Presidency denies funding pro-Jonathan groups

The Presidency has denied financing the groups that are currently canvassing support for the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Special Adviser to Jonathan on Political Matters, Prof Rufai Alkali, in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday, denied the insinuations that the Presidency had been financing the activities of the various associations and groups asking for support for the President.

He said the President remained a law-abiding leader.

Alkali said there were several groups across the country that had been supporting the “transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan administration “, but that the groups were being privately funded by their sponsors.

He said most of the identified support groups voluntarily came the Goodluck Support Group for proper coordination and administrative convenience since they all shared common goal of mobilising support for the achievements of the Federal Government.

Alkali is the national coordinator of the GSG.

He said, “I want to reiterate that these groups are completely independent and self-financing and the Presidency does not in any way foot the bills for the activities of these groups.

“They are voluntary non-governmental organisations and every Nigerian is aware that these NGOs source their funds independent of government.”

He also said the President had not declared his readiness to vie for second term in 2015.

The Jonathan’s aide said, “Mr. President has not even declared yet and campaigns cannot commence unless there is a formal declaration of intent to contest the 2015 presidential election.

“Apart from being a law abiding citizen, President Jonathan is also a true and loyal member of the Peoples Democratic Party and the party has not yet brought out guidelines for the conduct of its primaries and convention.”

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Presidency denies funding pro-Jonathan groups