… Says purported authorisarion letter forged
From Fred Itua, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) worsened at the weekend, with the Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Habibat Lawal, disowning a director in her office, Oyinlola Adedolapo E, for allegedly writing a letter allegedly recognising the dissolved executive of the association.
The SGF said the offensive letter entitled: “Re: Notification in the change of leadership in the National Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON)” and dated July 10 was forged and therefore should be disregarded.
The letter read in part: “I am directed to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter dated 29th June 2017 on the above subject matter and to convey the acceptance and recognition of the ALGON National Executive Committee (NEC) decision that elected Hon. Gambo T.Tanko as the president of ALGON.”
But the SGF in another letter dated July 18, 2017 and signed by Ajiboso A. O, Deputy Director (S&LGA) for permanent secretary (PEAO) said: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref. No. ALGON/OPAD/018/24c dated 17th July, 2017 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the letter referred to was forged and did not emanate from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the and as such the content should be disregarded.
“I am to add that it is equally disturbing to drag this exalted office into the leadership crisis of your association and to state unequivocally that ALGON should put her house in order so as to continue to preserve the noble objectives of its founding fathers.”
ALGON had in a letter to the Senate Committee on State and Local Government dated June 29 sought Senate’s intervention to end the leadership crisis in the association.
It said the National Working Committee of the Association had on June 29 dissolved the Ahmed Ibrahim Karaye led Exco and equally appointed Gambo T. Tanko, chairman, Rafi L.G.A of Niger State as the new president of ALGON.
It noted that the change was made possible following section 17.2 of the ALGON constitution which stipulated that “a member representing a local government council, who ceases to be a member of the local government council, automatically ceases to be a member of the association, or any organ thereof.
It added that “the constitutional provision caught up with Ahmed Ibrahim Karaye whose tenure as chairman in Kano State has ended.”
ALGON said it was against the prevailing background it sought the intervention of the committee in the matter.The letter was copied to the Inspector General of Police and Department of State Security (DSS).