Immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has denied claims by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State that his administration spent N64 billion to organize Nigeria’s independence celebrations for three years.
According to the governor, Jonathan spent N13 billion in 2011, N15 billion in 2012 and N14 billion in 2013 and N22 billion in 2011, bringing the total to N64 billion.
However, Jonathan denied the claim, saying only N332.6 million was spent during the three-year period and chided el-Rufai for deliberately lying to confuse the public and give his administration a bad name.
Jonathan, who responded to the allegation yesterday, described the huge figure as figment of el-Rufai’s imagination and a fabricated lie by a favour-seeker.
In a statement in Abuja, through his former Minister of National Planning, Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, Jonathan said: “For the record, a breakdown of our anniversary spending between 2012 to 2014 amounted to N332.6 million.
“We challenge the Office of the Government of the Federation to publish these details for the consumption of the public.
“A breakdown of our spending for this event between 2012 and 2104 goes thus: 2012, N107.6 million; 2013, N45 million and 2014, 180 million. So, the question here is where did the billions, as claimed by el-Rufai, emanate from?”
The former President said though he did not have the figures for 2010 and 2011, expenditure for the two years fell within the threshold of what was spent in the last three years and there was no attempt to overspend the country’s resources as claimed by the governor.
He said his administration never budgeted nor spent the outrageous amount alleged by el-Rufai and pointed out that the increment in the 2010 celebration budget was due to the fact that the nation celebrated its golden anniversary that year.
Jonathan also explained that the increase in the 2013 anniversary spending to N174.8 million was due to the incorporation of the National Honours Award Investiture into the event, making it a two-in-one celebration, which was actually done in 2014.
The former President warned government functionaries to desist from abusing the immunity enjoyed by them by destroying history and trading lies just to earn cheap popularity or curry favour from certain quarters.
He said: “It is high time government functionaries desisted from abusing their immunity by destroying history and trading on lies just to gain cheap popularity or curry one favour or the other from certain quarters.
“Perhaps former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was right in his assessment of el-Rufai when he said in his latest memoirs, My Watch, that his vivid recollection of el-Rufai is his penchant for lying, unfair embe-llishment of stories and inability to sustain loyalty for long.
“That exactly is what el-Rufai has done with his ungodly fabrication of lies against Jonathan’s government.
“One hopes that President Buhari would be on guard against being misled by the likes of el-Rufai, who are hell bent on misinforming Nigerians.”
I believe, the office of the Government of the Federation has all the records. So, let them confirm the figures as given by El-Rufai and the counter figures given by the former President to enable us know the exact truth. Gov. Oshiomole at one time also rolled out figures of money spent by Dr Okonjo-Iweala and these figures are yet to be confirmed by the government, Now, El-Rufai also rolled out his figures. Please, to avoid mis-informing the public, let all these figures be confirmed. Afterall, the government has all the records. Because of the hatred the APC has for the PDP because of the way PDP governed this country for the past 16 years, once a top-notcher of the APC says something about the PDP, the entire public will believe whether it is true or not. So, let the brandishing of false stories, just to call "a dog a bad name and hang it" come to an end. Let the office of the Governement of the Federation confirm these figures to enlighten the public. It is only then we shall know who is telling the truth or not.
ReplyDeleteA big liar, how can you say that kind amount of money was spent for a celebration?
ReplyDeleteHas ex President Jonathan ever given any tangible and correct statistics while in office.All allegations of corruption,mismanagement and manipulations of figures has always been denied by him and all the leeches that surrounded him who failed to give satisfactory and convincing explanations to their wasteful unethical theft
ReplyDeleteGEJ can quot from "MY WATCH" the book he didn't wanted it to be published, what a irony of life. I PRAY YOUR ENEMIES SHALL AGREE WITH YOU BY FORCE. AMEN.
ReplyDeleteAboki can you read very well. Jonathan is not the one quoting a verse from Obasanjo's book but Dr Abubakar Suleiman who was speaking on behalf of Jonathan. Please read very well before you comment. Hope you are not infested with ElIED syndrome ?
