Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Lagos State chapter, has reacted to allegations that the National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, received $22million from former Libyan leader, Muamar Gaddafi.
He is equally being accused of diverting N20million compensation for the killing of OPC members in Owo in 2002, diverting money meant for ID cards, among others.
Some OPC members made the claim in a petition sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), last week.
On Tuesday, OPC Lagos State Coordinator, Mutairu Adesina, in a statement, said those behind the petition were only out to malign Adams.
He said: “It is indeed laughable that anybody in his right senses would condemn the formation of Oodua Progressives Union (OPU) which now has branches in more than 64 countries.
”It is the same for Oodua Voice, a media organisation supporting the advancement of Yoruba heritage, promotion of language, music, arts, unity and social-cultural values among the Yorubas. I think Otunba Adams deserves commendation instead trying to bring him down.
”On the 22 million US dollars allegedly received from Gaddafi, we dare these people to tell the world the account through which the money was paid. Ghadafi is an Arab, and he was well-known to promote activities that have to do with his people and Islam. We doubt if he will ever promote the tradition and culture of Yoruba people.
”They should provide details of the supposed relationship between Gaddafi and Adams, who I believe has never travelled to any North African country. This is not the first time we are hearing such. I recall how Otunba Adams wrote a petition to the Department of State Services ( DSS), through his lawyer, Barrister Kehinde Oluwole, to investigate the story. T ill now, nothing has been heard.
”T he allegation of N20 million paid as compensation for the killing of our members in Owo is highly regrettable. We particularly regard this as dancing on the graves of comrades killed on that fateful day.
”However, one thing that we find common in both allegations is that the two people who allegedly paid the money - Governor Adebayo Adefarati and Gaddafi - are dead. It is obvious that the dead cannot defend themselves and maybe this is the reason why these people chose to use their names to give their lies a face.
”On the alleged ID card fraud, the records are there for everybody to see. It is important to note that all the signatories of the petition, except three - Moruf Salam, Adeola Adeagbo and Rotimi Akinsowon - are not members of the OPC or have been expelled from the organization long before now,” the statement added.
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