The brouhaha surrounding the ‘fairly heavy’ $2 million ‘new notes’ which Sani Abacha, former President of Nigeria, gave to former President Jerry John Rawlings, has taken a new twist.
Former President Rawlings is pointing accusing fingers at some bigwigs in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for inducing Dr. Henry Lartey, leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), to vilify him.
According to the former Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, some top men within the ruling NDC, which he formed out of his sweat and blood, have turned around to ‘stab’ him in the back by masterminding the vilification by the GCPP leader.
Rawlings could not fathom why every attempt was being made by his own people (the gurus in NDC) to deliberately garble and sully his reputation, while ‘shedding tears’ about the deterioration of respect, especially, for the elderly in society.
Interacting with some members of the Queenmothers Foundation of Ghana at his office in Accra recently, Mr. Rawlings made reference to the widely publicised $2 million gift he received from the late Nigerian President, Sani Abacha, when both of them were heads of state.
His reference followed concerns by the traditional rulers, who expressed worry over the negative backlash directed at him, stressing that he was surprised to note that the people behind the whole issue were members of his own party.
To back his claims, he named Dr. Henry Lartey, flagbearer of the GCPP, for spewing “vile stuff” against him (Rawlings).
Dr. Lartey had petitioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe the $2 million gift, which Mr. Rawlings has not denied receiving. Dr. Lartey indicated on an Accra-based radio, Onua FM: “The perpetrator of corruption is walking about free. We will fight them and fight until they come out with the truth, and the truth will be judged by the courts.”
Ostensibly, Mr. Rawlings appears to be bitter, as he stated that Henry Lartey was being influenced by persons in a party he founded (NDC). “About three days before his drama, I got information that he was going to be financially rewarded for what he did, and incidentally, he was instigated, not by people in the opposition,” Mr. Rawlings added.
Interesting, but on a serious note, former President Rawlings indicated that he was ready to face off with Dr. Lartey, come what may, including the use of a lie detector or go the traditional way. “Why are people worried about the level of integrity we’ve tried to maintain? We say we are Christians; we swear on the Bible; Muslims on the Qur’an; I’d like to invite people like him (Lartey) that we go traditional as well. That we invite the white man’s technology (lie detector) to also come and verify the truthfulness, the integrity of my word, and for him to be simply asked who paid him to do what he did?” Mr. Rawlings remarked.
A report on citifmonline, dated Monday 11th July, 2016, headlined, ‘Nigeria’s Abacha gave me $2m not $5m – Rawlings confesses’, said that the “Former President Jerry John Rawlings has rejected claims that he received $5 million from former Nigerian President Sani Abacha. Mr. Rawlings, while speaking to the Guardian Newspaper in Nigeria, admitted receiving the money from the then President of Nigeria, but said it was $ 2 million, and not $5 million, as alleged.
According to the story, Mr. Rawlings, prior to the confession, had failed to confirm or deny the story, which was first reported by The Chronicle Newspaper.
In the 1990s, The Chronicle let the cat out of the bag that the ex-President in question, J.J. Rawlings, had collected such an amount of money from the then Nigeria President, Sani Abacha.
Meanwhile, when the matter of the alleged bribe money from Nigeria broke, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), founded by Jerry Rawlings, put up a strong defence for him (J.J. Rawlings) when the matter went on the floor of Parliament for investigations to be conducted into the matter by the then Speaker of Parliament, Justice D.F. Annan.
A motion by the then Minority for the investigation was shot down, because the Speaker had ruled at the time that the Minority did not bring enough evidence to support their call for investigations.
Below is an excerpt of what transpired in the interview with The Guardian on his (Rawlings) anti-corruption and alleged $5million ‘gift’ from Abacha.
“… He was a very noble, quiet looking and elderly man. He was respectable looking. In fact, what he said (‘Sir, we need you more than you need us’, Rawlings quoted one Gwarzo who was sent by Abacha), simply disarmed me. So I said it was okay. He could send for the parcel (which was in the boot of a car). His assistant then went and brought in the parcel – 2 million dollars: new notes packed in plastic bags, fairly heavy. We left it in the sitting room.
“We finished with some niceties and he left. I informed some of my close comrades of the parcel from Abacha. I gave away about 350,000 dollars to two people for urgent disbursements. One of our senior colleagues, who was in charge of an exercise, drew down certain amounts. We went on like this until the suitcase was exhausted…”
Source: The Chronicle
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They aided you to eliminate innocent people on the grounds of probity and accountability. Now theyve turn their back against you because they couldnt live up to those tenets. Thats sad.
