NARTO/NURTW crisis: LGC boss dismisses bribe allegation
NAN-H-74
Bribe
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Mohammed Dikko, the Chairman of Keffi Local Government Council, Nasarawa State, has dismissed a bribery allegation against him by a transport union.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Keffi chapter of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) had accused the council chairman of collecting N1 million bribe from its rival NURTW.
Mr Maiwada Sidi, the local branch Chairman of NARTO, had alleged at a news conference on Tuesday in Keffi that Dikko collected the amount to stop NARTO activities in the area.
However, reacting to the allegation, Dikko described the allegation as false.
“What is the reason for me to collect money from NURTW?
“That accusation is false and uncalled for. He (Sidi) should proof it or else I will take it up and I will seek for justice,’’ the council chairman told NAN.
At the news conference, Sidi also alleged that NURTW members in the area have been paying N100,000 every month to the council chairman so as to frustrate NARTO activities in the area.
“The crisis between us (NARTO) and NURTW in Keffi started when the members of the NURTW destroyed almost all of our parks, destroyed our cars and even beat our members and we reported and the matter is still in court.
“The Judge of the Chief Magistrates’ Court, GRA, Keffi, then remanded the arrested members of the NURTW for four days before they were granted bail on condition that they will not attack our members again.
“I want to make it clear that if Nigerian leaders are like the executive chairman of Keffi, there will be no peace because Dikko is not neutral in discharging his duties; he has taken side by supporting any negative acts done by the members of the NURTW.
“The executive chairman said that before his tenure expire, he will make sure that NARTO operation does not exist in Keffi. I can confirm this statement because he made one of his brothers to be chairman of NURTW in Keffi,” he said.
However, Sidi commended the Emir of Keffi, Dr Chindo Yamusa III, for intervening in the crisis, adding that despite his intervention, the members of NURTW took over eight out of NARTO’s nine parks in Keffi.
The chairman urged his members to continue to be law abiding and respect constituted authorities as the officials were doing their best to seek for justice in the court of law in the interest of peace and national development. (NAN)
AKW/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola