As the uproar over the allocation of N4bn for the construction of the First Ladies Mission office a pet project by Dame Patience Jonathan, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP) on Sunday said the allocation is illegal and unpatriotic.
The Senate had last week passed for second reading a 2013 budget of N253bn for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) out of which N4bn was earmarked for the construction of an African First Ladies Peace Mission [AFLPM] complex.
Reacting to the allocation of N4bn for the First ladys project, the ANPP in a press statement by its spokes person, Emma Eneukwu, Questioned the rationale for Federal Government’s (FG) decision to fund the project with tax payers money having declared the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) a non- governmental organization (NGO) last year.
They charged the Senate to remove the project because a lot of people-oriented projects are abandoned in Nigeria.
“The attention of the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] has been drawn to media reports on the debate in the Senate concerning a proposal by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to spend N4 billion on building the First Ladies Mission office complex in Abuja this year, as contained in the FCTA’S N253 billion budget for 2013, which came up for second reading in the Senate last week
“Our great party believes that the matter is a non-issue as the budget for the complex is inherently illegal and should not waste the time of the distinguished senators in their work.
“Therefore, our great party finds it puzzling, absurd and incongruous that another project of the AFLPM could now be smuggled into the budget of the FCT, an undeniable burden to the already burdened citizens of our great nation.
“This is unpatriotic at best, and corrupt at worst, and should be resisted by the distinguished lawmakers.
There are myriads of people-oriented projects begging for attention in Nigeria. The education sector for example did not get up to the expected percentage in this year’s budget to meet up with international best practices; so also agriculture.
“N4 billion is a great lot of money to give out to an NGO, even if the Federal Government decides to donate to charity.
“As a party, the ANPP believes that fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability is what our country needs at this critical epoch in our nationhood in order to surmount even unforeseen financial stress and leave a sustainable future for Nigerians yet unborn.”
The party further said “for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to remind Nigerians that in July 2012, The Presidency, while refuting reports that the Federal Government had purchased 200 new exotic cars for the African First Ladies Summit in Abuja, affirmed that AFLPM which was holding its summit in Abuja is an NGO and its activities are funded by stakeholders and members of the private sector who support and identify with its objectives.
“The statement by Dr Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated inter alia, ‘in accordance with its modus operandi, the AFLPM set up several committees, including a finance committee to raise funds and sponsorship for the organization of its Abuja summit.
“As part of its own contribution to the successful hosting of the summit by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Coscharis Motors Ltd, offered to provide some cars for the event at no cost to the organizers or the Federal Government of Nigeria.’’