Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has demanded a proof from the All Progressives Congress over seven 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs reportedly displayed by the celebration’s National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.
Ibe, in a press release on Monday, questioned the supply of funding for the automobiles and whether or not public sources have been concerned of their buy or distribution.
He mentioned Israel had displayed the automobiles, thanked First Lady Remi Tinubu for her assist and later deleted the put up.
However, Ibe argued that eradicating the photographs didn’t resolve questions in regards to the automobiles’ possession, funding and supposed beneficiaries.
“Deleting the pictures does not erase the questions,” he mentioned.
Ibe criticised the event in opposition to the backdrop of rising residing prices, unemployment and poverty, arguing that the reported distribution of luxurious automobiles to celebration operatives contrasted with the financial difficulties dealing with many Nigerians.
He additionally questioned the decision for Nigerians to make sacrifices amid studies of luxurious automobiles being made obtainable for political actions.
“Is sacrifice only for the poor?” he requested.
The former vice-president’s aide referred to as on the First Lady, Israel and the APC to reveal the entire price of the seven automobiles, establish their purchasers and clarify the sources of the funds used to accumulate them.
He additionally demanded the identities of the donors and beneficiaries, proof of cost and particulars of the aim for which the automobiles have been offered.
Ibe additional requested the celebration to make clear whether or not any funds or property belonging to the Federal Government, the Office of the First Lady or authorities businesses have been used within the transaction.
He referred to as on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent National Electoral Commission to look at the funding preparations and decide whether or not public sources have been used for partisan actions or whether or not relevant campaign-finance guidelines have been breached.
“The Nigerian treasury is not the APC’s campaign purse, and the Presidency must not become the ruling party’s election-financing machinery,” Ibe mentioned.
He maintained that deleting the social media put up shouldn’t finish scrutiny of the reported automobile distribution.
“Deleting the post cannot delete the demand for accountability,” he added.
The assertion didn’t present unbiased proof that public funds have been used to accumulate the automobiles or set up the circumstances surrounding their buy.
