The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to speak out on the controversial $2.1bn meant for the purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram insurgency during his tenure but which was allegedly shared by some influential politicians.

Jonathan, who was the presidential candidate of the PDP during the 2015 elections, was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

The PDP said the controversy surrounding the sharing of the money by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), should have attracted the former President’s attention by now.

It said the manner in which the money was shared among members of the party and others was disgraceful to the former ruling party.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdulahi Jalo, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Jalo, who spoke at the party’s national headquarters, said the former President should tell Nigerians and the international community whether he authorised the sharing of the money meant to fight insurgency in the North-East in particular and the country as a whole.

He insisted that all those who took part in the sharing of the money should be made to refund it.

He said, “As all of you know, no single kobo can be spent by the Federal Government without an act of the National Assembly.

“Money earmarked for arms purchase, some people diverted it to something else. So many people that you cannot even expect were involved. Now, darkness has come to light.

“Jonathan is alive, he should clarify whether he asked the National Security Adviser to divert money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign.

“I’m from the North-East and I know the terrible security situation our people are facing there.

“The money was meant to fight Boko Haram, and we all know that you can’t rule without peace. Now darkness has given way for the light.”

Jalo added, “It was not only members of the PDP that shared the money; members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Accord Party and the Social Democratic Party, among others, also shared. At least, Chief Olu Falae is not a member of the PDP.

“All of them should return the money. Then, (former) President Jonathan must speak on it. He is still alive.

“Has he ever said anything like this to Dasuki, ‘go and take from the money meant for the war against Boko Haram and share for my campaign’? It is time for him to speak up.”

Some prominent members of the party, who had been allegedly linked to the sharing of the money, include a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili (N100m); a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa (N100m); Aliyu Shinkafi (N100m); and a former information minister, Chief Jim Nwobodo (N500m).

Others are a former Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih (N260m); ex-PDP National Chairman, Sen. Ahmadu Ali (N100m); a former National Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Bode George (N100m/$30,000); Yerima Abdullahi (N100m); Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki (retd.) (N200m); founding Chairman, Daar Communications Plc, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi; Iyorchia Ayu’s company(N345m); BAM Properties(N300m); and Dalhatu Investment Limited(N1.5bn).

Also mentioned in the scam are ex-PDP National Chairman, Bello Haliru; Abba Mohammed, Sagir Attahiru, serving and former members of the House of Representatives (over N600m); former Chairman of the House of Representatives on Security and Intelligence, Bello Matawalle(N300m); ACACIA Holdings(N600m); and a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda (N1.9bn) among others.

Those who have been linked to collecting cash but are not members of the PDP are a former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja (N100); a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae (N100); and former presidential adviser, Tanko Yakassai (N63m).

Jalo recalled that the party held a fundraising dinner for the presidential campaign during which more than N20bn was realised, challenging any of the beneficiaries of the money from Dasuki to explain how the party benefitted from such money.

He said, “We are not fools. Money meant for the party’s campaign was given to the chairman of our party.

“We had a dinner, where billions of money was realised and this money was for the campaign. We said so and Nigerians were aware.

“We thank God that all those who took money used their private accounts and companies to get that. What has this got to do with the PDP?

“Haliru Bello did a contract with the office of Sambo Dasuki to the tune of N600m with his company’s name, not PDP.”

Jalo added, “In the case of Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary of the PDP), his company allegedly had transactions with the Office of National Security Adviser. So, what is PDP’s business with that?

“We want those people that have been accused to shed more light, whether they were given the money to campaign for Jonathan.

“Did they bring the money to the party national secretariat? PDP has nothing to do with individuals that used their companies to do contracts with National Security Adviser.

“Those who have been accused to have collected money from the office of the NSA should come and tell Nigerians how they used the money for the party.

“PDP has no company. It is not a private company. It is a political party. Was this money paid into the party account? No. So, these people are ‘on their own’.”

Jalo added that all the recipients of the money from the office of the NSA were educated and ought to have asked where the money was coming from.

He said it would be wrong of them to claim ignorance of the source of the money.

He stated, “They know that the money was meant for the purchase of arms; and why didn’t they ask him in case they didn’t know, ‘oga, where is this money coming from?’

“Because of their actions now, people are looking at every member of the PDP as criminals.

“Me, Jalo, I’m not a criminal. I didn’t benefit and I didn’t ask for any money and I wouldn’t have asked for any money from the office of the NSA or anywhere.”

He wondered why some prominent members of the party have remained quiet since the scandal broke out, wondering if they benefitted one way or the other from the looted fund.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Peoples Congress has said it is shell-shocked by the revelation and confession of some public office-holders and their political associates of billions of naira arms funds embezzled and misappropriated during the Jonathan’s administration.

It said it was amazed that the $2.1bn appropriated to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East and other parts of the country, where thousands of soldiers and innocent civilians were killed, wounded and abducted, and millions of people displaced from their homes, could be brazenly looted by eminent public officers and their cronies.

