The emerging revelation regarding the
alleged involvement of two elder statesmen, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai and Chief Olu
Falae in the sharing of $2.1 billion fund meant for the purchase of military
equipment to fight the Boko Haram in the twilight of the administration of
former President Goodluck Jonathan has stirred indignation and demand for
refund of money collected.
Yakassai, who is a respected leader of thought in the North,
allegedly took N63 million from the former BOT Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, under the guise of ensuring peace
during the last presidential election, while Chief Olu Falae collected N100
million on behalf of his party, Social Democratic Party (SDP) to support the
reelection bid of former President Jonathan.
Anenih reportedly revealed that he gave Yakassai and Falae
N63 million and N100 million respectively from the N250 million he received
from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, for PDP’s campaign
activities.
A
presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP) in the last
general elections, Chekwas Okorie, expressing shock over the revelations in a
chat described Falae’s
involvement as “shameful and immoral.” His words: “I was shocked to the bone
marrow to know that a person of Chief Olu Falae, who one will regard as
belonging to the old school and part of the good-olddays of Nigerian politics,
one who came under the tutelage of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has compromised his
principle. I am thoroughly ashamed on his behalf. How many of his party members
did he inform that he collected money on behalf of SDP? That is the moral
question. I am sure many people in the SDP will be shocked to hear that their
chairman and leader took that kind of money while they groaned for lack of fund
to grow the party. It is equivalent of receiving stolen goods.”
“I thought, honestly, that he was supporting Jonathan on
certain principles. The fact he had admitted that he collected up to N100
million from Chief Tony Anenih showed that he had compromised. It is also
shocking to know that an elder statesman, who is almost 90 years old, Tanko
Yakassai, was also involved. These are people who will always come out to decry
lack of values in our society;; whereas, they are the ones promoting
irresponsibility and immorality. Maybe more revelations will come out by the
time we look into the records of those groups that endorsed Jonathan.”
Okorie urged the government to ensure that all those found
culpable in the scandal are compelled to return their share to the treasury.
“Those who have admitted that they took part of the money
should be made to refund the money,” he insisted. A retired former Lagos Police
Commissioner, Alhaji Abukakar Tsav, didn’t spare Yakassai either for partaking
in the largesse, declaring his action as shameful and grossly irresponsible.
Fuming with anger, he said: “Alhaji Tanko Yakassai’s admission that he took N53
million from Col Sambo Dasuki (retd) but shared it to other Northern elders for
the purpose of prevailing on some Northern emirs to ensure peace in their areas
during the presidential election is not convincing to any sane person. The type
of support Tanko Yakassai gave Jonathan and his continued criticism
of President Buhari before and after the presidential
elections shows that he has mortgaged his conscience and sense of reasoning for
pecuniary gains. At his age, what does he want money for, if not share greed
and irresponsibility. “He has lost his respect among his peers and youth. His
explanation is not convincing. He has betrayed his age, respect and the North.
It is a shame not only to himself but also to his family.”
Also commenting, a Second Republic lawmaker, Senator Abba Ali, while condemning
Yakassai and other recipients of the fund from Dasuki, said they should return
whatever they allegedly received from the arms fund.
The
elder statesman made the demand in Katsina in an exclusive interview with Sunday Sun. He said: “If they don’t want to return
the money until investigations are conducted, the consequences are there
heavily. I am of the opinion that if public money is given to individuals for
doing nothing, then it’s denying the general public of basic amenities which
can be provided if the money is used prudently. I think the government has
every right to recover that money. If some people have been giving the money, I
think the people should be contacted to return the money which was meant to
purchase arms for security of Nigerians.” He dismissed Yakassai’s explanation
that he gave the money to some emirs to maintain peace in their respective
domains as an attempt to attract undue sympathy.
“It’s easy to make up stories like that to get some sympathy
or protection. Even if it is traditional rulers who have taken the money, it is
public funds and they should return it.”
Meanwhile,
Yakassai already kicking, saying the question of asking him to return the money
does not arise since it was not meant for his personal use. Former governor of
the old Kaduna State and Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji
Balarabe Musa, speaking in support of Yakassai in an interview declared that there was nothing wrong
with the N63 million deal.
According to him, since the money was used for the purpose
for which it was released with the approval of the sitting president, the issue
of refunding does not necessarily arise. His words: “As long as Tanko Yakassai
did not share the N63 million to his friends and family members, but expended
the money for the purposes for which it was meant, he has done nothing wrong
with the money.”
Balarabe further cautioned the Federal Government against
sensationalizing the anti-corruption crusade, saying “the whole system of
governance is in a mess because almost every public office holder in the country is either directly or indirectly corrupt, knowingly or unknowingly corrupt.”
Source: The Sun
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