Jonathan Challenges Kwankwaso To Account For N225 Billion Local Govt. Funds ….Says: He Diverted Campaign Funds
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Tuesday in Kano blew open the
political rivalry between him and Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso as he
graphically told the world how Kwankwaso worked against his political
interest in 2011.
President Jonathan also accused Kwankwaso of diverting Local Government
allocations and taking credit of Federal Government projects in Kano.
Pointblanknews.com recalls that Governor Kwankwaso had given reasons why
Kano people would not welcome Jonathan to the state accusing him of
marginalizing the people of the ancient city.
Kwankwaso also regretted voting for Jonathan in 2011, but President
Jonathan declared on Tuesday that Kwankwaso has always worked against his
political interest.
“I am regretting for voting President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011
Presidential Election, as he has done nothing to move the nation forward.
Only a few people are enjoying in Nigeria at the expense of the
generality of the citizenry” Kwankwaso had said.
The President insisted that, “PDP must recapture Kano in 2015.”
He further challenged Governor Kwankwaso to account for over N225 billion
Local Government funds he received from the Federal Allocation within two
years.
“We read in some of the Daily Newspapers that the Governor of Kano state,
Kwankwaso, said he regretted voting for me. Let me tell my good people of
Kano that Kwankwaso did not vote for me or Vice President Namadi Sambo
whether in the primaries or the main election.
“We have accommodated a lot, but we talk less. Those of you from Kano in
PDP knew what happened that when we entered that Eagle Square; by the time
the counting got up to half-way—when it was clear that I was to emerge as
the candidate, Kwankwaso left the venue.
“Even the little money my campaign office provided for refreshment and
transportation for Kano delegates, Kwankwaso refused to give them that
money. He did that so that the Kano delegates will be angry, so that they
would not vote for me.
“Even in the main election, the little money my campaign office sent to
Kano state, Kwankwaso refused to release that money to anybody; now, how
can Kwankwaso tell me that he voted for me,” President Jonathan wondered.
“Some of you will be asking questions why is it that today, your President
is not wearing the PDP dress; I decided to appear this way because there
is somebody here in Kano who has been campaigning that the person wearing
this bowler hat is a devil.
“I am here to tell you briefly what the Federal Government has done to
Kano people and I want you to ask yourself whether such a person who has
been able to do all these things for you be a devil.
“Federal Government has taken Kano as a major focus for its agricultural
transformation agenda. The farmers of Kano are benefitting enormously from
Federal Government Growth Enhancement Scheme.
In the last two years, a total of 760,000 farmers in Kano state have
benefitted from the Federal Government's subsidized fertilizer programme
and free improved seeds for maize and rice.”
President Jonathan also revealed that over 70 percent of Kano farmers are
benefitting from Federal Government's fertilizer subsidy scheme also
stated that within a period of two years, about 76, 000 metric tons of
subsidized fertilizer have been supplied to Kano farmers.
President Jonathan also used the occasion to send his condolence to the
families of those who lost their lives in last Monday's Abuja bomb blast.
“Let me at this point express my deepest condolence again to the family
members of those who lost their lives in the bomb blast in Abuja on
Monday. I was at the scene of the incident, I also visited the hospitals,
but I was so shocked that I couldn't even talk.
“Again, I express my condolence to the direct family members of the
victims and, indeed, the whole country; and I want to re-emphasize that
terror will not stop Nigeria from moving. We will continue to move from
strength to strength. We also continue to encourage security agencies. We
are looking at different options and we promise Nigerians that we will do
our best and we will continue to do our best to make sure that we live
peacefully in this country,” Jonathan said.
President Jonathan expressed appreciation to Kano people for the warm
reception accorded to him, saying, “let me thank the good people of Kano
state for the reception. From the airport to this venue, people lined up
to welcome us.”
While formally welcoming Shekarau, President Jonathan described him as a
man of the people, “you all know Shekarau very well. He is the man of the
people, When he was a governor, he was a member of ANPP, I visited him two
or three times as the Vice President of the PDP; but because Shekarau is a
Nigerian, a well-learned man, an intelligent man, he received me in all
the occasions I came here.
“These are the kind of people that Kano needs to project and follow. We
thank Shekarau for joining the PDP today. He is fully welcomed and fully
integrated into the party,” President Jonathan said.
Malam Shekarau during his speech, he described the day as memorable and
promised to protect and promote the interest of the Kano masses so long
as he remain in politics no matter the party platform.
“As long as I remain in politics, I will be dedicated and do all within my
ability and capability to remain loyal to the party so as to do everything
within our power to show our solidarity and support to the party.
“I wish, first of all to pledge my commitment and that of my new members
who made the choice to join PDP with me; to work ardently together with
the party the achieve the ideals of democracy, inclusion and development
to which our dear party, PDP, is committed at the Local, State and
national level.”
Among those in President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's entourage include Vice
President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, Deputy Speaker,
House of Representatives, Chief Ikedioha, chairman PDP Governors Forum,
Godswill Akpabio, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina states, Governor
Dakingari of Kebbi state, National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Muazu, Minister
of Information Labaran Maku, among others.
Pointblanknews.com reports that businesses activities and vehicular
movement were grounded for several hours within the Bompai axis as
thousands of residents came out to receive the president.