The Presidency has denied claims by some youths in
Bayelsa state that it has frozen the accounts of former
President Goodluck Jonathan and stopped his allowances
as a former President.
During a protest in the state yesterday, Youths in Bayelsa
accused the present administration of victimizing the former
president and his family using the EFCC and other related
agencies. This claim has now been debunked by Shehu
Garba. Read the statement below...
The allegation by demonstrators in Bayelsa State on
Thursday that allowances due to a former President
have been stopped and his bank accounts were
frozen is patently untrue. We have confirmed with the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
that the former President and the other past leaders
were paid their allowances up to the second quarter.
The past leaders have not been paid third quarter
allowances but will get their dues when remittances
are received by the SGF from the Ministry of Finance.
Also, the story of account closure is false. It is not
known to the investigation agencies. The National
Security Adviser to the President is not aware of this
bank account closure; the DG SSS is unaware of it,
the EFCC is unaware and the IG of Police is not in
the know. With all of these agencies not being
involved, how then could a thing like that happen? In
a dream perhaps! To put it starkly, we believe there
is a clear motive for the demonstration that is
different from that which was being canvassed. This
is a premeditated attempt to blame President
Muhammadu Buhari for something he knows nothing
about. These claims are false and poorly sourced to
present a picture of vendetta; and they should be
disregarded by well-meaning members of the public.
President Buhari remains committed to the ideals of
justice and fairness to all irrespective of creed,
religion and political leanings. His administration will
not engage in vendetta.