The National Chairman of the party, Mr. Olusegun Peters, who stated this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, argued that there was no moral justification “for the sharing of this blood money by Dasuki and his collaborators.’’

Peters added, “Our hearts bleed that eminent Nigerians entrusted with the security and welfare of the citizenry could be so heartless to divert, misappropriate and embezzle $2.1 billion for the procurement of weapons to fight Boko Haram insurgents, when our gallant soldiers protested that they were not well equipped and were Court Marshalled for refusing to fight the insurgents.”

He called on Buhari to dig deeper into the arms deal with a view to identifying and prosecuting the culprits to serve as a deterrent to all those who would attempt such heinous crime against the country in future.

Also the Presidency on Monday said the defection from other political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress by politicians accused of corruption would not stop them from being investigated and prosecuted.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents

Adesina was asked if defection from PDP to the APC was enough to save those already mentioned in the $2.1bn arms scandal from investigation and prosecution.

A former Minister of Sports, Chief Jim Nwobodo, had been named as one of the beneficiaries of some funds distributed by a former Minister of State for Finance, Yuguda, defected from the PDP to the APC on Friday.

Nwobodo said he was the Chairman of the Contact Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign for the South-East, and the only fund received by the committee for its work was N100m from PDP’s National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu.

Adesina, however, said the present administration’s anti-corruption fight would not be based on party affiliation, adding that the President would not encourage any cover-up.

“It is not in the nature of this administration to cover anyone who has questions to answer on corruption, irrespective of party affiliation,” he said.

The presidential spokesman explained that the release of a former military governor of Kaduna State and a chieftain of the APC, Jafaru Isa, by the EFCC had nothing to do with Isa’s relationship with the President.

Isa, who was quizzed by the commission, was said to have been released after he refunded N100m of the N170m he allegedly received from the embattled Dasuki.

“The EFCC is in a better position to tell you why Jafaru Isa was released. But it definitely has nothing to do with his relationship with the President. If that were the case, then he would not have been picked in the first place,” he said.

Meanwhile, the EFCC on Monday said it had not invited Jonathan for questioning in connection with the arms fund probe because no document had established a link between the former President and the distribution of the fund for other purposes other than arms purchase.

The acting Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, explained that the former President could not be arrested as some had canvassed as no document had been traced to Jonathan, giving any approval for the disbursement of the money for any other purpose than arms procurement.

Magu, who spoke with some online publishers in Lagos, added that those who had been quizzed so far in connection with the fund were people who either collected or redistributed the money for reasons other than the purchase of arms.

“All approvals by former President Jonathan did not mention that it was for political purposes. All the memos approved by him was for the purchase of arms,”Magu added.

http://www.punchng.com/jonathan-must-speak-on-scandal-pdp/

Cc: Lalasticlala, Seun.

The silence is deafening.

The blood of thousands of innocent Nigerians wasted because some greedy goats couldn't keep their hands off our precious yams, are crying for Justice.

Enough of playing ostrich, Jonathan must speak up and say what he knows now.

#SpeakUpJonathan

He will speak in the fullness of time.

I will advise this administration to thread wisely while dealing with Jonathan

Look at the big amount the are mentioning always. Apc and Pdp have destroyed this country the are looting the country money without any mercy

Destined2win:
I will advise this administration to thread wisely while dealing with Jonathan

First of all, the message is from his party and not this government. As it is, with the detention of Metuh, even the PDP is angry with Jonathan and are turning on their corrupt members.

The only wise thing this administration can do is listen to Jonathan's defence and give him a fair hearing.

If he is indicted, he will be prosecuted because Nigerians will no longer tolerate the culture of impunity because of some sacred cows.

Rawani:


First of all, the message is from his party and not this government. As it is, with the detention of Metuh, even the PDP is angry with Jonathan and are turning on their corrupt members.

The only wise thing this administration can do is listen to Jonathan's defence and give him a fair hearing.

If he is indicted, he will be prosecuted because Nigerians will no longer tolerate the culture of impunity because of some sacred cows.

I have no issues with prosecuting whoever is indicted, I am saying more wisdom should be applied in dealing with Jonathan

Jonathan
over
to
you

Jonathan is the worst human disaster to have ever befallen this country. He is the most corrupt, evil and insensitive leader to have ever governed Nigeria.

Philistine:
Jonathan is the worst human disaster to have ever befallen this country. He is the most corrupt, evil and insensitive leader to have ever governed Nigeria.

& a deceptive, pretentious, & divisive tribalist.

Twas during his campaigns that our differences became heightened, monster! Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde!

I thought Femi Adesina also "ate Dasuki's yam"
What is he saying again

like seriously,

by the time EFCC will open GEJ case file, the kind thunder wey go fire him don already dey do press up by now.


Let's wait and see...

