By Correspondent in Ilorin
Representative Olawuyi Ajuloopin of the House of Representatives,( Ekiti/ Isin/Oke- Ero/Irepodun Federal Constituency),kwara state,has described as baseless and frivolous, allegation by Alhaji Lai Mohammed,Minister of Information and Culture Minister, that he embezzled campaign funds for the 2018 bye- election in the state.
Addressing newsmen in Ilorin, Ajuloopin also accused the minister of being economical with the truth, petty and resorting to the politics of pull him down.
Mohammed had on Saturday, during the commissioning of the secretariat of Bashir Omolaja- led All Progressives Congress APC in the state, alleged that Ajuloopin could not accounte for N70m campaign fund for the 2018 by-election, where the federal lawmaker was the candidate of the APC.
At another news briefing, members of the state House of Assembly also described as baseless and unfounded the minister’s claim that he funded their elections.
The lawmakers said the only individual who could claim offering them massive support during the election was the governor of the state,AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was the APC governorship candidate at the time.
The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, who addressed newsmen on behalf of his colleagues, said that the minister did not in any way support the APC House of Assembly candidates during the campaigns and election.
Represented by his Deputy, Raphael Adetiba, the Speaker explained that Mohammed was nowhere to be found at every point of the campaigns and election that produced the 9th Legislature, hence, his claim to have personally funded their election was farther from the truth.
“We ordinarily, should have ignored the Minister and take it as another gimmick from Lai Mohammed, but for the unsuspecting members of the public and posterity, the record needs to be set straight.
“Lai Mohammed did not give any support in any form to members of the 9th legislature during the campaign and election; if he did, he should name who and what he gave out.
“For God knows reason, Lai Mohammed did not participate in any of our campaigns and did not also contribute financially to it.
“It was the then Governorship candidate of our party, the APC, who supported our campaigns all through. For the records, all the 24 members of the House of Assembly received financial support from His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq for the purpose of prosecuting the House of Assembly election,” Danladi-Salihu stated.
