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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to speak out on the $2.1bn arms procurement scandal, stressing that the controversy surrounding the disbursement of the funds by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, currently in detention, should have attracted the former President’s attention.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdulahi Jalo, said that the manner in which the money was shared among members of the party and others was disgraceful to the PDP.
Jalo 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,” he said.
“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.
“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, 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.”
“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 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.”
“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’.”
“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” .