Arms Deal: Kwankwaso Insists Jonathan Government Is Insincere

by Oluwatosin Fatoyinbo

Kano state Governor and APC President Aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso has attacked President Jonathan as being insincere with the details of the much criticised Arms Deal with the South African government. He said the approach taken by the Government is contrary to established rules and guidelines and due process in procurement.

Kwankwaso said this on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital after the public presentation of the Ekiti Magistrate Court Law 2014.

He said “As a former Minister of Defence, I am very conversant with the way and manner, and the due process that is required to procure any arms, ammunition or equipment, there are rules and guidelines. Arms and ammunition are not rice and beans that you can just go to the market and purchase.

“Many of us were concerned when the information filtered in. In fact, we didn’t believe it initially, but along the line, based on the defence of what happened, we realized that it was a bitter truth that such a thing happened: that money of that magnitude in an aircraft flown to another nation, I think so many things have gone wrong. I think it is high time for the Federal Government to sit up to its responsibilities to ensure that things are being done correctly.

“Yes, we need arms and ammunition; yes, we need security in this country, but even under that circumstance, there are rules and guidelines that must be respected.

“While we are trying to tackle insurgency, we must follow the due process. Even in the operation there are rules of engagement; they are very important to protect the lives and properties of innocent people.”

He then went on to say that by 2015, his party, APC will take over and rectify all the defects of the Jonathan government when elected into office next year

“That is why we are confident that by 2015 the APC will take over because all that we have seen in insecurity, unemployment, education…There are so many schools closed down in the North. Our children cannot go to school because some are being stolen,” he lamented.

Kwankwaso had been one of the vocal voice against policies of the President Goodluck Jonathan since he moved to the All Progressives Congress.