Elder Statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Wednesday confirmed that Chief Tony Anenih gave him and 8 other prominent northerners for advocacy visit to northern traditional rulers to mobilised their subjects for hitch free 2015 general election.
Yakasai, who confirmed this to Vanguard, said “yes, myself and 8 others collected N53m from chief Tony Anenih to pay advocacy visit to prominent northern emirs to mobilised their subjects for a hitch free 2015 general elections”.
The former President Shehu Shagari Special Adviser stated that the development followed a request by the PDP stalwart to make available to him list of “9 apolitical but respected individuals from the north”.
He declared that the N53m disbursed to his team by the Benin High Chief catered for the group’s members allowances, transportation and hotels accommodation on a tour that took them to 18 states in the north.
Yakasai, who vehemently denied link between the fund and campaigns for former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, listed former minister of state, foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Barrister Bitrus Gwada and Alhaji Suleiman Lawal as beneficiaries of Anenih largess.
Other top apolitical but respected northern individual beneficiaries includes, Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi.