How Jonathan spent N1bn on U.S lobbyists – Report

Documentary evidence from the United States Department of Justice has revealed how former President Goodluck Jonathan spent $4,415,321 million (over N1.01 billion) on American lobbyists in 2014. The lobbyists were hired to provide various services intended to ensure a favourable image in the United States for his administration, according to filings for 2014 submitted to the U.S Congress by the Attorney-General.

The key beneficiary of the deals was PR firm, Levick Strategic Communications, which was hired by a subsidiary of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN Bizcom, to assist in a range of government affairs and public relations matters for $1,641,384.65 over a six-month period ending December 31, 2014. Mercury Public Affairs, LLC/dba Mercury/ Clark & Weinstock got $975,165.42 to provide bilateral diplomatic, economic and security relations between the U.S and Nigeria. Mercury was also expected to assist with media strategy and communications.

McBee Strategic Consulting was paid $135,000 for media relations and provided “commercial communications and media relations services on behalf of the foreign principal to increase Nigeria’s media profile, promote news media and social media engagement, and media monitoring.”

For the sum of $49,500, Potomac Square Group provided public affairs consulting and contacted the media and U.S. government officials on behalf of the administration. Some other lobbying firms also provided services for the Jonathan administration but did not report any finances. Interestingly, embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), spent over $1 million on American lobbying firm, Squire Patton Boggs, in 2014.

Dasuki, who has been kept under house arrest in the last two weeks by the Department for State Services, engaged the lobbyist to advise his office “on security and defence issues.” Dasuki paid $476,605.00 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2014 and $696,667.27 for the sixmonth period ending December 31, 2014. Dasuki was appointed NSA on June 22, 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan to replace Gen. Owoye Azazi.

He is expected to go on trial soon for alleged infractions pertaining to the purchase of weapons under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. In the Aerospace, Defence and Government Services section of the lobbying firm’s website, it states: “Our Aerospace, Defence and Government Services (ADGS) practice, with over 100 lawyers in multiple practice areas, provides legal and policy support to businesses in this critical industry sector across a wide range of local, regional and international markets.

We focus on issues that regularly impact the ADGS industry – from compliance with government contracts and export regulations, to management of government audits and investigations, to negotiation of supply chain agreements and conducting due diligence reviews.” When Sunday Telegraph called the office of the department’s co-lead, Jack Deschauer, he said to be in a meeting.

He did not respond to an email seeking more information on the services the firm provided Dasuki. The All Progressives Congress also hired a lobbyist, Prime Policy Group, through Delano Family and Burson-Marsteller, which helped to introduce party officials to Washington, DC policymakers (members of Congress and the Administration), election organisations, and think tanks. No finances were, however, reported.

In his reaction, the Managing Director of Redstrat, Mr. Chude Jideonwo, said hiring foreign PR firms to launder the image of the country, organisation or individual is legitimate, adding that such services are not expected to be free of charge.

Managing Director of Bobby Taylor Company, Mr. Bobby Taylor, said the firms listed in the transaction are not faceless, “so the question that should be asked is whether the service was rendered? If yes, I think there isn’t much issue there. What should be a source of worry is why Nigerian firms are not normally involved during such transaction.”

He further berated Nigerian leaders for not believing in Nigeria, adding, “how can we talking of investment in the country when our leaders do not support their own?”

How Jonathan spent N1bn on U.S lobbyists – Report

Documentary evidence from the United States Department of Justice has revealed how former President Goodluck Jonathan spent $4,415,321 million (over N1.01 billion) on American lobbyists in 2014. The lobbyists were hired to provide various services intended to ensure a favourable image in the United States for his administration, according to filings for 2014 submitted to the U.S Congress by the Attorney-General.

The key beneficiary of the deals was PR firm, Levick Strategic Communications, which was hired by a subsidiary of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN Bizcom, to assist in a range of government affairs and public relations matters for $1,641,384.65 over a six-month period ending December 31, 2014. Mercury Public Affairs, LLC/dba Mercury/ Clark & Weinstock got $975,165.42 to provide bilateral diplomatic, economic and security relations between the U.S and Nigeria. Mercury was also expected to assist with media strategy and communications.

McBee Strategic Consulting was paid $135,000 for media relations and provided “commercial communications and media relations services on behalf of the foreign principal to increase Nigeria’s media profile, promote news media and social media engagement, and media monitoring.”

For the sum of $49,500, Potomac Square Group provided public affairs consulting and contacted the media and U.S. government officials on behalf of the administration. Some other lobbying firms also provided services for the Jonathan administration but did not report any finances. Interestingly, embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), spent over $1 million on American lobbying firm, Squire Patton Boggs, in 2014.

Dasuki, who has been kept under house arrest in the last two weeks by the Department for State Services, engaged the lobbyist to advise his office “on security and defence issues.” Dasuki paid $476,605.00 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2014 and $696,667.27 for the sixmonth period ending December 31, 2014. Dasuki was appointed NSA on June 22, 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan to replace Gen. Owoye Azazi.

He is expected to go on trial soon for alleged infractions pertaining to the purchase of weapons under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. In the Aerospace, Defence and Government Services section of the lobbying firm’s website, it states: “Our Aerospace, Defence and Government Services (ADGS) practice, with over 100 lawyers in multiple practice areas, provides legal and policy support to businesses in this critical industry sector across a wide range of local, regional and international markets.

