Former Minister of State for Education, CHukwuemeka Nwajuiba, has said the N100 million presidential form of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which he purchased was through contributions and proceeds gotten from the sale of yams.
Nwajuiba had faced criticism for purchasing the form while the Academic Union of Universities, ASUU, have kept students at home due to its strike action caused by government’s failure to meet their agreement.
Explaining how he came about the money for the presidential form, NAN quoted him as saying:
“I have members of the House of Representatives from 1992 who endorsed me, even before they contributed money. Some have paid N1,000 each. One man from Nasarawa gave me 150 yams from his farm to sell. People are investing with the hope that there may be a new Nigeria.”
“I must agree with you that we have a monetised politics, but I can assure you that we have a President Muhammadu Buhari elected who didn’t have money. I am only presenting myself to serve. I am not sponsored by the oil industry, so the only people who can sponsor me are Nigerians. Three thousand one hundred fifty people made contributions, and we bought these forms,” added Mr Nwajiuba.
On if the South-East is hoping for a consensus at the APC primary, Nwajuiba said, “The South-East does not want to arrive at a consensus. South-East wants to work with Nigerians. We have only seven presidential aspirants from the South-East in the APC, and that is very small, but I am sure out of this seven, we have those in their 70s and in their 60s,” Mr Nwajiuba reasoned. “We have those in their 50s. We have every type you need. Nigeria must have the full breadth of Igbo diversity.”
He added, “Any type you need, Igbo people have it. So, what we said yesterday was that anyone that is chosen, we are going to back him or her.
