N2bn Donation by Six Govs to Jonathan – ANPP Demands Probe

Posted by admin Governors, Latest Politics Thursday, January 6th, 2011

The national leadership of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has asked the Attorney-General of the Federation to urgently institute an investigation into the allegation that six state governors donated N500 million each in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign effort.
The party’s National Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who addressed newsmen on the issue yesterday in Abuja, said measures should be taken to clear the air on the allegation through an independent enquiry.
“The ANPP will want Nigerians to demand to be told the whole truth about this latest attempt to erode the democratic process. If it is true, we urge Nigerians to be prepared to go to court to ensure that all those who offend the law, especially in this matter, are brought to book. Accordingly, we call on the Attorney General of the Federation to urgently constitute an Independent investigation committee to unravel the truth about this national embarrassment,” he said.
Onu said the party was worried by the news report credited to the BBC that six state governors elected on the platform of one of the political parties contributed the sum of N500 million each to the re-election campaign of the President.
He said getting to the root of the matter would help unravel the truth and also serve as a deterrent in future.
Presidency has already denied the allegation.
“This is a disturbing development, which we find objectionable, if it is true. Our great party is desirous of getting to the root of this matter. We are inclined to do so because the very foundation of our democracy is in danger. We will like to know whether such huge sums of money were appropriated in the budget estimates of the affected states.
“It is important that the Attorney General realises that his loyalty should be to the country and not the government in power. We therefore charge him to rise to the patriotic challenges of the moment and seek for men and women of honour and integrity who will tell the nation the whole truth about this development,” he said.
Onu also called on the National Assembly to take serious interest in the matter, adding that as custodians of the democratic conscience of the Nigerian people, they have a responsibility to ensure that the nation’s laws are obeyed by all.
He noted that the danger facing the country in the prevailing circumstance is that the electoral process can be abused and compromised even before the elections begin.
According to Onu, the Electoral Act is very clear in terms of the limit of expenditure for those seeking election into public offices.
“The New ANPP believes that no one should be above the law. We cannot continue this way. The new ANPP demands a full inquiry into this disturbing development. N500 million from the treasury of a state government to fund a presidential campaign shows a disturbing insensitivity to the present level of underdevelopment and poverty in our country.
“We demand to know the truth for the sake of our democracy, for the sake of equity and for the sake of due respect for the laws of our dear country,” Onu said.

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