Full transcript of Reuben Abati’s interview with state house correspondents on the sunday punch front page story of april 19, 2015 titled “Jonathan demands n2tn election funds refund, audit”
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
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
- See more at: http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/04/19/presidency-denies-spending-n2trn-on-election-campaigns-read-abatis-statement/#sthash.JO6Tja1y.dpuf
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
- See more at: http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/04/19/presidency-denies-spending-n2trn-on-election-campaigns-read-abatis-statement/#sthash.JO6Tja1y.dpuf
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