#IStandWithBuhari Budgets N1.2Billion For Rally Supporting President
President Muhammadu Buhari[/caption]
The March 31 rally in support of the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to gulp N1, 203, 500 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira), mainly from tax payers money and business concerns seeking patronage from government.
In documents obtained by The Whistler, the group said the sum is to cover T-shirts, face-caps, transportation, accommodation, live coverage and publicity of the event billed to hold in Abuja.
A letter sent to a government official which The Whistler got, the group claims to be “a non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit oriented movement, for and by Nigerians from all works of life (sic), with the strategic objective to support the Fight Against Corruption, promote Good Governance Initiative, encourage Zero Tolerance to impunity in Public Service, and advocate for policies that support the building of a stronger Economy for Nigeria.”
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The letter titled; Humble Request For Support, the group said corruption in Nigeria has led to a state of failed economic, social and political institutions with the resultant cause being unemployment for Nigerian youths and the looting of our aged pension funds leaving little or no hope for the present and future of Nigeria.”
A breakdown of the budget shows that 500, 000 T-shirts is put at N705million; 500, 000 caps N250million; pin-up badge N20million; banners for 36 states and FCT, N1.6million.
Other expenses include buses from states (29 each) N13million; buses within FCT N4.5million; logistics (local movement) N2.5 million; accommodation N14.7million; publicity N23.6million.
The group has been in disarray following the resignation of its National Coordinator, Mustapha Ramalan.
In his letter of resignation, Ramalan said he had to step down because he was not convinced on the path being toed by the organisation.
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“Having led the organization these past couple of weeks, I have reached a hard and inevitable decision of stepping down as its national coordinator with immediate effect,” Mr. Ramalan said. “If I must lead the organization, I must be convinced more than anyone, on the path we chose for ourselves.”
He had raised concerns with the way some decisions were taken in the group, especially with regard to the proposed nine million-man pro-Buhari march.
Findings by The Whistler revealed that the Office of the Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Government of the Federation were the ones pushing for the rally for a government that has confessed it is incapable of tackling fuel scarcity in the country.
