Tinubu Never Gave Mimiko N1.2bn, Says LP
The Labour Party in Ondo state has described as blatant lie, the claim by the former Party chairman in the state, Dr. Olaiya Oni that the National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu contributed a whooping N1.2bn towards the electioneering campaign of Governor Segun Mimiko in 2007.
The party Director of Publicity and Research in the state, Prince Koye Odogiyan debunked the claim while reacting to Oni's claim as quoted in Sunday Mirror saying ' I can tell you authoritatively that N1.2bn was contributed to the success of the LP by Tinubu. You can quote me anywhere'.
Odogiyan said the party would soon write the former chairman to explain where he collected the money and how he expended it without the knowledge of other members of the LP Executives in the State or at the National office of the party.
The LP spokesman said that Dr.Oni was just concocting lies to save his face, having resigned from the Labour party and could not conveniently fit into the modus operandi of the ACN because of his penchant for patronages of unimaginable magnitude.
Prince Odogiyan also took up Oni on his poor rating of Governor Mimiko's performance saying 'there are evidence about the achievements of Mimiko in the state, especially in the areas of infrastructure, roads, education, health, environment and job creation, among other. Any discerning mind would easily deduce that the former Chairman of the party was simply suffering from lack of relevance and trying to call dog a bad name in order to hang it.'
He said further 'Oni, whom I used to respect, deserves my pity. He is supposed to know better. He does not have to bite the finger that fed him very well just to impress his new master. I am convinced that the former4 minister will soon disappoint his new boss and pay master.
'We in the LP are not aware of the said N1.2b, may be Olaiya Oni collected such money and spent it on his personal projects, definitely not on the Labour Party. Is Oni alluding that Tinubu committed some anti- party activities by funding opponents against the candidate of his own party. It is on record that Tinubu and his party fielded Ademola Adegoroye in Ondo state in 2007. Does that mean Tinubu is not a true and consistent leader of the ACN? Tinubu may not be worthy to be called a party leader. Any way I think Dr. Oni is trying to console himself by saying that a host of LP members would follow him to the ACN. The LP is waxing stronger', he said.