Kwara Commissioner Debunks Alleged Diversion Of N300m LG Fund

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

Kwara state Commissioner for Special Duties, Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi, has debunked the unfounded allegation of misappropriation of the sum of N300m belonging to the 16 local governments in the state.

In the same vein, the Commissioner said the news making the round that she and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Florence Olasumbo Oyeyemi, engaged in fisticuffs was blatantly false and unfounded, adding, “we never exchanged blows.”

Addressing journalists on Monday in Ilorin, the state capital, the Commissioner said: “I debunked claims in certain quarters about the N300m misappropriation of LGs’ funds. I never made a pronouncement like that, nor did I ask anyone to write or say anything like that on my behalf. These are fallacious rumours which were formed by the figments of bloggers’ imagination.

“The general public should disregard the rumours of financial misappropriation of N300m local governments’ funds. The LGs’ funds are intact. All write-ups circulating online or in conventional media attributing such claims to me are lies orchestrated by naysayers that I call propagandists.

“I also want to clear the air on the saga of myself and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Florence Olasumbo Oyeyemi, engaging in fisticuffs; again, this is a frivolous claim of bloggers, it is totally false and unfounded and should be disregarded in its entirety as we never exchanged blows. I warn, those perpetrating fake stories should desist or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

“Likewise, my other colleagues and I, we are a team working towards our mandate because His Excellency has created an enabling and friendly atmosphere for all the cabinet members to work peacefully and harmoniously.

“We, as an administration, are now on the path of governance, not campaigns, not politics as usual, but we are here to deliver on the mandate given to us by you, our people. We agree to disagree or disagree to agree, but anything short of this becomes unhealthy and unwarranted. There is time for partisan politics, now is the time for bipartisan politics, time to come together and join hands as a people, irrespective of party to build a new Kwara for generations yet unborn.”

Admonishing the public to always be guided by truth, Hajia Ahman Pategi described Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as a God-fearing and financially disciplined person who has zero tolerance for corruption, adding that “his focus is to deliver his quota to Kwarans, and my focus, along with my colleagues, is to assist the Governor in the actualisation of his mission and vision for our dear Kwara state.”