Prove fund diversion, Afenifere dares LP chieftain
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, described as reckless the allegation of financial infractions levelled against its leadership on the campaign funds of the Labour Party during the 2023 general elections.
Recall that the factional National Publicity Secretary of LP, Abayomi Arabambi, had accused Afenifere leaders of financial misconduct.
But, Afenifere, in a statement by its Deputy Leader & National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Justice Faloye respectively, said that the allegation was deliberate to mudsling Yoruba leaders.
The statement reads “In his deliberately mud-slinging statement, Mr. Arabambi said interalia that ‘the trio of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun and Sola Ebiseni, faction of Afenifere were also culpable as they committed financial infractions of over N600million which they retain in their privates account and that of Afenifere accounts in general.
“ Let it be restated that the decision of Afenifere to support the Presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed and by constitutional imperative, the Labour Party, was driven by our historical and unwavering conviction for the peaceful and mutually beneficial corporate existence of Nigeria based on equitable treatment of its constituent nationalities and quality leadership to ensure her development as a federation.
“The appointment of some of our members at the National, South West zonal or state levels of the Campaign Council was accepted and undertaken as a clarion call to duty without the expectation and actual pecuniary rewards.”
“Such assignments by the ad-hoc Campaign Council did not include routine duties of party officials like appointment of delegates the failure and consequences of which cannot be responsibly put to Afenifere.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, neither Afenifere nor any of its members, particularly the Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Akin Osuntokun or Sola Ebiseni, the Director General and South West Coordinator respectively, mentioned in the statement, presented or have any account in which campaign fund is retained contrary to the reckless statement of Arabambi and we dare him and/or anyone in his company to pursue this irresponsible allegation even to its judicial conclusions.
“It is not our intention to dabble into the internal affairs of the Labour Party, yet it is important to observe, as known to the public, that the claim of Arabambi signing off the press release as the National Publicity Secretary under Julius Abure’s Chairmanship is inconsistent with the position of the latter who parades one Obiorah Ifoh for the same office.”
