Members of the National Executive Council of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Sunday expressed shock over a purported communique removing their national president, Mr Kolade Alabi.
According to them, there was no such meeting where the decision was taken.
They urged the press to always verify information from the right sources before going to press.
ALGON Secretary-General Binta Bello wondered where such a meeting was held.
Bello said: “My attention has been drawn to an alleged meeting of ALGON National Executive Council on the 6th of September. I want to confirm that no such meeting was held. As the Secretary-General of the association, the responsibilities of the process of convening such meeting is vested on me or as delighted by me of which neither of the two happened.
“It is rather unfortunate to claim that such a meeting took place which further claimed the removal of the incumbent President Mr Kolade Alabi. I urge all ALGON Staff to guides against illegitimate information and to remain.”
Nassarawa State ALGON Chairman, Mr Aminu Muazu Maifata, also stated that the entire story is a hoarse but capable of destroying the main fabrics of ALGON and should, therefore, be deeply investigated.
Maifata said; “I write to refute the purported removal of Kolade David Alabi – the incumbent National President of ALGON as circulated on the on-line platform of a national newspaper.
“To the best of my knowledge, neither was there a NEC meeting nor a resolution to that effect without the National Secretariat’s Knowledge.”
His Akwa Ibom State counterpart Frank Archibong said the report is grossly misleading and absolutely condemnable in all ramifications.
“I am not only an Exco Member of ALGON, but I am also a NEC member of our association. How can anyone be so unkind to his nation and deliberately want to cause confusion to a most dynamic and trusted leadership more so that the writer is “faceless”!
“In a few days, the entire ALGON NEC will be meeting where the source of the publication will be unravelled with the media in attendance.”
ALGON Delta State Chairman Itiako Malik Ikpokpo described the person that released the purported communique as an “impostor”.
Ikpokpo said: “I am a member of NEC and whoever released that statement is an imposter and not known to ALGON. These are people who have become rouges and almost destroyed the foundation of ALGON to which President Kolade Alabi was elected to correct and clean up and he is doing a great job.
“Alabi went through a local government election and won in Lagos. He was given Certificate of Return by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). Delta ALGON is proud of Alabi’s strides by changing the face of ALGON to properly put our association to where it belongs.”
Taofeek Isa from Kogi State chapter described the report as “unfounded, reckless and most embarrassing.”
“As a member of ALGON NEC, I emphatically deny knowledge of any meeting where our NEC “removed the democratically elected Kolade Alabi” as ALGON President. Suffice to say that the mischievous individual who sponsored the dastardly publication to embarrass the amiable National President for personal benefits is an inconsequential rascal known to all members. I urge you to discountenance the fictitious story as published,” Isa said.
Taraba State ALGON Chairman Stephen Ibrahim said the person that signed the communique is not known to the association.
Ibrahim said: “My attention has been drawn to purported removal of our national president Kolade Alabi where one Andrew Alu who though claims to be the National Publicity Secretary. This is Scandalous with a most haunting venom of “the ranting of an ant”.
“More importantly, Not only is the said Andrew Alu unknown to the body of ALGON, but we do not also have such name as our National Publicity Secretary. I confirm to you that no NEC meeting was held at Nicon Hotels.”
Ezekiel Pabuet from Plateau said: “Gone are the days where imposters can be used to tarnish and undermine the image of a very serious body like ALGON that was once a formidable voice in this country for which the present leadership is trying to bring back. We cannot sit and watch people of questionable and unstable character that are not even part of ALGON and never contested an election of any ALGON Office to make such flagrant and unfortunate statement. Such action must be investigated and handed over to Security Agents when found culpable in order to serve as a lesson to others.”
