#still on d matter#politics#Goodluck generates a total of £75.6m from presidential election fundraising dinner Sunday, 21 December 2014 13:34 PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has amassed a N21.27bn (£75.6m) election war chest using his power of incumbency to generate funds needed to fight next Februarys general election campaign. With next years pools expected to be e close race between President Goodluck and former head of state General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the campaign is expected to be exhaustive. With many states being marginal, both candidates will be traversing the length and breadth of the country to solicit for every vote. Already, General Buhari has launched an online campaign similar to what President Barack Obama did in the US, looking to raise funds from ordinary Nigerians via social media. In response, President Jonathan has capitalised on his incumbency advantage has raised cash from businessmen, governors and multinationals to fund his campaign. Yesterday, the president held a fund-raising dinner in the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Despite the hefty sum raised, some of leaders of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed apprehensions about the February 14 election, saying it will be tough. Tunde Ayeni, the chairman of Skye Bank and chairman of the occasion was the first to announce a donation of N2bn on behalf of himself and his friends. Professor Jerry Gana, the chairman of President Jonathans fund raising committee said his friends and associates in the power sector were donating N5bn. In addition, the PDP Governors Forum announced a donation of N1.05bn, with each governor donating N50m. President Jonathan promised all present that the funds would not be wasted or misused. Joseph Makanju, representative of the chief fundraiser and chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said his principal, who was outside the country, did not leave a mandate. He, however, promised that as soon as Alhaji Dangote returned to the country, he would personally see the PDP national chairman Adamu Mu’azu, to offer his support. Professor Gana added: “The PDP must not take things for granted and we must campaign very well. We must not underestimate the opponent because we have been in power for 16 years. Roll call of other donors: *Oil and Gas sector: N5bn *Real Estate and Building: N4bn *Transport and Aviation: N1bn * Food and Agriculture: N500m *Power: N500m *Construction: N310m *Road Construction: N250m *National Automative Association: N450m *Shelter Development Limited: N250m *Sifax group: N100m *Rivers PDP Stakeholders: N50m *Niger Delta Development Commission: N15m
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 14:05:22 +0000
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