TheCable

Former governor of Benue state, George Akume has criticised President Goodluck Jonathan over the $9.3m smuggled into South Africa via a private jet for facilitating an arms procurement deal.

The government presented documents as evidence of the deal’s legitimacy, but the South African government confiscated the money pending the conclusion of a thorough investigation.

However, investigations revealed that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who also enjoys a close relationship with Jonathan, had an interest in the aircraft.

Speaking on Wednesday during the press conference where former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, declared his intention contest the 2015 general election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akume said the Jonathan-led administration has lived below expectation and does not deserve to continue.

“Are we enjoying this government? Do we have security?” he asked.

“When they arrested an aircraft that was used to launder money, what did they do? Is that how you want to continue? Turakin Adamawa is reliable and can be trusted.”

Earlier, Abubakar had harped on the country’s dire need of change, saying APC provides the platform that can implement such change.

Majority of those who attended the conference were youths.