Excerpt: The PDP and Mr Saraki’s hiring of lobbying firms based in the
US indicates how seriously the party and its leaders view the coming
elections.
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has secured
the services of a United States lobbying firm to assist him in getting
support of the American government and institutions ahead of the 2019
general elections.
Mr Saraki, who also doubles as the director
general of the Atiku/Obi campaign organisation, reached an agreement
with KRL International LLC , Nevada, USA, through Retail Express Limited
of Lagos, Nigeria.
Details of the agreement, which was obtained by
PREMIUM TIMES, is contained in the documents filed by the firm with the
Foreign Affairs Registration agency as required by the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938, as amended.
The fillings are mandatory for all firms providing lobbying and PR services for foreign institutions and governments.
The
retainership concerning the senate president was signed between
Adekoyejo Shogbola of Retail Express Limited (on behalf of Mr Saraki)
and K. Riva Levinson, President KRL International LLC.
The agreement,
which took effect on August 20, 2018, and would run for eight months,
would cost Mr Saraki $200,000, (about N72.7million at N363 to a U.S
dollar) payable on a monthly installment of $25,000.
The senator
wants KRL International to attract favourable conditions for him in the
US while also building support for Nigeria’s political process and the
2019 elections.
“Whereas, the Client is desirous of engaging the
services of the Firm to provide technical assistance in the area of
stakeholder engagement in support of a free and fair election in Nigeria
in February, 2019,” the terms of the agreement reads.
“Whereas, the
Firm will advocate on behalf of H.E. Dr. Abubakar Bukola
Saraki(hereafter referred to as ‘the Principal’) before the US
government, the donor community, multi-lateral institutions,
non-governmental organizations, international media and the private
sector.
“Whereas, the Firm has accepted the professional
engagement offered by the Client and represents that it possesses the
necessary expertise, skill, technical knowledge, ability and experience
to render the required services to the Client.
“Whereas, the firm
will perform the following scope of work: Engage policy,makers and
stakeholders in Nigeria, the US and internationally to secure support
for the principal and for Nigeria’s political process. Advise on a
communications strategy to convey the core tenets of the principal’s
vision Provide in-country support throughout the electoral process
including the post-election period.
“Whereas, the Firm’s services will seek to achieve the following;
“Establish
the leadership and democratic credentials of the principal in
Washington, D.C. and in key European capitals; Secure US support in
ensuring free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria in 2019, and
Consolidate the strategic importance of Nigeria in relation to U.S
national security policy and US-Africa relations.
“Now, therefore,
and in consideration of the mutual promise and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereby agree as follows: It is mutually agreed by
the parties to this agreement that the firm performing the services
outlined above in this retainer agreement, along with the statement of
work incorporated by reference, shall be compensated with a fee if
$25,000 per month.
“It is mutually agreed that extraordinary
expenses, including international travel, will be paid for by the client
and outside of the scope of the fees herein. Extraordinary expenses
shall be pre-approved by the client. All inter-continental flights to be
business class with travel outside of the Washington, D.C. To be
pre-approved and advanced by the client for travel.”
The agreement
which commenced on August 20, 2018, and would run until April 2019, is
renewable on a month by month basis, upon agreement from both parties.
“This
agreement may be terminated with or without cause by either party
providing the other party 30 days written notice of termination,” the
memo further read.
“The retainer fee shall be due in monthly
installments, with the first two months due upon the signing of this
agreement by the parties and subsequent payments due on the 15th of the
month prior, beginning on 15 September 2018.
“The agreement
represents the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes,
cancels, revokes and terminates any previous agreement on the same
subject matter ever executed between the parties.”
LIKE MR SARAKI LIKE PDP
Besides
Mr Saraki’s retainership of a foreign lobbyist, Nigeria’s main
opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, also secured
the services of an American firm for the purpose of assessing favourable
support from the United States federal government in its bid to win the
2019 presidential elections.
The party is fielding a former Vice
President, Abubakar Atiku, whose relationship with the United States has
come under scrutiny in recent months, particularly relating to
allegations of corruption linked with convicted Louisiana congressman,
William Jefferson.
Mr Abubakar is alleged to have been involved in
corrupt practices during his term in office as vice president, between
1999 and 2007 after Mr Jefferson was recorded on a video tape saying he
would be offering a “$500,000 bribe” to the former vice president to
facilitate contracts in Nigeria for a foreign company, iGate.
Wadata-plaza PDP Headquarters
Although
the congressman was found guilty and convicted, Mr Abubakar has
consistently denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the allegations against
him were unfounded.
His inability to travel to the United States
since the case began triggered claims that he might be apprehended in
the US by the authorities if he travels there.
The move by the PDP to
seal a deal with a lobbying firm, Ballard Partners Inc, of the US in
September 2018, may not be unconnected with helping its presidential
candidate get the needed support in his quest for the presidency,
analysts say.
Documents detailing the contracts showed that the PDP
entered into a contract with Ballard Inc. to help it “advocate on its
behalf those issues” the PDP “deems necessary before the US Federal
government.”
The documents of the contract was also filed with FARA.
The
contract was signed on behalf of the PDP by the Special Adviser to the
National Chairman of the PDP, Osita Chidoka, while Brian D. Ballard,
signed for his company, as its President. Both parties signed the deal
on September 21, 2018.
