't been paid, so what did they expect? Abegy
DeleteIf the punch write up is false, what is stopping GEJ from taking tthem to court. He shld sue them for libel if the report is false. Chikena!
Delete@ hot akara: u obviously know nothing about how APC waas able to raise money for their campaign. The so called APC states u r referring to contributed like 10% of the campaign funds. The private jet they used was provided by Theophilus Danjuma though they used rivers state jet only once. The bulk of the money used for the campaign was gotten through a first generation bank through Tinubu's connection.
DeleteIf the punch write up is false, what is stopping GEJ from taking tthem to court. He shld sue them for libel if the report is false. Chikena!
DeleteAnon 09:57, so how do they intend paying back the money collected from they got from the bank? Or do banks now run charity organisations? Okay o. All I know is that, politics in Nigeria is one rotten cycle. We keep having all these recycled greedy politicians. Where's the true change? I do hope and pray the incoming govt performs better.
DeleteMore than 2trillion was spent pls.
ReplyDeleteLove u R
APC at it again
DeleteVery desperate party
I thought you were taking a sabbatical leave from this blog?
DeleteYes,GBG.
DeleteYesterdsy was Mother's Day,so i had time to indulge.
How are you ?
Leave Irene alone.
DeleteMehn this Afeecee people should get a life...shey they have won the election..
ReplyDeleteWhat's their own?with these cheap nonsense propaganda...
Can't deal mehn...
I hope he sues the paper for Libel.
DeleteUna don hear bitter souls Apc. I say again even if jona steal money na from who papa house or is he the first n will he be the last? Jona is a hero and took a little of what his father left him n naighbours re killing themselves. If buhari vex make him go chop em em em abeg wetin dey katsina? Haters every where u go like MTN. Apc loosers
ReplyDeleteVery intelligent comment! *straight face*
DeleteAre you for real? Is there any hope for Nigeria if we have ppl that still reason like this?
DeleteI doubted this story!..Thank God reuben abati have come out to clear the air
ReplyDeleteSo for ur mind he for admit am abi? Which village do u guys live in? Only a blind man in naija didn't not see d huge spending pdp spent on their campaign. All dem meeting with. Nollywood was to say hello to d actors? I laugh in spanish
DeleteAPC Propaganda again. #punch newspaper.
ReplyDeleteDamage control, there is no smoke without fire, in every rumour there is an iota of truth. Make dem leave Jona jare, na d person wey dem catch be thief. They should allow him enjoy his loot in Otueke naa. Hian! Una no vote for am, una still dey harass am. People should fear God ooo!
ReplyDeleteWateva
ReplyDeleteI knew it was total Mischievous
ReplyDeleteAPC worst party in Nigeria, my God will disgrace u all,i am.still laughing at those that voted Buhari in, I give them six months only
ReplyDeletePeople crying cos APC won same PDP outdoing demsef dey are busy calling APC. D way PDP people comments with so much hate and bitterness is d same way deir supporters on SDK BVs comments. Talk about dd performance or ur clueless president, hate comments ain't gonna solve d damage and looting they av done.
ReplyDeleteThey see, he's gained a lot of respect worldwide for humbly accepting his defeat but they would do anything to take that away from it. Stupid people.
ReplyDelete*him
DeleteVery good response Mr. Abati. I think we need to be more informed on our budgets and National issues so that when we hear stories like this, we can use our discretion instead on shouting and talking like illiterates.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that information must reach the public to clear the air. However it is worth noting that APC is largely composed of decamped PDP members who are guilty of all the ills APC is crying about. Who is fooling who?
DeleteI agree with you that information must reach the public to clear the air
DeleteTo date APC membership has increased greatly by decamped PDP members. Who is fooling who?
I thought it was over.....They won't just allow somebody to see road with this their political wahala.
ReplyDeleteHandwork of APC...
ReplyDeleteThey are still deceiving themselves, very soon just very soon their yansh Will be open. A won ole.
ReplyDelete@Mrs Mustapha,it is the collective wealth of Nigerians that he misused if this story is true.No wonder your likes remain on this blog scamming for laptops and freebies if you don't see anything wrong with the allegation.
