Money Jonathan's Men Must Account For - APC

                    

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday, faulted what it described as a massive campaign to stop the recovery of an estimated N13.972 trillion allegedly squandered by the immediate past administration. 

The N13.972trn as computed by Vanguard was the summation of funds allegedly unaccounted for, withheld or allegedly stolen mostly from the oil sector.
The party said in a statement, yesterday, that the campaign to stop the recovery of the funds would be a total disservice to probity and public decency.

The APC’s assertion was immediately rebuffed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which described the APC claim as reckless, irresponsible and highly provocative.

The PDP said APC’s display of imaginary figures was a desperate effort by the ruling party to achieve a heinous agenda against the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The PDP also yesterday, appealed to Nigerians and the international community to appeal to President Muhaamdu Buhari to guard against what the party claimed as the seeming determination of the government to derail the country’s democracy. Citing what it claimed was an attempt to stifle democratic institutions, the opposition party said that Buhari was showing himself not to be a born again democrat as he had earlier claimed.

The APC which described as mind-boggling, the massive looting of the nation’s treasury by public officials during the Jonathan administration, vowed that nothing but the total recovery of the funds will be acceptable to patriotic Nigerians.

The APC reaction followed commentaries at the weekend that trailed the assertion by the National Peace Committee for caution in the war against graft. Besides, a member of the committee, Bishop Matthew Kukah was also quoted last week as calling on the administration not to focus on a probe of the Jonathan administration.

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said anyone who attempts, either by deeds or words, to sabotage the recovery efforts is not a patriot and deserves nothing but public opprobrium.

Narrating some of the funds allegedly stolen or unaccounted for during the Jonathan administration, the APC said:

*3.8 trillion Naira out of the 8.1 trillion Naira earned from crude oil (2012-2015) withheld by NNPC

*2.1 billion US dollars (N413.7 billion) from Excess Crude Account unaccounted for

*Department of Petroleum Resources’ unremitted 109.7 billion Naira royalty from oil firms

*6 billion US dollars (N1.182 trillion) allegedly looted by some ministers of the last administration

*160 billion barrels of crude worth 13.9 billion US dollars (N2.7383) lost between 2009 and 2012

*15 million US dollars (N2.955 trillion) from botched arms deal yet to be returned to Nigeria**

*13 billion US dollars (N2.561 trillion) in NLNG dividends mostly unaccounted for*****

*30 billion Naira rice waiver

*183 billion naira  unaccounted for at the NDDC

Remarkably, the APC said the above listed ‘missing’ funds constituted just a tip of the iceberg since they are mostly from a few sectors of the economy, mostly the oil sector, and were discovered even before the forensic audit now being undertaken in some key areas.

Saying that the present administration cannot turn a blind eye to such, the APC said:  “It is absolutely gratifying that Nigerians are vehemently opposed to the few who would rather have the government of the day turn a blind eye to the looted funds and, in their words, carry on with the process of governance

“Truly, what sort of governance can go on if the billions of Naira in a few hands are not recovered? In the first instance, the government needs every kobo of the funds it can muster to bring about the change it has promised Nigerians. Secondly, leaving such hair-raising funds in the hands of the few looters is dangerous, because they can use the funds to destabilize any government. In fact, no one will be surprised if the looters use their dirty funds to sponsor public demonstrations against the government’s determination to recover the funds.

“Thirdly, allowing those who privatized the commonwealth to get away is offering a thumbs-up for looting. No responsible government will do that,” APC said.