read with amusement the allegation that was made in
SaharaReporters, the unofficial media wing of the Buhari
administration, Nigeria’s Secret Police, the DSS, and the
EFCC, that I was given 1.7 billion naira cash by President
Goodluck Jonathan. This is false. A few hours later they changed
their story and said that I received 1.7 billion naira from the office
of the former NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki. This is also false.

I have never received one kobo from President Jonathan himself,
Colonel Dasuki or any other member of President Jonathan’s
government. I have not ever been in receipt of any public funds
and neither was I the beneficiary of any payments in cash,
transfer, cheque or otherwise from any government official during
the tenure of President Jonathan.

As Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan/Sambo
Campaign organisation I received money on behalf of the
Directorate of Media and Publicity which I headed from private
individuals and companies during the election campaigns but
these were not public funds but rather private contributions
specifically for the Presidential and other campaigns.
Such moneys were transferred into my account by the Director of
Finance of the Presidential Campaign Organisation and that
account was SPECIFICALLY set up for the purpose of running the
publicity and media aspect of the campaign for the whole country
and my Directorate.

These private individuals and companies paid their contributions
into a designated account which was provided and controlled by
the Director of Finance and from there she transferred it to the
accounts of the various Directors and various individuals that were
running for public office that the PCO supported.
The money that was sent to me for my Directorate by the Director
of Finance was used in a lawful and responsible manner and by the
time the campaigns were over my Directorate had paid all of its
bills for services rendered and was not owing any media house or
anyone else one kobo.

The Presidential candidate of our party President Goodluck
Jonathan, the D-G of the PCO, the Auditor of the PCO, the Advisor
to the PCO and the Director of Finance of the PCO all received
reports and saw the results of the efforts of my Directorate. Not
only were they satisfied with our efforts but they also commended
us.

Those private individuals and companies that were kind enough to
support and fund President Jonathans presidential campaign with
their hard earned money were perfectly within their rights to do so
and they were more than happy with our efforts as well.
They also commended us. Even though we ended up losing the
election we fought a very virile, strong, visible, historic and
aggressive campaign and the Nigerian people can attest to this.
The encounter with the APC was an epic one and it was probably
the most active and gruelling electoral battle in the history of our
country.

Not one kobo of public funds was spent by or given to my
Directorate during the campaign and as far as I am aware not one
kobo of public funds was spent by or given to the PCO. Presidential
campaigns all over the world cost huge amounts of money and
Nigeria is no different.

This is especially so when it comes to publicity and media. My
Directorate was difficult to run and our work was capital intensive.
We did not use marshmallows, pebbles, and grass to pay for all
the services rendered to us and all the television and newspaper
adverts were fully paid for with money.

Nothing was done or given to us free of charge by anyone. This
should not be a surprise to anyone as the APC and President
Buhari’s campaign organisation did the same.
I opened an account specifically for the funds that were used to
run my Directorate and fund all our activities in order to ensure
accountability and transparency.

We also audited our accounts regularly and insisted on the highest
level of professionalism from all those that worked for or with us.
Since when such matters have become a crime or subjects of
criminal investigations I don’t know. If it was a crime to speak up
for Jonathan during the campaign they should just say so.
If it is a crime to be a member of the PDP and to be in opposition
they should just say so. If it is a crime to speak up for and defend
President Jonathan and key members of his government after he
has left office they should just say so.

If it is a crime to oppose the Buhari administration and speak up
against his gross violations of human rights that they are indulging
in and the violation of court orders they should just say so.
During the 2015 elections the PCO and my Directorate spoke up
and campaigned for many PDP members who were running for
public office and we funded and worked for them too. That was
our job and I am very proud of the PCO and the role we all played
despite limited resources.

I am particularly proud of the efforts of my team at the Directorate
and I can assure all those that care to listen and that refuse to be
misled by the government propaganda machine that we did
nothing wrong. All we did was run an effective campaign and we
did so with private funds and not funds from the government.
I am aware of the attempt by the government and my enemies to
discredit me, smear my name and silence me by alleging all
manner of wrongdoing but I am not in the least bit perturbed. As
always my innocence will fight for me and my God will never
forsake me.

I know that this government is capable of doing anything, of
inducing anyone to say anything and that they have no sense of
decency, justice or fair play. They are prepared to charge anyone
just for breathing the air if needs be and they can attempt to frame
up anyone that they believe is a thorn in their flesh.
I have always known this yet I refuse to run away or to be silenced
and I will not be cowered. Though I have been warned and told
over and over again by those amongst them who care for my well
being that I have been listed down and targeted for persecution I
am not in the least bit concerned about their evil plans for me. My
life and destiny is in the hands of God and not theirs and He will
fight for me and vindicate me.

As I have always said, the night may be dark but joy comes in the
morning. If it was a crime to use moneys that were freely donated
by private individuals from lawful and legitimate sources to fund
the Presidential and other campaigns let them say so.
No election campaign anywhere in the world, including that of
President Buhari was run with just words, goodwill, grass and
pebbles and neither were we given free campaign adverts or air
time. All these things were run and paid for with large sums of
money.

This is especially so with publicity and media because that was the
lifeblood of the various campaigns. I repeat, there is nothing that
we did in the campaign organisation or that my Directorate did that
Lai Mohammed, Buhari and the APC did not do in theirs. As a
matter of fact they spent far more than we did but I have no idea
where they got their money and whether they were private or public
funds.

Most importantly my Directorate and, as far as I am aware, the
Jonathan Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation did not
receive ANY public funds from any government official or office to
run our campaign. Of this I am absolutely sure and I am very
confident because I made a point of asking and insisting that this
must be so. These are the facts and I eagerly await my accusers,
persecutors and detractors.
Meanwhile I shall continue to live my life in peace, I shall not be
intimidated by the boastful threats of the enemy and I will continue
to live my life in the usual law-abiding manner that I have always
done.

It is expedient and necessary for me to speak out now even
though the EFCC has not said a word on this matter or even
confirmed that there is indeed an investigation going on. This is
because the modus operandii of the Commission of late is to leak
their intentions to SaharaReporters before they strike and abduct
their victims.

This has happened on a number of occasions and sadly they use
such mediums to tell all manner of lies about the case and the
accused to the public. By the time they finish they would have
convicted their victim in a vicious smear campaign and media trial
which is usually plagued and fuelled by lies and falsehood.
It is for this reason that I have taken this opportunity, whilst I am
still at liberty, to tell the Nigerian people the truth and let them have
all the facts. I sincerely hope that my statement will help to clarify
matters in the eyes of the public regardless of whatever lies that
they will soon be inundated with by a desperate, weak and wicked
government. I fear them not because my life is in God’s hands.
God bless Nigeria.

http://saharareporters.com/2016/01/06/femi-fani-kayode-issues-statement-admitting-he-received-funds-private-individuals-and

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