FG’s not funding us, TAN tells APC

By Lawrence Olaoye

The leadership of the Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN) yesterday denounced the allegations that it is sourcing its funds with which it is running its activities from the Federal Government.

Reacting to the allegation by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the group’s Director of Communication, Dr. Udenta O. Udenta, in a statement made available to newsmen challenged the party to provide evidence to support its claims that TAN was actually being financed by the government.

Udenta stated “Mohammed and the APC have made so much noise about the sources of TAN’s financing without providing one shred of evidence to back up the torrents of abuses, insinuations, innuendoes, and outright accusations that flow steadily from their very voluble and fertile imagination.

“The fact remains that TAN has neither sought nor received a kobo from the Federal government, all its ministries, agencies or department in executing its programmes and projects. Anybody who has evidence to the contrary should present same to the public or shut up for good.

But for those who are set on an inexorable course of political perdition through the irrational criminalization of opinions, perspectives and viewpoints that counter theirs they earn neither our condemnation nor even contempt; they earn our sympathy given the surreal cloud of ethical infamy that envelops the political spaces the dwell in.”

 TAN also stated that it would not be deterred in its activities by criticisms from the opposition which is belly-aching over its nationwide rallies showcasing the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

He stated “TAN is a proud Nigerian platform and a thousand, nay; a million hate-filled words cannot deter us from bringing democracy closer to the people through robust conversation and dialogue that increase political understanding and participation.

“For those who play politics with terrorism and extremist insurgencies, we leave them to their conscience. For those who denigrate the person and office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a daily basis, no matter the degree of divergence of political opinions and the struggle for power, we leave them in their world of political prodigality, infantile delusions and perfidious political enterprises.

For those who desecrate the homestead abroad in search of vainglorious fame and the accolade of foreigners, we will not call them traitors but we know they are no patriots. As members of our armed forces struggle courageously to keep our land safe and free by riding it of terrorists they will constantly earn our prayers, support and encouragement.”

According to TAN, even though there are challenges facing the nation in terms of insecurity, there are so much good developments to celebrate in the land.

 “It is the goodness of Nigeria that TAN celebrates to the discomfiture of the negatively minded political nihilists in our midst who are intent on sowing chaos and disorder. To this we say a resounding no,” TAN declared.