Nigerians swindled out $400 bn in three decades – Lame

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in Bauchi
State, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame has expressed dismay that the colossal
sum of over $400 billion was swindled out of the country by
unpatriotic Nigerians in the last 30 years.
The governorship aspirant explained that the colossal sum was swindled
at both governmental and individual levels under the guise of
contractual agreement and bringing in goods and services at the
detriment of majority Nigerians.
He observed that had half of such colossal sum of the $400 billion
been judiciously utilized in the country, the cancer-worm that today
disrupts our social order would have been nipped in the bud.
Dr. Ibrahim Lame at the distribution on Tuesday of vehicles to 20
local government chapters of the APC in the state said the siphoned
funds would have squarely addressed the unemployment drift in the
country and completely arrest poverty among Nigerians.
“The money could have also been utilize to check the security
challenges bedevilling the nation, provide quality education to
Nigerians, efficient healthcare delivery services, and gainful
employment to each and every Nigerian”, Lame stated.
Lame, who noted that the recent Governorship election in Osun State is
a litmus test for the 2015 general elections, expressed optimism that
the APC will capture power at the Centre and many states in the
federation in the forth-coming polls.
The APC gubernatorial aspirant while debunking the hypothesized Bauchi
zonal or Senatorial politics of Katagum, South or Central loaf
sidedness, said what is now required is the patriotic zeal of the
people to move Bauchi and the nation forward.
“Here in Bauchi state, it is not the politics of Katagum, Bauchi or
Central zone, but what is needed is the patriotic zeal of the people
to salvage the state and the nation from want, disease and ignorance,
provide good governance, employment, and raise the living standard of
the people generally”, he said.
Aspirant Ibrahim Lame told the local government party captains that he
is in close contact with APC Executives in the state to perfect his
formal declaration for the governorship coming up within the next few
weeks.
The vehicles were distributed to the local government chapters of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) along with campaign materials and
monetary allowances for the electioneering campaign personnel.