Minister of Transport, Senator Idris A. Umar has denied going on a spending spree in his home state of Gombe as a means of enticing voters to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition.
He was reacting to an allegation by the defunct new PDP that he distributed 50 assorted cars, 150 motorcycles and N50 million to politicians and traditional rulers in Gombe State, as part of his moves towards buying support for Jonathan.
But in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Innocent Ebirim, the minister said the allegation was “ridiculous and laughable”.
He said the minister “has never engaged in any reckless expenditure through financial and material inducements of his people in Gombe State on behalf, or for President Jonathan.
“Already, majority of people in Gombe State love Mr. President because of his good governance and amazing democracy dividends in the state and as such do not need any material inducement as a condition to support Mr. President,” the spokesman said.
“There has not been anytime Senator Idris A. Umar tried to compromise the traditional rulers in the state to be partisan through any financial inducement. The traditional rulers in the state are highly principled people who will not be persuaded to take any position in any matter due to monetary inducements,” he added.
