CNPP criticises Jonathan’s N500m Campaign Fund

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President Goodluck Jonathan's N500m campaign fund has been described as "outrageous" by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP).



Opposition parties, in a statement yesterday, frowned at Corporate Nigeria for donating to the President's campaign fund.

The statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said: "Here they come again - Corporate Nigeria, anti-democrats, gold diggers, a group whose hallmark is the ignoble role of corrupting our electoral process by raising fund for rigging of elections in Nigeria since 2003 general elections. They are made up of core elite Nigerian businessmen, who at the eve of 2003 and 2007 sham elections, raised billions for ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and by extension the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

"Corporate Nigeria on Friday, October 29, 2010 officially flagged-off the rigging of 2011 elections, when at the International Conference Centre, Abuja it raised about half a billion Naira for President Goodluck Jonathan's primary election.

"The Friday fund raising is the first time Corporate Nigeria is raising money publicly for primary election and this sign posts a dangerous trend; for if the motley crowd of Corporate Nigeria clan can raise half a billion publicly for Mr. President for primary election, it means that the main election will be highly monetised.

"We have no record like in other democracies, where the Corporate Nigeria had donated to opposition parties and in this instance we wait to see Corporate Nigeria extend support to other aspirants.

"The danger of corrupting our electoral process is legion; as our findings show that after the 2003 and 2007 sham elections members of the Corporate Nigeria were rewarded by ex-President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, late President Umaru Musa Yaradua Import Custom Duty waivers, importation of petroleum products, excessive withdrawal of Foreign Reserve and juicy uncompleted projects

"For instance, our Foreign Reserve, which stood at over $60 billion USD in June 2007 is less than $40 billion today; our Excess Crude Account, which was more than $20 billion in 2007, is now less than $1 billion; the roads, power and rail contracts awarded since 2001, mostly to Corporate Nigeria's companies are yet uncompleted and our rating in the Transparency international hall of infamy remains embarrassing."

CNPP criticises Jonathan's N500m campaign fund