APC 2015 Campaign: El-rufai ‘lied’ On Atiku’s Contribution – Party Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has described as a partological lier, the Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, over his claim that the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar did not make tangible contribution to the 2015 presidential campaign of the ruling party.

el-Rufai, who spoke on a Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service Programme, “Demo­cracy Today”, which was monitored in Kad­una, had challenged Atiku to state his contributions, including how much he gave and what the money was use for.

While reacting to the claim in a statement in Abuja, Comrade Frank, who is also the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, described Governor el-Rufai’s statement as “a height of ingratitude of a jilted lover.”

Frank urged the Kaduna State governor to refresh his memory by watching the ca­mpaign video or meet the then Director General of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Ameachi, for the record of what transpired before, during and after the campaign in 2015.

el-Rufai was quoted to have said that: “For me, I know those that supported us with their money and property that we used during election, and I never heard the name of Atiku that he brought a dime. If Atiku said he brought money, who did he give it to? Let him come and say it and how much did he give and what was it used for?

“And, in fact, if Atiku brought money, I ought to know, because I was part of the leadership of the party and during campaign, along with former Governor Roti­mi Amaechi. We were at the centre of the presidential campaign. Therefore, we are supposed to know. So, let him mention who he gave the money and how much?”

But in his response, Comrade Frank said: “Ameachi has record of those who cont­ributed to the campaign, so if El-rufai does not know he should contact the Minister of Transportation. Moreover, it is on record that the former Vice President had responsibility for seven states during the campaign.

“Again, it is also on record that Atiku’s media asset was transfer to the cama­paign. If el-Rufai has forgotten so soon, the Director of Media APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Garba Shehu, who is now the spokesman to the President, was handed over to the party campaign team from Atiku Media office, the deputy director of Atiku media team Mr. Paul Ibe was also part of APC media team during the 2015 campaign and other key members of Atiku’s group. I don’t know how El-rufai will quantify the cost?

“Moreover, President Muhammadu Buhari, as a President-elect himself acknowledged the role these people played as a group when he met with them at the Defence House in Abuja, which significantly, the role Atiku Media office played cannot be removed.”

The APC chieftain while reminding governor El-rufai of what the wife of the Pr­esident said that some of those who made contributions to the success of APC in 2015 election were not rewarded, asked the governor to justify his claim on Atiku.

While urging el-Rufai “to stop his political sycophantic act toward President Buhari,” Frank also urged the President to study el-rufai’s antecedent in politics and how the Kaduna governor has constantly betrayed all his benefactors in the past.

He said: “I wonder how Mr. el-rufai could easily contradict himself in a short while. Late last year, the same governor wrote an open letter to the president where he mentioned Atiku Abubakar as one of the leaders of APC the President had abandoned, so what has happened to his memory? He asked.