While the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government is probing the 2015 presidential election campaign funds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the national chairman of the APC, JohnOdigie-Oyegun has said it’s faulty for people to call for probe into the campaign funds of the party.
Recall that EFCC has filed a case against the former national security adviser, Colonel Dasuki Sambo (Rtd), for allegedly sharing $2.1 billion originally meant for arms purchase to fund the campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan, to some party chieftains.
Also, the immediate past minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is also being probed by the anti-graft agency for allegedly distributing $115 million during the election.
Oyegun added that APC did not spend public money to fund its presidential election. But, evidence shows that former Rivers state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who is now transport ministerlooted the treasury of Rivers State to the tune of £500 million to fund the APC presidential campaign for General Muhammadu BUhari.
“You are comparing apples and grapes. It is the people’s money. You can’t use the money of the people to run parties and so the APC today is suffering from that basic correct policy decision.
“But campaign funds cannot come from the monies that belong to the generality of Nigerians.
“Individuals can donate, and companies can donate subject to limits that the law provides. We are not touching those. But where you take monies meant for positioning troops in the North East to fight against Boko Haram to fund parties (and) the most recent – when you take our crude, gave unregistered crude to exporters, repatriate the proceeds and use them to finance your political campaigns – that is wrong. That is impunity at its worst. So they are not comparable.”
Mr. Oyegun said the administration was trying to lay down principles which must be followed by all with a view to removing impunity in governance.
“We are laying down the principles that must be established in this nation. What is going on now is just a tip of the iceberg. There are certain basic principles we must establish in this nation,” he said.
Speaking further, Oyegun said his party will generate funds internally instead of relying on funds from the president.
via Naij
