Nigerians know masters of ‘settlement’

Date: 29-10-2010 3:36 pm (14 years ago) | Author: Aliuniyi lawal
- at 29-10-2010 03:36 PM (14 years ago)
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President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday denied a report that he was bribing Peoples Democratic Party’s delegates to win the party’s presidential primaries.


In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Imma Niboro, the President said that Nigerians knew masters of ‘governance by bribery.’


Denying the report, the President said, “The story itself explains its source, in a desperate campaign of calumny to portray the President in bad light and pre-judge the outcome of the forthcoming PDP presidential primaries, in which he is evidently the man to beat.”


The statement added that the President in pursuit of fair play and an impartial contest had urged all his aides and supporters to avoid a campaign of calumny.


“There is hardly any need to ruffle feathers since we would need all the other contestants when, by the grace of God, the President wins the primaries in a fair and square contest,” it said.


The statement advised people behind the report to shun a campaign of calumny.


It said, “The President is confident in the power of discernment of those who will emerge as PDP delegates, and as such does not require paying any one; least of all from the public till, for his or her vote. Nigerians know the masters of governance by settlement and it is not Jonathan.”


An online publication, Saharareporters, had on Thursday reported that Global Information System alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan was corrupting the political process.


In the report, which was published on the website, World Tribune alleged that “major payments were being made to PDP delegates,” who would vote during the presidential primaries.


“Moreover,” the report stated, “the incumbent President is bribing PDP delegates out of Federal Government funds, making most of the party delegates wealthy enough to buy a new home with the bribery funds.”


The report broke down the number of delegates for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, and their cash presents.


“There are some three delegates for each local government council, and some of the 36 states (plus the Federal Territory of Abuja) have, for example, up to 40 or more local government bodies.


“The incumbent President’s own state, Bayelsa, has only a few, but with each delegate being offered multiple cash payments of up to two-million naira (appr. $13,300) for his vote, the total bill runs into billions of naira.”


Speaking to Saharareporters from Alexandria, Viriginia, author Gregory Copley who writes under a variety of corporate identities, admitted that he knew General Gusau for close to 30 years but denied any conflict of interest.


He directed us to reports that had been written in the past which were complimentary of Jonathan in the past. But a Jonathan supporter said those times that GIS wrote favorable reports about Jonathan , it done so, mostly in support of Gusau as the National security adviser.

Posted: at 29-10-2010 03:36 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

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