PDP, APC trade words over N18bn Abacha loot for Ekiti poll

The trading of words between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the run-up to the governorship election in Ekiti State is yet to abate.

This time, the quarrel is over N18 billion said to be part of funds recovered from the loot allegedly traced to late dictator, Gen Sani Abacha, which it was alleged has been transported to the state to rig the polls.

The APC candidate in the governorship election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, reacted to claims by the PDP candidate, Professor Kolapo Olusola that the money was brought into the state through the Akure airport, in Ondo State.

Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, said that the allegation was not true and must have emanated from the pit of hell.

Professor Olusola, had made the allegation, accusing the Federal Government of planning to use the funds to rig the election in favour of Fayemi.

Director, Media and Publicity Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation (KOCO), Lere Olayinka, made the claim at a press conference in Ekiti State on Thursday, alleging that the N18 billion was part of the $321 million recovered from the late Abacha family.

He said, “We called you here to intimate the public through your various media organisations of the movement of huge cash by the Federal Government to Ekiti State for the Saturday election.

“Last week Saturday, two bullion vehicles were moved to the Akure Airport to evacuate cash brought from Abuja by a chattered flight. The flight landed when it was raining and all staff of the airport were barred from going near the aircraft while the cash was evacuated into the two bullion vehicles.

“After offloading the huge cash, the bullion van first moved to the Ondo State Government House in Akure from where they left for Isan Ekiti, the hometown of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

“We present to you and the entire world, video and photographs of the chattered aircraft as the cash was being offloaded from it into the two bullion vehicles.

“From our preliminary findings, N2.5 billion cash was transferred by the Kebbi State Government to an account in UBA, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. It was withdrawn immediately and moved with a private jet to Akure.

“Also, apart from the N2.5 billion, another $50 million (about N18bn) was taken from the $321 million recovered from the late Abacha family.”

He therefore called on Nigerians to “note this wanton looting of public fund” by the APC government to fund election of its members.

“We must tell Fayemi and his APC that the conscience of the people of Ekiti cannot be purchased and we call on the people of Ekiti to resist the planned use of stolen fund to buy their votes on Saturday,” he added.

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But Fayemi, reacting through the Director, Media and Publicity, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi refuted the PDP candidate’s claim.

He said, “Discerning minds will note the lies contained in the story by a single logic that it took Eleka (Olusola) and Olayinka a whole week after the leak of funds movement before they alerted Nigerians about a purported money cargo being offloaded in Akure for Fayemi’s election in Ekiti.

“By this lie from the pit of hell, we know that the PDP is trying to paint a picture that it is a comrade-in-crime with APC after Fayose’s 2014 poll fraud funded with the loot from the office of the National Security Adviser.”

Police has deployed 30,000 of its personnel and other security equipment ahead of the Saturday election. But tension has continued to mount, especially with the alleged assault on Governor Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday, by security operatives.

 

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