$1bn ECA: Buhari Does Not Believe In Money Politics, Fayose ‘On His Own’ – Yari

 

The governors had during the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, approved the sum for the fight against insurgency in the North-east.

However, reacting on Friday, Fayose, who was not present at the NEC meeting, disassociated himself from the decision, and alleged that the money was meant for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election in 2019.

But in a statement on Saturday, Yari who is also Governor of Zamfara State, said the decision was a collective one by the Forum.

In defence of Mr Buhari, Yari said the President would never divert public funds for the purpose of election.

“I am saying that statement was an unfair cut against the forum,” Yari said.

“When a decision is taken by the forum in one’s absence, once there was a quorum at the meeting where the decision was taken, becomes binding on all.

“I am sure Fayose was not making the statement to undermine the forum. He was just doing his thing.

“You can never spend too much on security because the safety of lives and property are the most cardinal among all the principles of governance, in any democracy.

“If governor Fayose was there at the meeting, he would have seen the wisdom in the decision. Yes, the administration is claiming to have decimated the insurgents out of Sambisa forest but they are reemerging in different flashpoints across the country.

“They need to be tackled wherever they are and the NGF decided to support the presidency just as it (the presidency) had been supporting states with their own problems.

“Governor Fayose is on his own. We have to protect our people and we have to do it with everything we have.

“Let me reemphasize one more thing, Mr President is a responsible and honest leader who does not believe in money politics and never divert public resources into it.”