The thief will rather remain silent

Philistine:
Jonathan is the worst human disaster to have ever befallen this country. He is the most corrupt, evil and insensitive leader to have ever governed Nigeria.

E Pain am!Jonathan my Hero,the face of Africa politics. The Father of Africa democracy.

Alhaji Jalo must now be thanking his parents who ensured they did not raise a thief.
He has managed to avoid being implicated in the embezzlement of state funds.

As for people like Nwobodo whose name continue to resonate in the corridors of corruption, I salute his father and mother too. They raised a hard working thief. From $5m that cannot buy Peugeot as civilian governor from 1979 - 1983, to National Stadium generator that was relocated to his village in the mid 1990's, to Dasuki money, JimJim continues to wax strong and make his parents proud.

As for Olu Falae who continues to setup irrelevant political parties who never have their own candidates, but hope to get crumbs from the ruling party, he has finally met an ignoble end. Next time he will sit his ass down in his farm and leave politics for parties that actually have candidates that contest elections.

Rawani:
The silence is deafening.

The blood of thousands of innocent Nigerians wasted because some greedy goats couldn't keep their hands off our precious yams, are crying for Justice.

Enough of playing ostrich, Jonathan must speak up and say what he knows now.

#SpeakUpJonathan

Oboy keep quiet

Just look at the big amount they are mentioning,these people were dealing in Millions and billions while d poor masses surfered untold hardship,Dasuki and any other person who got involved in this mess should be prosecuted immediately.

This is someone hero that you are calling on.Jonathan!Pleaase do enjoy the freedom you are having now cos the next minute you might now.My opinion though.

Goldencollins:
Oboy keep quiet

Tell us why should he be quiet?Too early joor.Too early.

Thank God that at last we found some elements in PDP that has shame unlike the senseless Ekweremadu who politicised the detention of Olisa Methu and described as an attempt by Buhari to silent the voice of opposition.

hollywater:
E Pain am!Jonathan my Hero,the face of Africa politics. The Father of Africa democracy.

Some of you don't have shame.You have traded your sense of reasoning for hatred and sentiment.Face of Africa politics indeed.

Philistine:
Jonathan is the worst human disaster to have ever befallen this country. He is the most corrupt, evil and insensitive leader to have ever governed Nigeria.

I don't blame you .,I blame the ijaws.and we Niger deltans...

Front page

Uncle Joe has not been invited by the EFCC or asked to say anything yet, you guys should chill,uncle Joe kno dey carry yarn.

He will speak when the time comes.

Ginoo:
Look at the big amount the are mentioning always. Apc and Pdp have destroyed this country the are looting the country money without any mercy

look at the way everyone is demonizing gdj as if HDS fhd one that laid foundation for this corruption...I believe there is a big difference between 2billon$ and $16billon,and yet they played a blind eye towards that..a certain gen.looted $12billion dollars oil money nobody talk o.
The harliburton scandle is still there yet oud new sherif choosed a soft target because he comes from a very naive region were they will tose the soo cslled patriotic bulshit to and they buy it but will throw away the same patriotism to the winds when it involves them...if buhari is keen about probing let him start with the sale of nitel,nepa,pdobd the nnpc and lets see if his cohofts wont be involved.leg him not forgot to probe the sponsors of boko haram and carryout an open trial of captured boko men lets know the extent of dasukis father christmas...besides all fhis you guys should leave gej alons.

See some peoples hero.

Jonathan!
The most shameless of them all!
Even his words on national tv shows he is devoid of shame!

ahaz:
look at the way everyone is demonizing gdj as if HDS fhd one that laid foundation for this corruption...I believe there is a big difference between 2billon$ and $16billon,and yet they played a blind eye towards that..a certain gen.looted $12billion dollars oil money nobody talk o.
The harliburton scandle is still there yet oud new sherif choosed a soft target because he comes from a very naive region were they will tose the soo cslled patriotic bulshit to and they buy it but will throw away the same patriotism to the winds when it involves them...if buhari is keen about probing let him start with the sale of nitel,nepa,pdobd the nnpc and lets see if his cohofts wont be involved.leg him not forgot to probe the sponsors of boko haram and carryout an open trial of captured boko men lets know the extent of dasukis father christmas...besides all fhis you guys should leave gej alons.

English please

This is a big shame on d PDP. what makes up of a party are d prominent members. PDP has no reasonable excuse to defend dia party because majority of their prominent members are indicted. Junks of thieves headed by a heartless disgraceful clueless brainless PhD holder.

All i know is that; Jonathan can never claim to be innocent of this arms deal. He either involved directly or indirectly. Because all these disgraceful acts happened under his watch

Advans:
This is a big shame on d PDP. what makes up of a party are d prominent members. PDP has no reasonable excuse to defend dia party because majority of their prominent members are indicted. Junks of thieves headed by a heartless disgraceful clueless brainless PhD holder.

Do you pray with that same mouth