BY LAW IBITOYE
Ten Ekiti state local Government chairmen and five non parastatals’ Chairmen of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners have rejected a report from the National body of the union banning the immediate past chairman, Mr Joel Akinola and some of his executive members from contesting an election on allegation of miss appropriation of funds.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, the NUP chairman of Efon Local Government, Mr Michael idowu and the State Chairman of Local Government pensioners in the state, Mr Babatunde Augustine rejected the report, saying it was full of fabricated fallacies that cannot be substantiated .
The aggrieved members who supported the immediate past chairman, Mr Joel Akinola hinted that the secretary, Mr Azeez Agbaje and the chairman Emeritus, who had led the union in the state for eight years and a national Vice chairman were doing everything possible to scheme out the immediate past chairman from the contest.
The members said the national body cannot foist candidates on them. While calling on the union to review the appointment of a secretary who should not be a pensioner, the duo of Mr Michael idowu and Mr Babatunde Augustine frowned at employing a Pensioner as a secretary of the union, saying the mode of his employment gave him too much power, saying works with every chairman that emerge victorious in an election.
According to the Pensioners, without Comrade Joel Akinola, there will not be any election in Ekiti state. We have trust in the leadership of Comrade Akinola, he is transparent and prioritizes the welfare of members.
Those alleged in the report were not given fair hearing”
The aggrieved members called on the national body of NUP to send professional independent body to investigate the allegations.
Recall that a committee was put in place on the 28th of November, 2024 when the delegate conference of Ekiti NUP ended in fiasco due to allegation of Miss appropriation of funds.
In the reports, the financial review committee recommended that the embattled immediate Chairman, Comrade Joel Akinola, immediate past Vice Chairman, Mr Olawunmi Owoeye, former State Treasurer, Mr Olowojebu, immediate past First trustee, Mr Olayemi Oluropo, and former State Auditor, Mr Olakunle Ogunlusi should be suspended from contesting during the forthcoming election and should not hold any position for a period of four years.