Jonathan Defies INEC- Deploys Govt resources For Campaigns

President Goodluck Jonathan has deployed the jets in the presidential fleet for campaigns, while almost all state governors have been using the resources of their states for the February general elections, SUNDAY PUNCH’s investigations have shown. A few weeks ago, political parties signed a code of conduct, which states that the use of government resources for political campaigns is unlawful. The Code is a document prepared by the Independent National Electoral Commission in 2013. A part of the code of conduct states, “All political parties shall separate party business from government business. No political party shall use state vehicles or other public resources for any electioneering campaigns or any other party business.” But contrary to the code of conduct, since Jonathan commenced his campaigns across Nigeria, virtually all the 11 jets in the presidential fleet have been used for one campaign trip or the other. The Presidential Air Fleet include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and Gulfstream IVSP. Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet. The PAF is about the third largest domestic airline in the country, coming behind Arik Air, which has over 21 aircraft, and Aero Contractors, with about 12 planes. Senior officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja told one of our correspondents on Friday that the brand of airplane and the number used by the President to any state depended on the size of the airport in the state, the number of persons in his entourage, as well as “other factors best known to the Presidency.” The Presidency on Saturday however said there was nothing stopping Jonathan from using all the paraphernalia of his office while going round the country to seek votes. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said this in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH. Okupe said there was nowhere in the world were incumbents are stopped from using their official cars while going on campaign trips. Okupe said, “I am not aware of such code of conduct. You can check anywhere in the world. I watched Obama’s campaign, was he going around in taxis or private cars? When the governor of Lagos State was seeking re-election, was he going for campaigns in private cars? “A sitting President has all paraphernalia of office anywhere he goes. The same applies to governors. They are not ordinary citizens, so when you are contesting against them, you know you are contesting against an institution. There is nothing you can do about that. “I don’t think that code of conduct exists. So they want the President to be going about in one Peugeot 505 to seek votes? What about policemen? Are they not government officials? Are they not supposed to follow him because he is campaigning? “It simply does not make sense. If INEC had such a document, let them publish it for us to see.” State governors are also not left out of using state vehicles and resources to campaign. In Kwara, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; his deputy, Mr. Peter Kisira; and a former governor of the state, who is currently the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as well as their retinue of aides have been campaigning with government vehicles. Sources informed one of our correspondents that bills for party members’ mobilisation and logistics for the campaign were allegedly footed by the state government. The Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, however said the state government was aware of INEC regulations prohibiting state governments from sponsoring campaigns. Akorede said, “The APC is responsible for campaigns and all associated expenses. The flag off was funded by the party from members’ contributions, as well as donations by aspirants, their supporters and other party members. It is not true that the Ahmed administration funded the APC campaign.” Similarly, the PDP-controlled government in Cross River has been campaigning for all the party’s candidates at all levels using government-owned vehicles. Some government vehicles have been seen in different parts of the state spotting the stickers of PDP candidates. A top government official who preferred anonymity said, “If you think they will not use government funds to run campaigns, then you must be joking. You do not expect a governor or even the president to appear at campaign venues with private securities and personal vehicles when they are in control of the resources. It happens even in the United States.” The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Liyel Imoke, Mr. Christian Ita, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the governor would not drop his official designation because of campaigns. Ita said, “This debate had been on for quite some time now. The governor cannot afford not to be governor because of political campaigns.” In Kaduna, the administration of Governor Mukhtar Yero is also using state resources to promote the members of the ruling PDP. Yero at different fora boasted that the government would deploy both material and human resources to trounce the main challenger, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Nasir el-Rufai. Yero, at the flag-off of his 2015 governorship campaign, rode in his official Mercedes Benz E Class 350. He has also toured the 23 local government areas of the state with the same vehicle. Aside from fuelling and maintaining the vehicles, SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that most of the campaign vehicles, especially those acquired for the Kaduna State chapter of the Goodluck/Sambo 2015 Presidential Campaign Organisation were procured with state funds. A competent government source said, “Recently, about 30 vehicles were procured for the purpose of campaigning for the Jonathan/Sambo presidency. These vehicles are fully financed by the state government under the guise of donation from political