25th February, 2015
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Presidency has said there is no iota of truth in the claims that President Goodluck Jonathan gave N10 billion naira to Cooperatives Societies or doled out different amount in dollars to the different groups that met with him during his trip to Lagos last week.
Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State had told journalists last weekend that the President distributed monetary gifts in dollar denominations to the different groups the President met with during his stay in the state from Wednesday to Saturday last week.
Reuben Abati, spokesperson to President Goodluck Jonathan who spoke to PM NEWS over the allegations said that the President did not give N10 billion gift to leaders of Cooperative societies that met with him during his trip to Lagos, noting that, the rumour of the cash gift is being peddled by those who are afraid of the success of the President’s trip to Lagos.
He added that they were scared because the groups pledged support to Jonathan’s 2015 presidential ambition.
The presidential spokesperson noted that Jonathan met with different groups representing different cooperative societies during the visit.
Abati, who described the President’s visit to Lagos and the South West as very, very successful, noting that, the President’s trip to Lagos was not ‘transactional,’ hence the issue of monetary gifts does not arise.
While indicting the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC and Governor Fashola for the rumour, Abati said the opposition party is jittery over the success of the President’s trip to Lagos and the South West as well as offer of support he received from various groups during the visit.