Jonathan- N64bn Independence expenses: El Rufai is a liar

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has clarified that his administration only spent N333 million on three independence anniversaries (2012-2014), contrary to the N64 billion alleged to have been spent by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

L-R; Former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Former Head of Interim Government Chief Ernest Shonekan, Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Goodluck Jonathan, Ex-Senate President David Mark and Ex-Deputy Speaker House Representatives Emeka Ihadioha jointly cutting the 54th Independence Anniversary cake in 2014, during Presidential Change of Guards Parade at the Forecourt of the Presidential villa Abuja

The immediate past Minister of National Planning during the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Abubakar Sulaiman, in statement on Sunday, described as “tissue of lies” the statement posted by Governor El-Rufai on his facebook wall on October 1, 2015, alleging that the Jonathan administration spent billions of naira on Nigeria’s independence anniversary celebrations in four years.

“We would have allowed this to go as just ranting of a favour seeker, but for the sake of ordinary Nigerians who were abreast of happenings under the administration and also those who never did, we will like to set the record straight,” the former minister said.