It's sad but papa j, you created and nurtured these monsters and now they're after your blood. Could I say u brought upon yourself? Indeed, times have really changed if not so, who born dog to question this man back in the days........ Hmmmmm. The truth remains; All shall pass away except the word of God.
IN 1979 RAWLINGS AND HIS COHORTS LINED UP DISTINGUISHED AND RESPECTABLE MILITARY OFFICERS AND GUNNED THEM DOWN NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS PENCHANT FOR BLOOD,CONTINUED TO UNLEASH A KILLING SPREE THAT GHANA HAS NOT EXPERIENCED BEFORE ALL IN THE NAME OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND CORRUPTION WHILES SECRETLY HE AND HIS WIFE WERE GRABBING STATE PROPERTIES AND 5 MILLION DOLLARS FROM ABACHA. ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE PEOPLE RAWLINGS MURDERED ARE YEARNING FOR THIS DAY.DR. HENRY LARTEY WILL EXPOSE YOU FOR ALL GHANAIANS TO SEE YOUR THIEVEEERY AND HYPOCRISY.ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Koliko,it's the help of the mutum Banza wife that you call yourself ndc member. The time is almost here for you people to be exposed and have no where to go. I blame Rawlings himself and I can feel his bitterness of this whole episode has made him regret for forming this ndc party with his sweat and blood. I remember he said,he wanted to step aside but some elders in his P/NDC advised him to stay,he has now found they advised him to stay only to use him and his family. It is great to be young but too much swollen headed is folly, now you see your smoothness level by your own party? Now you see being disrespectful to our leaders and chiefs has turned against you in your old age? when you are young, you don't laugh at a short person that is the adage. I feel sorry for young Rawlings who was surrounded by old opportunists and fo*ls now every mistake he made during those days are back haunting him. If ndc members are wise they can take a clue from this but unfortunately they are all fo*ls who wouldn't learn. Every house or family without the elderly is doomed. The youth in the NPP must thank God,they have the old and elderly who teach them wisdom of life so they do not go astray in this short life we have on earth. Listen to our elderly leaders and move on with it and it will be well with you. Now I can see president Rawlings gs is a miserable person who has regretted forming the ndc. Eeeiii! Mete ase mpo ni,na mewu. I'm sorry for president Rawlings and I'm praying he gets back his party. Ghanafuo Vote these ungrateful thi*ves who are going about lying and deceiving our people who are vulnerable with gifts from the money of the state. Collect those stuff but say lie,lie to them,your Vote is Your Future. VOTE FOR YOUR FUTURE,NOT THEIR FUTURE.
Papa 'J', please be guided by the adage : No Position is permanent. I remember in the year 2001 after you had handed over power to NPP's JA Kuffour, an article appeared in the Mirror captioned : NO (OP)POSITION IS PERMANENT - I guess written by Woes of A Kwatriot. The very people who hailed you and you defended with all your blood are the very ones you have made rich and are now singing Crucify him. When in those days we were saying they were ***barred word*** and not helping Ghanaians you decorated them with the statement: Men and Women of Integrity. I guess you did not understand the word then. You have helped them to make Ghana their football field and chopping the country's resources without fear. Where is the Probity and Accountability mantra they sang with you? They have even sidelined you in the scheme of affairs in your own party. Poor Papa 'J'... Please lick your wounds and sleep kuleeer in your house for your end has come in the political history of the country. Please be advised that they would use your daughter whom they have nicknamed OSU LA GARTHA and also dump her later. Stay blessed.
SOMETIMES YOU WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRINCIPLES AND VALUES PEOPLE STOOD FOR.CAN ANY ONE IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANY HEAD OF STATE OR STATE OFFICIAL IF IT TURNS OUT THAT HE RECEIVED 2 MILLION DOLLARS IN HARD CASH AS A GIFT FROM A FRIEND DURING THE REIGN OF JERRY RAWLINGS? TIMES HAVE REALLY CHANGED.
But masha jerry, wetin sey abacha say do plus that biiiiiiiig money ? u mean it was jst a gift ? Eeeeeiii so he abacha no find any poor person but u? Ibi so wey Fidel Castro put money for car tire inside come give u?
mr Rawlings,its ur mutum banza wife who is hanging u.wait till after december 7 when she finishes with u
Two Million Dollars in the booth of a car for you and you saw nothing wrong with it and you received it. Mr Honest Integrity man
ASEM BEBA DABI!