Shittu in a media chat with newsmen said he understood those
behind it, saying no amount of blackmail or false allegation can stop the
association from moving forward.
“Yes, the National General Secretary, Bldr Buari Abiodun
(Ph.D), wanted to be the next President, unfortunately, he lost after many
attempt to disqualify his opponent.”
“I can tell you categorically that all money spent got
approval, and due process was followed. By virtue of my background, I cannot do
anything without proper documentation.”
“I would like to refer to the purported letter on the above
subject matter that was circulated throughout our various platforms which I see
as a child’s play and to urge to disregard the entire contents because I see it
as malignment against my personality.
“It is clear that the authors of the alleged letter are
desperados who wanted to hook on to the power at all cost but has no locus
standi of effecting any suspension. Our ratified constitution is pretty clear
about the procedures of suspension to any erring member.
“We all have seen the handwriting on the wall of their
desperation in the last ten days towards our electioneering process, but we
thank God for the successful election, and this is another landmark in the
history of our dear Association. I want to thank everybody for the collective
success.
Speaking on the appointment of Ag. President, Shittu said
it’s alien to the association’s constitution. He stressed, “Concerning
suspension, I am still the outgoing National President because Ag. President is
alien to our Association because we have all the necessary structures (I mean,
organs of Alumni – BoT, CEC, NEC and Congress) are in place, and these organs
have roles to play within and among each other. All these organs are not even
privy to the alleged issues not to talk approving it if any.
“On the issue of financial misappropriation, I want to say
those intruders are mischievous because there was never anything I do without
the approval, meaning that I have the mandate of all Executives on all our
transactions, because we work together, but am surprised when majority of those
concerned NEC members sensed that they are about to loose election, resulted in
distracting the attention of everyone. Initially, it was petitions issue,
followed by court originating summons seeking clarification on constitution and
now ended with financial misappropriation.
“The figure in their alleged letter of suspension is related
to the Fundraising Event that we had last year which report had been presented
to Fundraising Committee and discussed at NEC, and it is important to note that
3/4 of NEC members are also members of the planning committee, and I wonder why
the total amount spent on the Fundraising Event which was successful can now be
misconstrued as being misappropriated by the President alone.
“Nonetheless, everything we do at NEC has collective
responsibility role, and we should be held accountable for our actions. I would
therefore want to recommend that Audit/Probing Committee comprising
representatives of BoT, CEC, incoming NEC members and our External Auditors be
put in place to look into our books.
“Our Alumni Association has now changed the narratives of
how we used to do it, and we would like to hand over to the people that will
move it forward beyond the current state, I am therefore advising all and
sundry to relate with our CONSTITUTION so as to be accustomed with it’s
content.
He noted that he’s ready give account of his stewardship in
another few weeks. “I am ever ready to give account of our administration
within the next few weeks.” he said.
In his reaction, the National Financial Secretary,
Salahudeen Babafemi said there was nothing like financial misappropriation. He
noted that those peddling the falsehood are choose to be mischievous and trying
to put the name of the association into disrepute.
“I am the financial secretary of the association, all the
transactions that took place were duly sanctioned by the NEC.
The National Secretary, Bldr Buari Abiodun, who wrote the
letter of suspension wanted to be next president, unfortunately, he lost. I
believe contesting an election is a call to service, if you lose one, you win
another. I don’t know what he stands to gain from maligning and blackmailing
the president of financial misappropriation.
“As the financial secretary, I can tell you authoritatively
that there was nothing like financial misappropriation.
In the same vein, the National Treasurer, Mr Tiramiyu
Obasanjo said what the National Secretary did was illegal. He stressed “Who
gave approval for the meeting he conveyed where he suspended the president?
Speaking further, the treasurer said, “I am the National
Treasurer, all our expenses were fully documented and proper approval were
given.”
“It’s sad that some individuals would just decide to blackmail fellow being all because you couldn’t get what you planned for. Truly, the National Secretary wanted to succeed the outgoing president, unfortunately, he lost. By the time he saw that he won’t be able to win the election, he went to court to obtain a court injunction, unfortunately, what the injunction said has nothing to do with our election.
On Sunday, the National President of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede Alumni Association (FPEA), Bashir Shittu, was suspended over allegations of financial misappropriation and abuse of power.
The information was contained in a letter signed by Buhari T. Abiodun, the association’s National General Secretary. The group disclosed that the suspended national president, Shittu had violated some sections of FPEA Constitution.
In the letter, the sum of ten million, thirty thousand, nine
hundred and sixty one Naira and ninety Kobo (N10,030,961:90) was expended by
the president without making any recourse to the National Executive Council for
approval.
According to the letter, “Three previous NEC meetings were
held where a qualitative explanation was requested from the president on how he
spent the money and who gave the approval.
“It was also agreed that further expenditure should be put
on hold until a detailed explanation and report were presented for ratification
but the president still went ahead to approve a total sum of four hundred and
thirty thousand Naira (N430,000), out of which a sum of two hundred and sixty
thousand Naira (N260,000) was approved to himself.
“The NEC in her emergency meeting held today, after thorough deliberations, rose to suspend the president indefinitely and appointed Mr Samson Ogundipe (Vice President 1) as Acting National President.”