Failed attempts to usurp lawfully elected ALGON National Executives uncovered

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Less than a month after being sworn in, the national executives of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has resisted an attempt to topple their administration.

The embattled Chairman of Suleja Local Government Area, Hon. Abdullahi Maje is said to be the mastermind of this illegitimate push for power, tapping unsuspecting security operatives along the way.

Maje, on Wednesday, stormed the Abuja National Headquarters of the body and with the help of security operatives gained access to the association’s property.

Recall that Maje had carried out a similar attack in July last year, a move that the Niger State chapter of the association described as “barbaric” and “unlawful”.

He declared himself interim president and also inaugurated a seven-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) to pilot the affairs of the association for six months.

However, his state chapter countered, adding that he wasn’t qualified for the position as he is not their chairman.

Yet again, last week, Maje constituted another IMC to take charge of the association for six months before attempting to take over the national office.

And according to documents obtained by KAFTANPost, Maje this time around, though, got the backing of the police to carry out his mission.

Security operatives were said to have been assigned to the Suleja LG boss after he approached the Police with a ” false” court order to take over the property.

In a petition dated April 23 to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, through Charis Solicitors, ALGON said Maje was granted his wish by the FCT Police and capitalised to chase staff and executives out of the premises in Abuja.

But on behalf of ALGON’s president, Hon. Alabi Kolade David and board of trustees chairman, Odunayo Ategber, while admitting the existence of a court order, said it has nothing to do with Maje – who is neither a party to the case nor named in court.

The petition further revealed that the order did not in any way direct Maje to take over ALGON.

It further said that Maje sought to enforce an ex-parte order 21 days after it was granted, noting that the court order was made on March 29 to restrain the act completed on March 24.

In a swift response, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Legal/ Prosecution Section, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to “review against earlier legal advice and furnish an opinion”.

Meanwhile, the national vice-president of the body, Hon. Shehu Jega Marshal has affirmed “total support for the legitimacy of the leadership of Hon Alabi Kolade David as its National President”.

He said this was after a “well-attended close door meeting with the DIG Department of Finance and Administration Sanusi Lemu and the FCT Commissioner of Police Bala Ciroma where he led a delegation comprising the National Treasurer, the Director of Legal and Administration and some Counsel to complain one Hon. Abdullahi Maje the Chairman of Suleja Local Government Area who is neither the ALGON state Chairman of Niger where he comes from nor a member of ALGON National Executive Council for having assented with some thugs to break and invade the ALGON national office in Abuja on Friday 16th April 2021”.

David and Marshal were recently inaugurated for second term of three years.

The statement reads in part “ALGON notes that such action is condemnable, illegal, unwarranted and henceforth, will no longer tolerate such uncivil brigand and self-centred brinkmanship by way of invasion, impersonating, publishing libellous claims against the present ALGON leadership led by Hon. Alabi Kolade David and his Exco, to smear his image or that of the Association or in any manner of using the name of ALGON to advance his gains thereby undermining the public confidence in the Association.

“It will be recalled that the Board of Trustees of ALGON led by its Chairmen Hon. Odunayo Ategbero on behalf of its members had since disclaimed the same actions and activities of Hon. Abdullahi Maje and pledged unflinching support to the Alabi led Exco and the Director-General of ALGON in the person of Hajiah Binta Adamu Bello.

“The NEC, therefore, appreciates the State Exco’s, Chairmen of LGA’s and Councils in Nigeria for their unbroken support and loyalty, the NEC would also appreciate the Nigerian Police and The Judiciary and other Security agencies for their continued support in safeguard and maintenance of Law and Order. ALGON counsel to Maje is to use the funds available to him to focus on the humungous developmental challenges and infrastructural gaps besetting the industrious Suleja Local Government that he appears to have neglected.

“Finally ALGON at the moment has rebranded to address several challenges facing the 3Tier and will NEVER be distracted under Hon. Alabi led Exco. It is drawing strength on its Constitutional powers and wide support from both the Federal and State Governments as well as MDA’s, and Institutional partners”.

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