Deletei will not join issue with you, thank God you said he was speaking on behalf of Jonathan, now we know who is infected. be guided.
Deletemust u point out the negative? here is a man who was my president, served the country like every other person to include president Buhari.. few months after hand over, the very persons who also took path in the said corruption are making incorrect accusations. He would choose not to reply them but for his nature and the love of the unsuspecting public like myself about to be mislead? he thus replied.
DeleteEl Rufai is a blatant liar. Now I understand y Obasanjo blasted him in his memoir "my watch". And I think APC as a whole are renown in lying. Let the FG published it. Jonathan has challenged them to do that. So APC stop raising un confirm alarm to mislead d mases.
ReplyDeleteWhenever APC accuses PDP of over spending and PDP refutes without federal govt. confirming, then know the accusation is false.
ReplyDelete2012 - 107 million
ReplyDelete2013 - 45 million . l cant believe this figure
2014 - 180 million
The office of the Government of the Federation is the only one to confirm this figures
Accept the figure da cos am sure that was the year Boko Haram killed so many and destroys many properties. For that reason there was no functions at Eagle Square instead it was privately and quietly celebrated inside Aso Rock. Try to find out and I will carry out my research also.
DeleteGoody an has said it all
ReplyDeleteLol, GEJ we are not saying u r lying, infact u did spent N333m but u awarded N64b and embezzled d rest so both u and el rufai are saying dsame tin. Oloshi jati jati. I've been sleeping under steady power supply every buhari bcame presido. God punish all pdp members for suffering me for 16yrs eps obj for increasing fuel wen dias no steady light. Thunder go fire all of una, IJN(amen)
ReplyDeleteMy brother, there is no need casting wild allegations. The former President has challenged the office of the Government of the Federation to confirm or deny it. If actually 64 billion disappeared, do you have the records to confirm this figure? This is Nigerian politics. Sometimes politicians have a way of undoing themselves if they have hatred for themselves. So, allow the Federal Govt to confirm or deny it. The power you are talking about, the former administration laid the foundation. Since Buhari came to power, no Minister has been appointed, and no major work has been done by this administration to improve the power sector. It is just the fear of Buhari's threat to deal with unscrupulous elements that has made the power sector to align themselves with the policies of the new admin, but, the previous administration laid the foundation for the improvement in the power sector. Just because somebody is bad or you hate someone does not mean you should not acknowledge a single good thing he has done. That would be unfair.
DeleteGoodyman you are a true son of your parents. May your day be long. That faceless man is insulting Obj and all PDP members. He should be blind not to see Obj working hand in hand with Buhari and 90% of PDP members are now in APC. My question is..... are they Saints now or repented criminals with their loots ?
DeleteGoodyman; Pls. tell us the foundation laid by GEJ administration to improve the supply and generation of electricity in the country! He sold the power sector to his friends and associates under the guise of privatization yet there was no light till he left Aso Rock despite the 750 service charge charged on each meter in the country which amounts to billions monthly. May be the foundation is that of corruption and embezzlement in all sectors of our economy!
DeleteSince Buhari came to power, have you heard of any action he has taken on the power sector? President Buhari is currently beaming his searchlight on the NNPC, he is yet to focus on the power sector. So, what is on the ground in the power sector is what we are enjoying for now. So, tell me, who laid the foundation? Is it Buhari or GEJ?
DeleteGEJ o abeg...pls stop over rating buhari,he's done no significant thing
DeleteI will never take el rufai serious again, what does he gain in tanishing the image of GEJ
ReplyDeleteHe has always been a lier and a lunatic. Sick in the head and same time confused.
DeleteEl Rufai, seems to be a genetic liar. No one should take him serious. Meanwhile he has never explained how he made the N90b he declared to Court of Conduct Bureau sin most of his working life is in the private sector. A person carrying a keg of petrol does not go near naked fire. Be warned.
ReplyDeleteI use to respect El Rufai and Oshimole, un till recently when they became infected with a dangerous virus called dis-entry of the mouth which has seriously eroded their thinking faculties.They need to be rehabilitated.
ReplyDelete