The All Progressive Congress (APC) has hired Burson-Marsteller, a London based Public Relations and Public Affairs firm for an annual fee of $1.2 Million, approximately N200 Million.
This is coming only a few weeks after the party dished out strong criticism against the Federal Government for allegedly hiring a foreign Public Relations firm.
Political analysts suggest that the perception and narratives that members of APC are Boko Haram sympathisers may have driven the party to make the move ahead of the all important 2015 general elections. One of the goals of the P.R firm would be to change the narrative about the party’s soft spot for the insurgents, using the media among other strategies.
Details of the contract papers show that Burson-Marsteller will support the APC to develop messaging documents and pursue meetings with the media in London and Washington DC.They will also pursue meetings with political leaders and civil servants in London and Washington DC and develop briefing materials ahead of meetings.
APC had recently hired AKPD, President Barack Obama’s political strategy group to help position the party ahead of the 2015 general elections.
The APC has come under serious criticism for either not condemning the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents when they started or having members linked to the sect within its rank and file.
Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ali Ndume are knows supporters of the Sect who are members of the APC. While Ndume is currently facing charges for allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram, Sheriff has not been charged.
The contract document with Burson-Marsteller, dated 12th May 2014, was signed by Delano Family Limited for APC.
Ladi Delano, an acclaimed Billionaire who also fronts for APC’s National Leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, owns Delano Family Limited, DFL. According to the engagement letter, the appointment was deem to have started in 12th May 2014 with a monthly fee of $100,000.00
Thirty-two-year-old mystery money man, Delano, who signed the document, had claimed he was part of Obama’s victory in a ploy to woo Bola Tinubu, so he could secure political campaign contracts from the APC.
Delano who acquired his wealth trading in goods including liquor and by subsequently putting his company up for sale, reports say, was introduced to Tinubu while the frontline politician recently underwent treatment for his knee injury in the United States of America.
The young businessman, who has been paying frequent visits to Tinubu’s Victoria Island office, asserted that he was a key player in the team that delivered the technological strategy to win votes for Obama during the last elections. However, Delano’s claim has elicited strong disapproval amongst APC loyalists who have described it as a crude lie concocted to make money and a disingenuous business pitch that could undermine the reputation of the party.
Ladi Delano made his first millions as a liquor entrepreneur while living in China. In 2004, at age 22, he founded Solidarnosc Asia, a Chinese alcoholic beverage company that made Solid XS, a premium brand of vodka.
Solid XS went on to achieve over 50% market share in China.
He sold the company for $15 million and invested his funds into his next venture ― The Delano Reid Group, a real estate investment holding company focused on mainland China. He is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) – a $1 billion joint venture with the $15 billion (market cap) Bakrie Group of Indonesia. Bakrie Delano Africa is responsible for identifying investment opportunities in mining, agriculture and oil & gas and executing them.
