The immediate past Governor of
Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District, Jonah
Jang, has denied claims by the nation’s Minister of Information and Culture,
Lai Mohammed that mentioned him among the nation’s looters.
Jang in a press statement made
available in Jos, said the claim that he got N12.5billion is
“laughable on preliminary evaluation, and pathetic when considered on the
scales of truth and reality”.
The statement reads, “The list
released by Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed at the
behest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government wherein he
alleged that I got N12.5billion is laughable on preliminary evaluation, and
pathetic when considered on the scales of truth and reality.
“The so called list of looters is
a testament to the desperation which holds the All Progressives Congress in its
firm grip after what is now certainly an infamous cameo in power considered by
many to be tragic and regrettable.
The former governor maintained
that, “For all those who were on the list, sources of the funds allegedly
looted were stated, but in my case, there was none.
“How possible is it for me to
have gotten N12.5billion just like that from nobody and nowhere?” He asked.
“Unlike Lai Mohammed and the
Federal Government, I know without any shadow of doubt, that to be a looter,
one must have stolen or taken something by force. If their allegation is
anything to go by, it falls short of the lowest standards of believability;
otherwise they would have noticed that the allegation of getting N12.5billion
from an unknown source isn’t the same as looting the said amount.
“Before going to the Senate, I
was Governor of Plateau State from 2007-2015. For 8years, I did my best for my
people. The landmark achievements recorded within that period remain unmatched
till date.
They are a legacy of diligence,
service, and accountability in governance”, he explained.
According to the state met, “A
computation of the value of the projects we executed throughout the 17 Local
Government Areas of the State reveals a massive gulf of inequality between the
insufficient resources we got as subvention and internally generated revenue,
and the ambitious strides we were able to accomplish.
The Lawmaker said he recalled
vividly how former President, Goodluck Jonathan was unable to commission half
of the projects he executed while moving through the State by helicopter.
“Before the day was over, he
couldn’t hold back his amazement at what he saw, wondering where we got funds
considering what comes to us from the federation account”.
“Recently, some of such critical
infrastructure were commissioned over two years after I left office as Governor
of the State.
“When the APC government in
Plateau State took me to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
they could not get a single case of financial impropriety to be filed against
me in the courts”, he further explained.
“The EFCC has thoroughly
investigated me and they know I don’t have an offshore bank account.
“They have all my account numbers
and know the balances in each. Did they find the N12.5billion in any of them?
He asked.
“Apparently unhappy with the
findings of the EFCC they quickly ran to the Independent Corrupt Practices and
other related offences Commission ICPC, seeking to have me investigated again.
“From the look of things that too
would be another wild-goose chase which would ultimately culminate in another
anticlimax”, he stressed.
“Today, a vast majority of
Nigerians know that the present Federal Government only pays lip service to the
fight against corruption.
“Where they appear to be serious,
it is in media trials and persecution of the opposition and perceived
opponents.
“Why are we not talking of the
campaign funds of the APC? Where did they get their funding from? Did they
pluck the billions they spent from trees? He asked further.
“Until and unless they tell
Nigerians how they funded their campaigns in 2015, Nigerians would continue to
see them as they are, and would not hesitate to vote them out in 2019”, he
warned.
“I know Lai Mohammed in our
National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) days when we fought for the return of
democratic rule to the country putting an end to military dictatorship. I know
him to always stand for the truth. Alas, I can finally say that he is not that
same person these days.
“In Nigeria today, it would seem
that once you join the APC, you become baptized into the order of lies,
falsehood, deception, and propaganda”.
“Nevertheless, Lai Mohammed must
make amends by recanting the phantom allegations he made against my good person
within a reasonable timeframe or face the consequence of his indiscretion in
the foreseeable future”, Jang warned.
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