Mr Chidoka is a former minister of aviation
after he had served as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps
under the Jonathan administration.
“This contract is entered into
between the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (“Client”), Plot 1970
Michael Okpara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, Nigeria, and Ballard
Partners, Inc. (“the Firm”),” the contract read.
The contract terms
specifically required the firm to provide an environment that would
enhance the US-Nigeria relations, “with a special focus on the coming
months on maintaining political and security conditions free of
intimidation and interference in order to ensure the success and
fairness of Nigeria’s national election for president in 2019.
“Whereas,
the Client wishes to retain the services of the Firm in order that the
Firm may provide strategic consulting and advocacy services to the
Client in connection with its relations with the United States
government, and whereas, the Firm wishes to provide such representation
as the Client May from time to time require and whereas, the parties
have agreed to the terms under which the Firm will represent the Client
and wish to memorialize their agreement in writing,” the contract
detailed.
According to the terms of agreement, the contract became
effective on September 21, 2018 and would remain effective until
September 20, 2019.
The contract is automatically renewed at its one
year of expiration unless any of the parties terminates the agreement
with 30 days written notice.
“It shall be the Firm’s duty to consult
with the Client and advocate on its behalf those issues the Client deems
necessary before the US Federal government,” the agreement states under
the clause, Duties of the Firm.
“Issues and objectives may include,
but not limited to, enhancement of US – Nigerian relations,
strengthening and advancing democratic values and the rule of law in
Nigeria with a special focus in the coming months on maintaining
political and security conditions free of intimidation and interference
in order to ensure the success and fairness of Nigeria’s national
election for president in 2019.
“It shall further be the Firm’s duty
to inform the Client of development in legislation and policy relevant
to the Client’s issues and objectives.
On the duties of the Client,
the agreement stated that, “It shall be the Client’s duty to provide the
Firm the information necessary to best represent the Client. It shall
also be the Client’s duty to timely compensate the Firm for its
services.”
The agreement will cost the PDP $90,000 (about
N32.7million) payable in quarterly installments in addition to other
“reasonable” cost such as registration fees, hotel, air fare, car
services and meals.
“The fee shall be paid in quarterly installment
of $270,000 with the first installment being due immediately upon the
execution of this agreement,” further details of the agreement revealed.
“Second
installment due on December 21, 2018; third installment due on March
21, 2019; fourth installment due on June 21, 2019, and continuing to be
due on a quarterly basis until the termination of the agreement. The
Firm will bill cost quarterly.”
It is noteworthy that Ballard was
President Donald Trump’s lobbyist during his election as president of
the United States, and his role has been allegedly linked to the
controversial interference of the Russian authorities in the last US
presidential election.
The PDP and Mr Saraki’s hiring of lobbying
firms based in the US indicates how seriously the party and its leaders
view the coming elections, analysts say.
SARAKI’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NOT LEFT OUT
Showing
further penchant for foreign lobbyists, the National Assembly under the
chairmanship of Mr Saraki also procured the services of a US-based
lobbyist, Husch Blackwell Strategies, based in Washington D.C, as a
government affairs consultant to provide services relating to creating
an environment between members of the Nigerian legislature and officials
of the US Government.
The contract was signed by the Director
General of the National Institute of Legislative Studies, NILS, Ladi
Hamalai, on behalf of the National Assembly and Gegg Harley, chief
executive officer of HBS.
The agreement between HBS and the National
Assembly became effective on February 15, 2018 and involves HBS
organising an exchange visit and training for members of the National
Assembly in the US.
Nigerian senate chambers
The firm is also
expected to organise meetings between members of the National Assembly
and key congressional members and leaders in the United States such as
the Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader, President Pro Tempore
and such other representatives from the US Congress.
HBS, by the
agreement, is also expected to organise “technical sessions for members
of the National Assembly of the federal Republic of Nigeria and members
of the United States Congress which may include discussions in the area
of trade and investment, the development of the electoral process, the
role of Congress in foreign policy, and security.”
HBS is responsible
for providing the National Assembly with “only government relations and
educational services and will not provide legal services to NILS,
notwithstanding that some of the personnel who provide services under
this agreement may be lawyers.”
For the professional services of the
firm, the National Assembly is expected to pay the sum of $20,750 (about
N7.4million) for the task of organising visits and training sessions
for the Nigerian delegation, which will not be more than 13 persons. The
agreement stipulated that an additional person would attract $1,500 per
person.
“Upon signature of the consulting agreement, NILS may apply
for an advance by bank transfer of a minimum of US$15,000 only and the
remainder of the balance upon arrival of the delegation,” a part of the
agreement states.
“All amounts paid under this consulting agreement
shall be deemed earned you and payable to the operating account of HBS
after the tasks set out in Section 3(I)-(II) have been completed.
“Funds
to cover all of the remaining reimbursables will be paid upon receipt
of an invoice and scanned copies of original receipts Payment of any
expenses incurred by HBS shall be made by NILS not later that 30 days
after receipt of HBS’s statement, invoice and other necessary
documents.”
When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the
PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, declined to comment on the deal with Ballard,
saying the issues had been overtaken by events.
In the same vein,
Special Adviser on Media to Mr Saraki, Yusuf Olaniyonu, did not answer
or return calls when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him to get his principal’s
response.
He also did not reply a text message sent to him on the matter.
Source:- Premiumtimesng
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