Ogun state chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dissociated itself and its chieftain, Segun Osoba, the former governor of the state from those that collected and shared N100 million claimed to have been distributed among party officials at state branches of the party by its national chairman, Olu Falae.
It will be recalled that a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Tony Anenih alleged to have given N100 million to Olu Falae, the national chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the run off to the 2015 general elections meant for arms transaction, which Falae claimed to have shared to the officials and members of the party at the state level.
Former Secretary to the Government of Federation had earlier claimed that the N100 million which was part of $2 billion arms fund allegedly diverted by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and given to him by Tony Anenih, former Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees for onward distribution among party officials and members in the state branches across the country ahead of 2015 general elections.
But, in a swift reaction to Falae’s claims, the Ogun state chapter of Social Democratic Party (SDP) debunked the claims and declared that Ogun state chapter of SDP “was never informed of any donation of funds to the party by the PDP or any other party and did not receive any financial or campaign logistics assistance from National Secretariat of our party or any of its principal officers.”
In a press statement jointly signed and issued in Abeokuta on Sunday by Olu Agemo, State chairman and Clement Adeniyi, State Publicity Secretary, the Ogun state chapter of the party exonerated itself and its leader in the state, Segun Osoba from being part of the largesse sharers at any point in time, adding that the state chapter of the party had made its positions clear on the sources of its campaign funding through advertised publications in some national dailies in April 2015.
The press statement issued in Abeokuta to some journalists reads: “That, the SDP in Ogun state was never notified of, or involved in any negotiation to partner with the PDP or any other party for the purpose of winning the election or maintaining peace during the period and was never informed by the National Secretariat of our party of the decision to adopt former President Goodluck Jonathan or any other candidate as the party’s presidential candidate.”
The party however, pleaded with its members and supporters that had received the revelations in the state to remain calm, adding that: “we assure you that the SDP in Ogun state will continue to operate within ethical and moral norms as laid out in the principles of Progressive welfarism estblished by our progenitor – Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the struggle to etablish an egalitarian, peaceful and equitable nation.”
