BUHARI TRACES BUDGET PADDING TO APC CAUCUS

Three years after the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC), President Mohammadu Buhari has on Wednesday reportedly accused some members from the  defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the party (APC) of budget manipulation and padding, affirming that those to whom the budget racketeering might be traced shall never go scot free.

APC as a political party which was formed on 6th February, 2013 in anticipation of the 2015 elections, comprised of Nigeria’s three biggest opposition parties- the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

In similar development, some leaders of the defunct ACN were in the Aso Villa on Wednesday where issues relating to their hands in the controversial 2016 budget and the incoming congress of the APC among others were discussed.

According to sources, the leadership of the defunct ACN berated President Buhari over their alleged involvement in budget manipulation and overloading, saying it was uncalled for and at the same a calculated attempt to terminate the mutual relationship that has long time existed among the unified party, APC; adding that, “the diplomatic moves by the president’s kinsmen to hijack the structure of the party in totality at the forthcoming congress shall not only be resisted but rejected.

“I want to believe we’ve not travelled too far as a party. Therefore, those inciting the president against factions in the progressives should entertain a rethink before their actions and inaction boomerang.”

It was learnt that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had in Lagos on February 19 said, “Let me make it clear that nobody can ever accuse this government of padding any budget. The total of all ministries put together has not exceeded N6.08 trillion that was submitted. It is factually incorrect to say that the budget was padded.”

In a counter claim which has started generating controversy within the progressives, President Buhari in Saudi Arabia on February 23, said, “My budget is not what is being debated at the National Assembly. What they have was heavily padded. Never heard of budget padding all my life. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpublished.”

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,  who led other party leaders to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the Villa, has vowed to continue supporting the present federal government administration until he’s either directly or indirectly prevented from doing so.

He said; “Ever since the formation of APC three years ago, there has never been a moment of regret for me or my men. Therefore I want to believe the president was quoted out of context. He has no moral right to describe us as budget scammers.

“Again, since Lai Mohammed has been appointed the Minister of Information, it has been noted that the image of our party hasn’t been well painted in the public as it used to be. We need another able hand to relieve him, and we can’t afford zoning such a sensitive post among others to the academically retarded region in the country.”

He pleaded with his men not to dwell on the accusation and assured them of transparent processes in the election of the party’s executives.

still on the matter, Nigeria will continue to progress.

-gwd.