The National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, says he and members of his party never received money from former President Goodluck Jonathan during the electioneering.
Fasehun, who is also the founder of pan-Yoruba group, Oodua People’s Congress, was one of Jonathan’s ardent supporters in the run up to the election.
The All Progressives Congress had accused the UPN of being an appendage of the Peoples Democratic Party. Interestingly, the UPN supported Jonathan and the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, during the last elections.
However, Fasehun told our correspondent during an interview that he only supported Jonathan based on principles.
The OPC founder said all those accusing him of collecting money from the former President should provide evidence.
When asked whether he collected money from Jonathan, he said, “It is a lie. It is a big lie. Have you forgotten that when I resuscitated the UPN, the APC spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, went to town saying I had collected N2.8bn from the Federal Government and it turned out to be a lie? Ask the APC to provide evidence that we collected money and they should stop lying.”
Fasehun, who turns 80 this month, said the Jonathan-led Federal Government approved a pipeline surveillance contract but the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government refused to pay.
He said, “We have worked on the pipeline for three months and the Federal Government has not paid us a kobo. They didn’t give us a kobo for mobilisation; we were on the pipelines for three months, they didn’t pay us any money and we have completed the pipeline contract and they are still dillydallying on the payment.
“The contract wasn’t awarded to the OPC but a company called New Age and most of the available personnel came from the OPC.
“How can 4,000 people work for the Federal Government and the government will decide not to pay? Where is the civilisation in that? Where is the honesty in that? Is that not wicked, cruel, ungodly and undemocratic?”
Fasehun expressed doubts over the possibility of Buhari recovering looted funds from other countries.
He also urged the President to begin his anti-graft war from within his party and not the Jonathan administration.
Three former APC governors: Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) are being probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
Fasehun said, “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. He (Buhari) must first clean his own house and let others learn from the way he cleans his house. I think those who have been fingered by anti-corruption agencies should be probed.”
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