Fayose, Lai Mohammed trade words over Bayelsa, Kogi polls
Fayose
Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of APC
• Disagree on alleged plot to rig
with TSA funds, military, others
A WAR of words erupted yesterday between Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and Information and Culture minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over the imminent governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
In Lokoja yesterday, Fayose accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led Federal Government of hurriedly paying out N25 billion from the controversial Treasury Single Account (TSA) to its allies to create a fertile ground for the party to rig the Kogi State governorship election in its favour.
The Senate last Wednesday asked its Committees on Finance, Banking and Financial Institutions as well as Public Accounts to investigate operations of the TSA.
But the minister dismissed as a contrived distraction the alleged fraud in the TSA and the rumoured diversion of the funds to bankroll elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the minister said if those behind the accusation had allowed themselves some measure of honesty, they would have realized that there has not and there will be no such impunity under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governor who spoke during the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign for Governor Idris Wada’s re-election said N12.5 billion out of the amount has been deployed to Kogi State for the purpose of rigging for the APC. He also alleged that the entire Kogi State has been infiltrated with guns and by thugs.
“This election must not be militarized,” he said just as he asked Kogi leaders to copy from his experience in Ekiti where he stood his ground and ‘crushed them from ward to local government and to the state level.’
“You are in the majority. Don’t be intimidated,” he asserted.
“It is a shame that Buhari wants to turn Nigeria into a one-party state,”
He added that Buhari’s administration was a photocopy of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s where the rule of law was not respected because both had their roots from military dictatorship.
He questioned the integrity of the President for allowing the APC to clear the former governor of the Kogi State, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, to contest the election when the latter has numerous corrupt charges hanging on his neck in the last 12 years.
A former PDP national chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali, said the turnout at the grand finale was a testimony that it still very strong in the state, stressing that all the antics of the APC to rig the Kogi election have been uncovered and would be resisted. Wada while highlighting his achievements said the party in the last 12 years touched the lives of citizens through the provision of basic infrastructures. He said APC was playing politics with the bailout fund without regard for the welfare of the workers who are supposed to enjoy it. The state capital came to a standstill for Wada immediately after the rally with the citizens waving as he drove through the city. However, the minister said: ‘’It is understandable that the psyche of those who are making the frivolous allegations concerning the TSA has been badly affected by the impunity that permeated the country under the immediate past
Administration, when unappropriated funds were freely used to finance elections and the public till was seen as an extension of personal piggy banks. “‘But the lies that have been wilfully disseminated by scandalmongers over the TSA cannot and will not fly, because it was precisely to put an end to such impunity that Nigerians voted massively for President Muhammadu Buhari, who has an unblemished reputation for integrity, due process, transparency and the rule of law.’’ The minister assured Nigerians that no one has tampered with the TSA funds, saying though the TSA was initiated under the previous Administration, the reason it has begun to enjoy a new lease of life and attract national attention is because of the political will and transparency demonstrated by President Buhari. Mohammed added: ‘’Those behind the rumour that a single company, Systemspecs, made 25 billion Naira from charging 1 per cent of TSA funds that passed through the company’s software, Remita, may need to return to elementary school to get some lessons in arithmetic. ‘’This is because in order for 1 per cent charge to fetch 25 billion Naira, the funds accruing into the TSA must have reached 2.5 trillion Naira.
Yet, the total amount of funds in the TSA to date is still much less than 2 trillion. “More importantly, at the time the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ordered that all monies that were erroneously charged as ‘revenue’ be returned to the TSA Account late last month, the TSA had less than 800 billion Naira. It therefore beggars belief that anyone could attempt to mislead the public by raising a false alarm that a firm made 25 billion Naira in TSA charges.’
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17 Comments
When does governor Fayose have time to work and move Ekiti forward, he is daily on newspapers, buying goat meat, drinking Palm-wine or checking on late commers, Not all election will be like the one that brought him to power and it is time for him to work as a governor and improves the Life of Ekiti people.
That it why he is a multi task governor. Again, even if I have to doubt Governor Fayose, the fact that the counter accusation is coming from Uncle Lai, then i believe otherwise.
Seriously guys, which thief are you supporting this time? Fayose or Lai lie
My good friend, I think with recent development in this administration , I think I tilt towards “honourable” Fayose.
When Buhari was doing Ajala travel all over the world,contradicting himself in the U.S,you did n`t ask this question,Buhari tell Nigerians 25billion was charged 5% of 2trn plus,who are the consultant?
Look at yourself in the mirror!
MR LIE MOHAMMED, CONTINUE TO TELL LIES AND MAKE FALSE PROPAGANDA. YOU ARE A PAID LIER TO DO IT.
IT IS AN OPEN SECRET THAT REMITA DID CHARGE 25 BILLION NAIRA FROM TSA WHICH IS NOW BEING REFUNDED ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT SURE WHETHER 25 BILLIONS HAS BEEN REFUNDED TO THE TSA.
WHOM ARE YOU FOOLING MR LIE MOHAMMED? NIGERIANS ARE CLEVER TO CATCH OUT LAIRS AND SHAMELESS THIEVES LIKE YOU. WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING REMITA??????
YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT FRONT AND MOUTH HORN OF TALK-TALK NO ACTION DEADWOOD BUHARI WHO HAS FAILED THE POOR MASSES OF NIGERIA INCLUDING THE OLD AGE PENSIONERS TO FULFILL HIS PRE-ELECTION PROMISES TO THE VERY MASSES WHO PUT HIM IN ASO ROCK.
BUHARI PROVED TO BE AN UNTRUSTWORTHY LAIR AND A TRAITOR.
If PMB and the ruling APC is not involved in this scandal of TSA , why did they not blow open the scandal themselves, as they claim to a be anti-corruption Party .We know that the administration is fully involved in the TSA corrupt enrichment .The party has not being power for one year and have already a big scandal on their neck. PMB and APC corruption incorporated.
Who is behind the consultant?we want to know APC tell Nigerians now,don`t sweep this accusation under carpet,if Buhari want to an Angel tell us the owner and the promoters of that company
Fayose will function better as PDP spokesman not as a Governor….Fayose have been in the news everyday attacking the president,playing to the gallery…
What about your uncle: “Lai, the liar”? Is he still not playing “spokesman for his APC party”; instead of “Information Minister for the Federal Govt.” – meaning for the whole nation of Nigeria – a position he was recently confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
We truly have a liar as Nigeria’s information Minister. I weep for my beloved country.
your Agbero governor that suppose to give his stomach infastrature to the Ekiti people is busy drinking palmy,buying fish in the market.
Lai Mohammed you have always been a lair from beginning and every word that comes out of your mouth is nothing but lies. The issue of this TSA corruption originated from the senate so for you to call anybody names because of that means that you are there to cover up some things but it will not work this time.
A frugal and responsible govt should have negotiated the % to the minimum. But having paid 25B under our present circumstance is evil. You can not fool Nigerians. APC is all about deceit, lies and propaganda.
Lai. Mohammed and his lie lie. Give us the actual amount moved to TSA and what was paid
It amazes me how a particular governor in the southwest will accuse audu when in 2003 he told the world he spent billions building world class poultry which till now could not be verified even by his own folks (PDP) and nothing like the faeces seen in the area he claimed it was built…More importantly i can vividly remeber that the anti graft agency has not withdrawn the corruption case hanging in his neck..Those that leaves in glass house should not throw stone..
We will review and take appropriate action.