The Interim Management Committee of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, on Wednesday, reacted to the rumour peddled against the Secretary General of the Association, Mr Mohammed Ibukun Abubakar by the erstwhile Chairman of Kogi State, Hon. Isa Taofiq on social media and other platforms.

The IMC in a statement signed by Head of Media, Mr. Farouk Salawu, described Hon. Toafiq recent actions, as a move made by a con-man to justify the bribe collected and crimes committed behind closed doors.

According to the IMC, as against Taofiq allegations, Mohammed is not the person who asked him to opt out of Hon. Kolade Alabi’s led faction, infact he choose to by himself leave after discovering that the latter stole funds while also impersonating leadership of the association.

“Our attention has been brought to the shenanigans of Hon. Isa Taofiq against the IMC and Mr. Mohammed Ibukun Abubakar on social media platforms and other platforms. It is no news that Hon. Taofiq is a typical example of “Anywhere wey belle face na front”, grease his palms with money, he would sing your praises unending. This statement is to caution him and his unsubstantial rantings, because it is now on record that he shamelessly returned back to his vomit.

“We wish to categorically emphasise that Taofiq joined the IMC willingly and vowed after leaving Hon. Alabi’s camp sometime last year that he would ensure that the latter faces the full wrath of the law for diverting over 5.2bn funds belonging to the 774 constitutionally recognized local government areas cut across the federation through First Bank account no: 2034749191 in the name of the association. Taofiq rather than addressing the issue at hand especially of his betrayal to the IMC, has degenerated to fighting Mohammed Ibukun’s political career, the same Mohammed that helped him even during his lowest of all moments.

“We do not believe in giving a dog a bad name in other to hang it, but this will serve as a final warning to Isa Taofiq to desist from peddling crazy rumours, failure to do so, would warrant us bringing to limelight all the rumours and bad name he tagged his governor, His Excellency Yahaya Bello and his deputy Chief Edward Onoja, even after betraying him during the last presidential primaries. He (Taofiq) addressed a press conference to the Attorney General of the Federation, anti-graft agencies calling for the arrest and investigation of Alabi and co for impersonation and diversion of funds.

“On the current certificate rumour, specifically Mohammed Ibukun’s primary school certificate peddled by the same Taofiq against the former as regards his political ambition to contest for the Senate representing Kogi West constituency area, permit us to reiterate that those are gimmicks employed by the latter to divert attention and forestall reprimands of his act of betrayal against the IMC. Mohammed Ibukun Abubakar, made himself available to INEC, EFCC, DSS and even part for proper screening and vetting and was not in any way whatsoever found wanting.

“Hon. Taofiq privy to information against Alabi led faction after diversion of 5.2bn funds, led a team of chairmen to court to sue the same man, now he claims that his signature was forged by the IMC because he has gone back on his words, renegotiated with the accused and collected few amount of naira’s. The question is if his signature was forged, was his passport which he took almost immediately in presence of some persons also forged? We are not shocked at Taofiq’s action because if he can betray his governor, he can as well betray anyone else.

“It is therefore on the above premise, that we pose this questions to Taofiq, 1) Can he prove to chairmen, that Alabi his new paymaster is now a chairman of any of the local government areas in Nigeria? 2) Has Alabi denied diverting the sum of 5.2 billion naira belonging to the 774 lga’s? 3) Was he not sent by the same Alabi to dialogue with Mohammed for settlement with offers running into millions and was that offer not rejected? This questions, clearly needs urgent answers from Taofiq.” the statement reads.

However, the IMC while attaching a copy of the mandate of diversion of funds by Hon. Kolade Alabi and Hajia Binta Bello, challenged the Kogi State Chairman to tender evidences backing his allegations on the person of Mohammed Ibukun Abubakar stating that henceforth no campaign of calumny against his political ambition, would be tolerated.

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