President Jonathan Looted N32b From Bayelsa State - Frank Akpoebi
A close political associate of President Goodluck Jonathan, Frank Akpoebi, on Sunday February 1, said that N32 billion was missing from the treasury of Bayelsa State Government when Jonathan was governor between 2005 and 2007.
He made the shocking revelation on Sunday February 1, at a press conference held at the National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja where he gave reasons for his defection.
Akpoebi served as Commissioner of Health during President Jonathan’s administration as governor. A founding member of the PDP in Bayelsa, he was also a Federal Commissioner in the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
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On the missing N32 billion, he urged Bayelsans to ask President Jonathan to refund the money before he can ask for their votes again, adding that there had been speculation that he used the money to sponsor himself and late President Yar’Adua in the 2011 election.
“I served in the State Executive Council with Dr, Goodluck Jonathan and I questioned one of his series of contracts he used in siphoning the Bayelsa State treasury was his singular approval of Two Billion Naira for sand stock piling at Yenogoa for Bayelsa indigenes to park and use to start a building project I stood up to oppose it but yet Two Billion Naira was paid but a drop of sand was not dropped.”
Akpoebi also described President Jonathan as incompetent, and the architect of religion and ethnic politics division among Nigerians.
“This President is the richest President in Africa,” Akpoebi declared. “Dr. Goodluck Jonathann has invested in five business men who are highly celebrated Billionaires in Nigeria. And three of them came back to raise election funds to sponsor him to increase his investment on them while Nigerians will continue to live poverty, deprivation and insecurity. This is a vicious circle that we must not continue with it.”
The Conference had in attendance Timipreye Silva, former governor of Bayelsa, Hilland Etah, the National Vice Chairman APC South-South, and other political stalwart in the State. He mentioned many other national issues. He defected to the APC alongside hundreds of PDP Chieftains from Bayelsa State.
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However it would be recalled that in 2006, before President Obasanjo swiftly picked President Jonathan for the vice-presidency, the president was one of 15 governors indicted by a federal panel for false declaration of assets, and recommended for prosecution in line with the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
The powerful inter-agency Joint Task Force on corruption was headed by the then chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu. Its indictment of Mr. Jonathan was on account of several issues, including Mr. Jonathan’s N18 million Lexus Jeep which he falsely claimed in 2004 he had acquired through savings.
“Verification reveals that the Jeep was a gift collected in contravention of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act of 1990,” the panel said. “Same for BMW 7351 Series bought in 2005 worth N5.5 million.”
The panel also listed the presiden’s acquisition of properties outside legitimate income, including:
Seven Bedroom Duplex acquired in 2001 worth N18 million at Otuke Ogbia LGA;
Four Bedroom Duplex acquired in 2003 worth N15 million at Goodluck Jonathan Street, Yenegoa; and
Five Bedroom Duplex - acquired in 2003 worth N25 million at Citec Villas, Gwarimpa II, Abuja.
Akpoedi countered the President’s claims to being a Christian, saying that as a close friend of the President as admitted by President Jonathan during one of his presidential briefings, said he knows for sure that Jonathan is no Christian, and that he has admitted he does not know how to forgive.
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“Dr. Goodluck Jonathan I know serves voodoo. And that is what he practices. In 2006 in the dining at the Governor’s Lodge Yenegoa, he did not pray before eating, so I asked him why, he replied me that he has not prayed in his life. I was really worried hearing that from him. The following day we were discussing when Dr.Goodluck told me he has a weakness and that he does not know how to forgive.
“Dr. Goodluck should desist from using religion or the churches to advance his campaign or adoption, because it will make to expose him further,” Akpedi said. “We want a country of peace, love and security.”
Read the full text of his speech on Sahara Reporters.
Recently President Goodluck Jonathan saved billions by exposing the corruption in the agricultural sector.
Source: Legit.ng
