The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on President Jonathan to address Nigerians over seizure of another $5.7 million by South African authorities.
According to the party, the country has once again been embarrassed by the President Jonathan by the seizure of the new sum, also said to be meant for purchase of arms.
APC noted that issues surrounding the first seizure of $9.3 million were yet to be resolved before another $5.7 million scandal surfaced.
“Again, Mr. President, Nigerians are urging you to please come clean over these cash-for-arms scandals. They want you to answer critical questions on the legality of your administration’s repeated conduct. They want to know the identities of the two Nigerians who were arrested with an Israeli in South Africa over the first illegal deal, especially since the Israeli has been named, APC said in a statement.
“Nigerians want to know why the purported arms procurement for the government is done illegally between private companies that are neither known nor registered for dealing in arms? And why are the movement of monies not transparently documented for what they really are, if they are truly for legitimate purposes?
“They want to know whether indeed the weapons which the government is seeking so furiously to procure are for the battle against Boko Haram or for a sinister motive, considering the desperation of your Administration to continue to rule at all cost and by any means possible. They want to know whether every Nigerian should begin to fear what will happen in the days and weeks leading to the forthcoming general elections, against the backdrop of your Administration and party’s do-or-die politics.
“Mr. President, if the funds involved in the latest seizure were sent through bank transfer, can the government explain why Oritsejafor’s plane was stuffed with cash and transported to South Africa? Can your Administration’s embarrassing explanation that it is customary for other country’s security agencies, including MOSSAD, KGB and CIA, to cart plane loads of cash across the world to purchase black market weapons hold any more water now? These are some of the questions Nigerians are asking, not an untenable spin by untruthful government officials, the APC said.
The party also expects President Jonathan to say whether the funds involved in the scandal were appropriated by the National Assembly, or whether they are part of the allegedly missing $20 billion oil money.
APC also described threats issued to South African investments in Nigeria as ‘childish and immature’. The National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki was recently quoted as saying South Africa was trying to frustrate Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, despiteits businesses enjoying favourable policies in Nigeria. “The rivalry is too clear and close for comfort,” he declared.
“Mr. President, you cannot threaten another country when your Administration is wilfully breaking the laws of that country. In this case, your Administration stands on a weak moral ground, as its hands have been caught in the cookie jar. Therefore, issuing infantile threats is laughable, unacceptable and wrong,” the party said.
