ALGON Disassociates Self From Abuja Meeting, Says Gathering is Illegal
- The Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, has accused some group of politicians of impersonating its leaders
- The association made the claim in a statement after some persons paraded themselves as ALGON members in Abuja
- ALGON chairman warned that such persons should not be taken seriously and have no power to convene any meeting
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has disassociated itself from a meeting purportedly convened in its name by unauthorized persons in the Federal Capital, Territory, Abuja on Wednesday, March 24.
The association described the meeting as illegal, adding that all its members nationwide and members of the public should ignore the gathering.
Legit.ng gathered that a faction of the association led by one Kolade Alabi, chairman of Bariga LCDA, Lagos state, had on the said day, convened a meeting where he was purportedly returned as the factional President of ALGON.
But in a statement signed and sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, March 24, Honourable Abdullahi Maje, said the ALGON leadership which he presides over, did not approve of such meeting.
Maje is the ALGON chairman of the Interim Management Committee and the executive chairman of Suleja local government area in Niger state.
Source: Facebook
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Part of the statement read:
“We received complaints from our members that a meeting was held at a venue in Abuja without them being invited. Upon our investigations, we got to know that someone who is not a member of the association did convene the said meeting.
“We, however, disassociate ourselves from such meeting for the following reasons: Firstly, the convener has no constitutional right to do so.
“Secondly, the said convener, Kolade Alabi, is a chairman of a Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) created by the Lagos state government but not recognised by the constitution of the Federation Republic of Nigeria and the constitution of ALGON.
“Our leadership, therefore state categorically that whatever decision made at such illegal meeting should be disregarded and seen as efforts in futility.
“This is necessary to put the record straight because there is a subsisting court case challenging the legitimacy of the said Kolade Alabi before a competent court of law.”
Recall that year ago, Legit.ng reported that a group known as Open Justice Initiative petitioned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha over the crisis in ALGON.
The petition was signed by the executive director of the group, Donald Ayibiowu, alleging that Alabi is not a chairman of any of the recognized 774 local government councils in the country.
Around the same period, the federal government, through the minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, condemned the dissolution of Oyo state local council administration by Governor Seyi Makinde.
In a letter to the state government, Malami said that the move by the state government is both illegal and unconstitutional.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
