2015: Jonathan Enters Secret Pact With Bankole, Fani-Kayode Others For Their Political Support

                                

Ahead of the forthcoming 2015 elections, President Goodluck Jonathan who faces stiff opposition from members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and from within his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly negotiating with several suspects facing corruption charges on the possible obstruction of their prosecution in court.

His plan involves a secret deal to scuttle the ongoing prosecution on their corruption charges in exchange for their political support and he has already made success with some of the suspects being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a source who pleaded anonymity, one of the early successes of the president’s strategy was the “victory” of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, in a case the EFCC filed against him before an Abuja high court.

“Dimeji Bankole walked home free as a result of a deal that was reached with the Presidency,” the source said.

Also, President Jonathan's support for Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, who is facing prosecution for massive money laundering has created some disquiet among some leaders of the EFCC.

An official of the EFCC said that he could not believe that the president would fraternize with a figure like Fayose.

Fayose who recently emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State had stated that the president had endorsed him and he also has the backing of Buruji Kasamu, a suspected drug baron who is wanted in the United States of America for drug trafficking.

Mr. Jonathan’s chumminess with Mr. Kasamu, despite his well-known legal troubles in the US, was one of the factors cited by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for withdrawing from PDP activities, as he said he cannot be in the same political party with a wanted drug baron.

Last week, President Jonathan met with Femi Fani-Kayode, a major opposition critic as well as one of the major former public officials being prosecuted for corruption by the EFCC. Fani's visit to the President raised a lot of controversies as many suggested he had left APC for PDP.

A source close to Mr. Jonathan said, “The president saw a great opportunity to use Chief Fani-Kayode’s prosecution as a winning tool to woo him,” adding that the cases against Mr. Fayose and Mr. Fani-Kayode would end up the same way former Speaker Bankole’s did as the Presidency would quietly instruct the EFCC not to appeal the verdicts.
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