We focus on issues that regularly impact the ADGS industry – from compliance with government contracts and export regulations, to management of government audits and investigations, to negotiation of supply chain agreements and conducting due diligence reviews.” When Sunday Telegraph called the office of the department’s co-lead, Jack Deschauer, he said to be in a meeting.

He did not respond to an email seeking more information on the services the firm provided Dasuki. The All Progressives Congress also hired a lobbyist, Prime Policy Group, through Delano Family and Burson-Marsteller, which helped to introduce party officials to Washington, DC policymakers (members of Congress and the Administration), election organisations, and think tanks. No finances were, however, reported.

In his reaction, the Managing Director of Redstrat, Mr. Chude Jideonwo, said hiring foreign PR firms to launder the image of the country, organisation or individual is legitimate, adding that such services are not expected to be free of charge.

Managing Director of Bobby Taylor Company, Mr. Bobby Taylor, said the firms listed in the transaction are not faceless, “so the question that should be asked is whether the service was rendered? If yes, I think there isn’t much issue there. What should be a source of worry is why Nigerian firms are not normally involved during such transaction.”

He further berated Nigerian leaders for not believing in Nigeria, adding, “how can we talking of investment in the country when our leaders do not support their own?”

Jonathan: I never approved any $2bn arms deal

Says ‘People play politics with very serious issues’

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described as “untrue” allegations surrounding his former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) that his administration awarded contract for arms procurement to the tune of $2 billion. He said his government never awarded any contract in the range of $2 billion as alleged.

The former president spoke on Thursday in Washington DC, United States on “Presidential elections and democratic consolidation in Africa: Case studies on Nigeria and Tanzania,” a conversational forum, co-hosted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Jonathan, who expressed regret at the controversies generated by the arms procurement deal, queried:

“Where did the money come from? I did not award a contract of $2billion for procurement of weapons.” President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday ordered the arrest of Dasuki, accusing him of stealing around $2 billion received for phantom arms contracts.

Buhari’s order followed the submission of a presidential investigation committee report into arms procurement under Jonathan’s administration, which revealed in its interim report that it found extra-budgetary spending by the Jonathan’s administration to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional $2.2 billion in the foreign currency component, all managed and supervised by Dasuki.

However, Jonathan while speaking at the forum moderated by USIP Senior Advisor to the US President and member, NDI Board of Directors, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, where he was the sole speaker, the former president said: “Sometimes, I feel sad when people mention these figures.” It would be recalled that arms procurement was supposed to be under the purview of the Defence Ministry but its inability to deliver prompted Jonathan to shift the task to the NSA in September last year.

It was also gathered that normally, the NSA only advises on procurement. Following the development, the NSA was said to have sought arms and ammunition from a wide range of eastern European and Asian countries as some western states, where equipment was sought previously, were concerned with possible human rights abuses.

Large orders finally arrived early this year and played crucial role in turning around the fight against Boko Haram, according to diplomats. But Dasuki in a state-ment issued on Wednesday had denied that all contracts and accruing payments were made based on the approval of Jonathan, adding that due process and military procurement regulations were followed in all the transactions.

“Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment,” said Dasuki. Speaking pointedly about his successor, Jonathan said:

“When the president (Buhari) paid official visit to the US, there were some figures that were mentioned that I don’t believe.” He also drew attention to figures like the $150 billion alleged to have been stolen in previous Nigerian administrations, but Jonathan scoffed at the probability of “$150 billion American money” being missing and “Americans will not know where it is,” adding that at any rate President Buhari did not accuse his administration. “He didn’t say my government, he said previous administration. “$150 billion is not N150 billion,” he stated, suggesting, “people play politics with very serious issues.”

Why Obasanjo’s third term bid failed, by Jonathan

Obasanjo

Nigeria’s immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan in Washington DC faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that he did not actually push a third term bid.

Instead, Jonathan said the former president agitated for a third term in office but failed to actualise it. Jonathan was a guest of the U.S National Democratic Institute (NDI) in the United States on Wednesday.

According to him, the strong resistance of the National Assembly at the time (between 2006 and 2007), made the bid to fail.
 
“Of course, I was a governor at that time, but due to strong resistance from the National Assembly, the third term bid failed.”

According to Jonathan, Africa needs strong parliaments to checkmate sit-tight presidents who influence parliaments to consider amendment to the constitution that would extend their stay in office.

“Changing constitutions to eliminate term limits in order to favour incumbents is inconsistent with democratic principles and reduces confidence in democratic institutions.”

He warned: Repressive actions by some of these leaders is setting “a disturbing precedent for the region and continent.”

Jonathan said it is not a sustainable path and the reason he is setting up a Goodluck Jonathan Foundation to address these issues and mediate in the continent.

The former President, who recently led an international observer delegation of the Commonwealth to the Tanzanian national elections, shared his views on the elections and their significance in the consolidation of democratic progress in Tanzania. 

He said that the election in Tanzania was an improvement from previous elections held in the country and revealed that the only weakness is that once the electoral umpire has declared a winner, the loser cannot contest the results in a law court or election petitions tribunal.
Jonathan also used the opportunity to educate the audience on the problems in Zanzibar and how he is mediating in the dispute.

He said: “Corruption is now used for political campaign; during the first visit of President Buhari to the United States he said that about $150billion was lost to corruption, though he didn’t mention me, he said by previous administration.”

“The figures are staggering and untrue, another governor said someone stole a million barrels of oil per day.”