Suspended Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Osun State, Hon. Soji Adagunodo has fired back at the Acting Chairman of the party, Elder Sunday Akanfe Atidade over the allegations of missing funds from the party’s treasury.
Adagunodo, in a statement he signed on Friday, a copy of which was obtained by InsightMedia, described the allegations against him as “laughable and a serious joke taken too far”, stating that it may not be palatable for the Party.
However, the suspended Chairman has refuted the allegations. He described it as funny that Atidade, who did sir by his side during meetings where decisions on every party activities were made, would turn around and be making such allegations against his person.
“It is funny that Mr Sunday Akanfe Atidade who is supposed to be above the board cannot get himself to realise the basic principles of life, that when you persecute people you always rouse them to be strong and stronger.
“He always sat by my side during most party meetings, deliberations and decisions. That he is the one that has now turned around, since the beginning of the unfortunate turn of events in the party, to be a major actor in these festering hostilities is appalling, disappointing, unfortunate and unexpected of someone of his status.”
Adagunodo also revealed that no letter or report has been sent to him as claimed by the State Working Committee, adding that he only got the information in the news.
He said, “Meanwhile, contrary to the lies and claims that a report has been sent to me, I wish to state categorically that nobody has contacted me till this moment neither was any report sent to me. I only read about the audit in the news feed.
If the claims actually exist, best practice procedures, if it was not designed to achieve predetermined mudslinging and smearing goals, would involve primary and secondary books of accounting. These books should be in the custody of officers constitutionally empowered to keep them. In addition, best practice procedures also demand that the Auditor seeks explanations at least from me, if he finds it too tedious to do a thorough job, before coming up with the indicting resolutions noted by Mr Atidade.”
He highlighted the number of programmes he did while in office, which includes, SouthWest Mega Rally, 3 ad-hoc Ward Congresses,
Local Government Congresses; State congress for the PDP gubernatorial primary; Senatorial rallies; MEGA rally for the gubernatorial campaign among others.
Adagunodo explained that the decision to fund every programme of the party were taken unanimously, asking the acting Chairman to tell the Secretary, Financial Secretary and the Treasurer to provide record books.
“Were they not aware that we had budgets for each of these activities and that we discussed how to raise funds for them? Were some members of the SWC not part of the disbursement of the said money according to the dictates of their various offices and portfolios?
“What of the series of meetings that we usually held, preceding all these activities, involving the SWC, the State Executive Committee meetings, the Stakeholders meetings, the Elders Caucus meetings in Baba, Dr. (Senator) Olu Alabi’s house before the commencement of all these activities apart from our regular normal meetings?
“There were officers that disbursed funds for coverage of party activities, mobilization, legal running expenses, refreshment and souvenir, Food and drinks used on all occasions. Organization of events expenses, various religious and spiritual consultations, Security, both orthodox and unorthodox local , Honorarium for officials that supervised those activities and Government Agencies logistics? Did any one of them remember to collect receipts for the disbursements?
“Are they aware that the Southwest Working committee was the Main Organising committee and we are Local Organising committees with various sub committees.”
He called on founding fathers of the party to intervene before the matter gets out of hands.
