DasukiGate: More Controversy Emerges As Alleged Beneficiary Denies Yakasai's Claim of Sharing N53m with Committee

 

Tanko Yakasai on Wednesday, January 6, confirmed that Chief Tony Anenih gave him and eight other prominent Northerners N53m for advocacy visit to northern traditional rulers.

 

Yakasai, who was the former Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari said he received the money after Anenih had asked him to suggest nine apolitical but respected individuals from the north who will help mobilize their subjects for hitch free 2015 general election.

 

However, one of the named beneficiaries, Chief John Mankilik has denied knowledge of the source of the money.

 

According to Yakasai, other top respected northern individual that benefited from the largess included Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi.

He declared that the N53m disbursed to his team by the former Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) leader catered for the group’s members allowances, transportation and accommodation on a tour that took them to 18 states in the north.

 

Yakasai said that they visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and the emir of Gwandu.

 

Others visited were the emirs of Anka, Ilorin, Nassarawa, Minnie, Bauchi, Zuru, Kebbi, Katsina, Dutse, Hadejia and representatives of emir of Daurawa.

 

Also visited were the Tor Tiv, the Gwom Gbom Jos, Ohimege Igu, Kotonkarfe, Etsu of Abaji, Etsu Nupe and Atta Igala.

 

But the Secretary of the Committee, Chief John Mankilik, when contacted by Vanguard yesterday denied knowing the source of the fund or how it was spent.

 

Mankilik said, “I was in the Committee, he (Yakassai) was the Chairman and I was the Secretary. He never gave me any money except when we were travelling, he only gave us the money we needed for the journey.