President Muhammadu Buhari has snubbed the All
Progressives Congress (APC) over allegations of financial
mismanagement against leaders of the party.
President Muhammadu Buhari has brushed off APC leaders
over alleged mismanagement of N7billion campaign funds.
The Cable reports that the party is currently facing
financial crunch but the president is not willing to “bail
out” the party.
A source privy to the “financial standoff” revealed that the
party cannot even pay the salaries of its staff.
The source added that some officials of the party allegedly
hijacked N7billion campaign funds in the last general
election.
“The president is furious with the party leaders, and has
refused to support them financially. The party now runs
after state governors in a bid to survive, and has begun to
knock on the doors of ministers,” the source said.
It was gathered that the meeting the leaders of the party
held with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential
villa, on February 24, had as its major discussion, the
financial crisis rocking the party.
Recall that the national chairman of the party, John
Oyegun, at a news briefing on January 25, acknowledged
that the party was experiencing financial challenges, but
pointed out that the party does not want to bother
President Buhari as it was not his constitutional right to
finance the party.
“There has been this talk in the media but that goes to tell
you that just like the economy, the party too is suffering
from the stresses and strains of funding just like every
institution in our polity.
“That also goes to tell you that we are not a party that
withdraws money from security votes or from any
government agency. We are working on plans to raise
money from within the memberships. That plan has
matured and will soon put it into operation.
“I saw reports that we have written to the president to
rescue the party. That is not part of his national duties
and he has no intention because there are no funds from
which he can draw from.
“The party has to come up with fresh and innovative ways
as to how to raise resources for its operations and that,
we have done. The plan is ready and will go into operation
in the next one month or two,” Oyegun said.
Oyegun in an interactive session with journalists at the
APC headquarters in Abuja, had earlier admitted that the
financial strains that party was going through is because
of the harsh economic situation in Nigeria and assured
that the party is working tirelessly to raise funds within
itself.
The party after considering the implication of its disclosure
issued a statement through its national secretary, Mai
Mala Buni, saying some news medium had unfairly,
unethically twisted and misrepresented the comments
credited Oyegun, while speaking on the issue of party
funding during an interactive session with journalists at
the APC headquarters in Abuja on January 25.
In the session, Oyegun was quoted to have said: “There
has been this talk in the media but that goes to tell you
that just like the economy, the party too is suffering from
the stresses and strains of funding just like every
institution in our polity. That also goes to tell you that we
are not a party that withdraws money from security votes
or from any government agency.”
