• Hon. Ategbero led BOT, Opposition Chairmen fingered in largesse collection

The Interim Management Committee of the Association of Local Government Area of Nigeria has alleged that the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his quest to clinch power, has doled out billions of naira, to some state local government chairmen to hijack the association and influence the grassroots level votes.

According to a statement signed by the Press Secretary, Mr. Kingsley Gozie, the IMC, disclosed that Tinubu, through the assistance of Hon. Kolade Alabi, whom he appointed to head the local government directorates of his campaign council, shared 10 million naira each to the Hon. Ategbero led factional BOT and some local government even from the opposition, during the inaugural presidential campaign council meeting, which held in Abuja on Wednesday, the 11th day of January 2023.

The statement read in part; “Our attention was recently brought to a news of largesse sharing done by the Kolade Alabi led faction of the Association to some state chairmen and factional BOT members at the New Chelsea Hotel Abuja on Wednesday the 11th day of January during an inaugural Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign council meeting which was disguised as NEC meeting.

“We have it under good authority that Tinubu the paymaster is using his puppet, Alabi to buy off chairmen, ALGON, in order to influence to his advantage, grassroots votes ahead of the February 25th presidential election. We know why Alabi is working overtime to secure victory for his paymaster, it is because he knows that should he contribute in clinching victory for Tinubu, his crimes of stealing and diversion of over 5.5billion naira funds belonging to the association, will be swept under the carpet. Also It is no news that the Hon. Ategbero led factional BOT was dissolved because of its involvement in corruption and sharp practices, we are not surprised that they were partakers of the largesse sharing because long throat and lack of self control, has always been their forte; we are rather surprised that amongst those chairmen alleged to have received the 10million naira sell-out money, Hon. Mustapha Shehu, Chairman Sokoto State whose governor is currently the DG of Atiku’s campaign team, and Hon. Victor Egbonka, Chairman Delta State, whose Governor is the running mate of the same Atiku, were involved. Does it mean by collection of the largesse, these two chairmen are selling out to the opposition?

“Tinubu has overtime shown his desperacy, but the lowest is using his puppet Alabi, whom he appointed to lead the local government directorates of his campaign council to bribe and buy over the Association, the factional BOT and State Chairmen all in a bid to win presidency. We are totally gobsmacked at the length he has gone with the local government and are utterly disappointed at Chairmen, who chose to sell out their rights, and local government for mere Ten Million Naira (10,000,000) only.

“On the so-called factional BOT led by Hon. Odunayo Ategbero, it is imperative to note that contrary to being guardians of the association, they have rather abandoned their hijacked roles to sojourn into partisan politics. The actions of these Machiavellians are indirectly transforming the association into a ‘Political Party’. ALGON’s major problem is having men like Ategbero, Alabi, and Co. and their unbridled quest for corruption, hijacking, and overseeing it leadership affairs. (Find photo as evidence of their participation in partisan political events)

“When a self acclaimed factional BOT who is supposed to protect, continues to destroy and fuel crisis by being biased, greedy, and meddling into political decision making, it goes to show that it has taken sides and now has an interest which is to enrich their pockets. The above assertion is the case of the Hon. Ategbero and his cronies.

“Meanwhile, we are using this medium to reiterate that Alabi is not qualified to be ALGON’s president, he hijacked the association with the help of higher shadow parties, he (Alabi), is a local council development area chairman and not from any of the constitutionally recognized local government areas in Nigeria.” it added.