Osinbajo: Why EFCC is Probing PDP Campaign Fund

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the reason the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is going after some of the stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party is because the party diverted money meant for public services for political campaigns or other questionable purposes.

The explanation by the Vice President came just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that it has received 41 new applications from political associations seeking to be registered as political parties in the country.

Speaking on Monday at the 2016 Annual Conference of the Mallam Bashir Yusuf-led Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) held at the Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, Osinbajo said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration recognizes the critical role of opposition parties in deepening democracy but that would not jettison the fight against corruption.

He said that when the current government took over from the PDP-led government in May last year, it found out that a huge chunk of money meant for the purchase of arms to fight terrorists in the North-east was diverted.‎

Osinbajo who was represented my his special assistant on political parties, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, said the federal government is not targeting ‎opposition parties in its anti corruption drive but wants to bring sanity to the polity in order to sustain democracy in the country.

“Politics and elections should not be war or ‎depletion of public resources. Never again will government agencies be used in favour of any political party to win elections. The war against corruption is not targeted at the opposition parties. What government is doing now is that money meant for essential services should not be diverted for campaigns or any other purposes,” he said.

Explaining further on the anti corruption drive, Osinbajo said investigations revealed that huge sums of money voted for security was diverted ‎into private pockets while part of the money was used for campaigns by the PDP-led government.

According to the Vice President, the trend cannot be allowed to continue, adding that IPAC should play critical role in educating political parties and the general public on the issue so that ‎democracy can survive in Nigeria.

Osinbajo recounted the terrible experience of the military in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents during the regime of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, when some of the soldiers went to the battle with with obsolete weapons.
The ‎Senate President, Bukola Saraki in his remarks, called for concerted efforts to sustain the democratic culture in the country.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Babachir Lawal has called on the people of Niger Delta to give President Muhammadu Buhari time to develop the oil-rich region. Babachir David Lawal Babachir David Lawal Speaking at an empowerment programme sponsored by the member representing Aba North/Aba South federal constituency, Mr. Ossy Prestige, in Aba, Lawal who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to the President, Mr. Gideon Samani, said President Buhari is working tirelessly to deliver a new country and appealed for the support of the citizenry. He commended the lawmaker for his sterling performance in one year as well as commitment to the welfare of his constituents through the provision of empowerment items. “We have noted the problems of this area as presented by the traditional rulers. During my trip from Owerri, we have seen how terrible the roads were. It is like if you are part of the IDPs in the North East zone. For the issues in the Niger Delta, we call on you to give the President time to solve the problems. The issue of Ogoni region is receiving attention. You know that in the budget, we have provided money for creating employment for the youths, including money for skill acquisition. “Already, we are employing about 10,000 policemen. We have budgeted money for the less privileged. Mr. President is looking for men and women who will team up with him to rebuild the nation and make it great again. He wants people who will team up with him to fight corruption. Mr. President is trying his best to do away with corruption. Our President is also in the assignment of recovering stolen money. Nigerians should support him.” He urged Prestige to join the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, to identify with the change agenda of the federal government. Earlier, the lawmaker had said he will continue to do his best to uplift the lives of his constituents, adding that within one year, he has instituted free health care, legal services as well as road maintenance system for the constituency. Among the empowerment items distributed at the event include tricycles, sewing machines, motorcycles, bags of rice and garri, as well as power generating sets.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/give-buhari-time-to-develop-niger-delta-sgf-appeals/

Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja met separately with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed doors.Obasanjo -OBASANJO Buhari first met with former President Obasanjo in the Presidential Villa for over one hour, before the arrival of Infantino. FIFA President was at the State House at about 1.50 p.m. and was accompanied by FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. He was accompanied by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, and the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick. Infantino and Samoura, who arrived in Abuja on Sunday for a two-day visit to Nigeria, were scheduled to be guests at an under-13 exhibition football match at the Abuja National Stadium.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/667384/

Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja met separately with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed doors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/667384/

Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja met separately with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed doors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/667384/