associates.” Also in Ogun State, since Governor Ibikunle Amosun, kicked off his governorship re-election campaign tours two weeks ago, his official Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle and about five other SUVs, including Toyota Hilux vans and other official vehicles, were in the governor’s convoy to Ijebu Igbo, Remo North, Imekon Afon, Ewekoro and Ijebu North East Local Government Areas. The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, however said the only official vehicles on the campaign train were those of the governor and that of the security agents. He said, “Whoever is saying the governor is using the state resources to campaign should come and prove that. The governor uses his official vehicle and all the other ones you are seeing in the convoy are the ones bought by the campaign committee of the party, and they are appropriately branded and APC boldly written on them. “The other vehicles that join the campaign train are that of security agents. And I don’t know any operational rule that says the security personnel assigned to the governor should use other vehicles. “Again, there are vehicles that belong to friends of the governor and those of individual candidates. Those of the candidates are branded in their names. So what are they talking about?” Same is happening in Rivers State where the All Progressives Congress is the ruling party. Our correspondent reports that luxury buses belonging to the state government are being used during campaigns. A party chieftain who pleaded anonymity described the funding of campaign rallies as an “expensive venture.” He explained that it would be difficult for any candidate to win without government ‘support.’ Efforts to reach the Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Tony Okocha, to speak on the allegation failed as he said he he was attending a rally of the party and promised to call back. He failed to do this. Similarly, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, does not pretend that he is supporting the state Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, in every way he can. The governor has boasted that if an incumbent governor does not support any aspirant during elections, such aspirant is bound to be defeated. Twenty-two aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants in the state had alleged that the governor spent N1.2bn to secure delegates’ votes for Emmanuel. One of the delegates in the PDP governorship primary said, “Apart from making government vehicles and buildings available for the campaign, the governor has been spending a lot of money to ensure that his candidate wins.” The APC on Saturday denied allegations that it was using government vehicles to campaign in states under its control. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said this in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH. He explained that he was not aware of any breach of the Independent National Electoral Commission Code of Conduct. Mohammed said, “I am not aware of any breach by our party. I am not aware that any of our governors is using official vehicles for campaign. “We only hope that the law applies to all parties including Mr. President and the ruling party, we hope he will not use the Presidential jet on his campaign train.” Lawyers Kick Some lawyers have condemned the use of public resources by elected public officers for electioneering campaigns. One of them, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, said the trend was “a consolidation of the absurdity and aberration that have remained with us for some time.” He said it was the same act of absurdity that had played out when the head of the National Orientation Agency accepted an appointment into the campaign committee of President Goodluck Jonathan. Ogunye said, “If public officers would not mind to be appointed to serve on a campaign committee of a candidate in an election, why will elected officers not see public resources at their disposal as a fair game? “The practice is improper and it is prohibited not only by code of conduct for political parties but also public officers. It is condemnable; it confers undue advantage on those occupying office.” Another lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, said the act was a reflection of the culture of impunity that had dominated the country. He said, “But for the culture of impunity that is cascading our political landscape and which, regrettably, has become public policy, why will anybody use facilities that is maintained by public purse for his campaigns? “The act violates Sections 92 and 100(2) of the Electoral Act because public resources cannot be used for election expenses.” Another lawyer, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, said the violation of the code of conduct and the Electoral Act had also extended to the use of public funds. Ugwummadu said the act deprived the opposition parties the level playing field they deserved. Parties responsible for compliance —Jega The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, however, stated that it was the responsibility of political parties to ensure compliance with the code of conduct. His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, referred SUNDAY PUNCH to Section 3 (17) of the code which states, “All political parties shall discourage their members in government from using their power of incumbency to the disadvantage of other parties or their candidates during campaigns.” Section 10(4) also states: “Any dispute which cannot be resolved between parties shall be reported to the IPAC which shall give it a fair and expeditious hearing/s. The IPAC is empowered to recommend to INEC appropriate sanctions on erring political parties. This is without prejudice to the right of parties and their candidates or agents to pursue other legal actions. http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-defies-inec-deploys-presidential-jets-for-campaigns/