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 with Sunday Sun, 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 with Sunday Sun, 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 anticorruption crusade, saying “the whole system of governance is in a mess because almost every public office holder in the counry Is either directly or indirectly corrupt, knowingly or unknowingly corrupt.”
Sunnews
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