Igbo Leaders in Lagos says, “The money received from Jonathan was not a bribe but campaign fund to mobilise”

Leaders of Ndigbo resident in Lagos have confirmed that they were given money by President Goodluck Jonathan during his recent visit to the state to solicit for their support and votes.

This was made known by the former President of Ohaneze, Lagos State, and coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Support Group, Dr Oliver Akabueze.

He said that the president solicited for their support and asked the leaders to mobilise Igbos in the state to vote for him.

Akabueze explained that the money received was not a bribe but campaign fund to mobilise the Igbos in the state to vote for the president who is seeking re-election.

He also stated that the president donated a luxury bus for his campaign and that the bus must be fuelled and a driver must be employed to drive the bus around the state during the campaign for Jonathan.

Though he declined to disclose the amount of money the president gave them in Lagos, sources said it runs into billions of naira.

Investigation revealed that the manner the money was shared has divided the leaders.

According to P.M.NEWS, some got N500,000 each, while others got between N100,000 and N300,000 each.

Some of the leaders who spoke with newsmen on conditions of anonymity said the money has created rancour as some of the them that feel shortchanged said they will not campaign for Jonathan, saying those who got more money should go ahead and campaign for the President.

Last week President Jonathan spent five days in Lagos during which he held series of meetings with various ethnic and socio-cultural groups and their leaders to seek their support for his re-election.

During his stay he reportedly doled out billions of naira to the groups. Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, however, denied that the president gave out money to any group.