ReplyDeleteIam mrs mustapha what re you anon abi? Collective wealth you say bcause it is from the minority, leadership nko is for who (born to rule) een? If the resources is from the north do you think it will be collective as you said? By the way what did any body do to lbb? Abacha obasanjo even buhari did they all not looth ooh ooh ooh now bcause its jona een? Pls pple dont over flog this issue in as much as we want peace we can also make noise like apc. Pls anon truthfully say if you have ever donated ANY THING for stella to give out to bvs on this blog, i mean any thing poverty stricken anugboko.
DeleteApc
ReplyDeleteApc
ReplyDeleteApc sleep and wakeup on propaganda,who's even taking those evil peoples words seriously? Not me.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone doubt the N2trl story? I don't! Una know how many churches, traditional rulers, dibias, actors, musicians, wey Jona sort? I siddon my own receive recharge card from Mtn unto voting for Jona! Una dey mad if Una deny am
ReplyDeleteAm I d only one who got N1,500 unsolicited recharge from Mtn from jonathan's campaign group? Una father dia if Una deny am
ReplyDeleteAnd how did Buhari get the billions for his Campaign? How will he pay back? Your guess is as good as mine.
DeleteYes you are the only one.
DeleteYes I are d only one, stupid liar!
Delete*u
DeleteDamage control biko...... There's some truth in this shit abeg
ReplyDeleteIt's disheartening to see most Nigerian believe any figure being bandied around by so called 'source'. I was at a buka, before election, and a policeman was saying GEJ gave OPC 9 Billion Naira; how could that be?. Now they are here with 2 Trillion Naira on election, I presume this is coming on the heels of the allegation that Bukola Saraki received some amount from DAM.
ReplyDeleteSuch myopic views as experienced here is what is keeping this nation like dis! "Is he d 1stt"? Hear dem! Tufiakwa!
ReplyDeleteBiko, when you people want to spew thrash do it with class you hear. How someone say govt hasn't implemented the 2015 budget yet Hian! NASs don finally pass budget? Can the executive implement an budget that hasn't scaled through the final reading in the Nass?
ReplyDeleteTwo, which state hasn't received its monthly allocation from FAAC? What the state are complaining about is the alleged "deduction" from the MOF. Now this allegation is also baseless cuz due to fall in oil prices which is our major revenue stream there has been a sharp fall revenue accrued I.e rather than the huge cake F.G and d states used to share now d cake is so small DAT when distributed, it becomes meaningless to the states considering their huge civil service and salary structure.
Finally, the PDP raised hundreds of billions during their fundraising dinner bence, even without touching the nat. Purse there was cash to go round..
In addition, the BBC in its estimation of campaign spending pegged that of the PDP @1trillion naira while that of the APC was estimated to be about 350-400 billion naira. So, both parties overspent during the campaigns...
Lastly, this punch news report came a day or two after had published its report on campaign funding, some lazy ass punch reporter obviously used this but decided to add note butter so as to sensationalize the story...
But the executive can single handedly try to change the constitutional date of handover abi? FOH you pdp thief!
DeleteAnon wetin consign handover date with this? Was Feyemi there when Ayo Fayose took his oath of office? When Ayo Fayose was sworn-in, there were about five governors there(PDP govs) but no one mentioned the name john kayode fayemi why? When did fayemi handover to fayose
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ReplyDeleteBTW, some of the support groups(The BBC added the spending of support groups to that of their candidates official campaign org) sourced for their funds and utilised such funds privately. Tan for example spent billions of naira which it sourced privately on the campaigns(GEJ and Jk) but in calculating the campaign expenditure(as the BBC stated), there is no Tan or PONP, or House to House initiative, or Good governance vanguard e.t.c what you'll see is the APC's campaign/Buhari's campaign org and the PDP's campaign/GEJ's campaign org.
ReplyDeleteMrs Mustapha Anuofia,Blog Stella ki e ka goshi ne de Maru si e bu EWU?I don't blow my trumpet and if you had a quarter of my life,your clan in Delta state will be celebrating you.Why I am even wasting my time replying someone that can't spell loot?half baked animal,I won't give you the attention your parents deprived you.
ReplyDelete