‘Jonathan wasting public funds’

President Goodluck Jonathan
| credits: File copy

Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence on Sunday accused President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of wasting public funds.

The group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, who chronicled some projects and programmes of Jonathan leadership, said the multi billion naira centenary celebration was one of the monumental wastes associated with the present administration.

He also alleged that there was no justification for the Federal Government to spend N60bn on phone projects for rural farmers in the country.

Ikimi said, “How on earth can one explain the Federal Government’s N5bn project by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory to re-settle sex workers and beggars from the streets of Abuja.

“We are at a loss at the N4bn First Ladies’ house office project in Abuja. The good governance tour project no doubt is a waste of public funds.

“We make bold to say that the projects would definitely encourage more corruption in our polity and produce many more thieves in the mould of Yakubu Yusufu, the pension thief, with no immediate benefit in return to the generality of the Nigerian people.”

He said it was unfortunate that such wastes occurred in the face of worsening state of public infrastructure, massive youth unemployment, pandemic poverty and hunger.

“We call on the Jonathan’s administration to wake up from its deep slumber and tackle the challenges of public infrastructural decay, massive youth unemployment, pandemic poverty and hunger nationwide.

“It should do this by embarking on people oriented projects and instilling probity, transparency and accountability in public governance since by so doing the welfare and the security of the citizens of this country would be guaranteed.”