Akeredolu spent N160m on party leaders, members at Christmas – LG boss

The All Progressives Congress Chairman Ondo East local government, Mr. Rafiu Ayodeji Akinkuolie, has claimed that the State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, spent over N160 million on members and leaders of the party in the state for Christmas and New Year celebration.
Akinkuolie, while responding to allegations of diversion of the local government share of the money, while responding to the accusation levelled against him by 16 leaders of the party in the local government including chairman of ward chairmen, Akinro Timothy, Local government Assistant Legal Adviser, Elder Adewale Adeyemo , ward 3 Chairman, Akintomide Ademola, Local Government Auditor, Adejo Isaiah, Local government Ex Officio, Mrs Taye Stephen, ward 9 chairman, Akintan Oladiran and others.
They had jointly accused him of gross abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and illegal diversion of party fund through a petition sent to Governor Akeredolu claiming that Akinkuolie disbursed N8.9m party funds into his personal account without authorisation.
But, Akinkuolie had disclosed that the said money was given to all the 18 local governments Chairmen by the governor to distribute to party members and leaders for the last Christmas and New Year’s celebration. He admitted that he disbursed the money into his personal account, but added that he started withdrawing the money the second day.
“Yes, I put the money in my personal account, is it a crime to put money in my personal account? Abi, the millions people stole, Is it not in an account they put the money? “I put it in my account but we started withdrawing it the second day. I don’t see how it is their bussiness, where I put the money or not ” he said.
The APC leaders urged the governor to promptly investigate the graft in order to checkmate the alleged battered image of the local government council.
The party leaders alleged that the chairman on assumption of office last year refused to disclose the statement of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)and other accounts.
Besides, they accused Akinkuolie of illegal diversion of all approved funds meant for the execution of projects in the local government.
Akinkuolie, who confirmed that he made himself the chairman of the IGR committee, said it was not the business of the party leaders whether he disclosed the council’s account or not.