I never collected N1bn donation from PDP govs - Tukur

NATIONAL chairmanof the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP), Dr Bamanga Tukur, on Thursday, dismissed the speculations that four PDP governors made a donations of NI billiom to bank roll the expenses of his recent book launch and 77th birthday celebratiom.In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, which was signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Alhaji Ujudud Shariff, Alhaji Tukur discribed the allegation as false and baseless, which should be disregarded by the members of the public, saying that he never solicited or took any donation from any governor before and since he assumed office.An on-line news service had reported two days ago that Governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Danbaba Suntai of Taraba, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe State donated N250 million each to offset the cost of Tukur's birthday and launch of 'The Global Villager,' his biography.According to the statement, 'Dr Tukur had never, at any time, requested or solicited for monetary donations for the launch of the book, whether from any state government, public officer or any private individual,'' adding that 'all donations were voluntarily made by friends and associates of Alhaji Tukur, whose family arranged and fully sponsored both his 77th birthday celebration and the book launch.'The statement said 'the pre-meditated report by Sahara Reporters was, at best, an interesting piece of fiction and junk journalism, which has become a thriving pastime of some sections of the media.'He lamented that the report was parts of agenda to blackmail him and to deprive him of his popularity among PDP supporters, stating that the agenda had failed.
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