Scanty Stadium: How alleged mismanagement of funds affected Obi’s Gombe visit
….. PCC arrived the state late, I’m not happy about the attendance – LP Gombe Guber Candidate
Some support groups have lamented alleged diversion of funds during the visit of Presidential candidate of Labour Party Peter Obi to Gombe.
Recall that Obi, on Wednesday visited Gombe State, where he met women groups at International Hotel before proceeding to Pantami stadium venue of his rally.
Some of the support groups include; Peter Obi Support Group, OBI DATTI for Credibility Support Group, New Nigerian Mandate, PONAM, GOPOST, DAPO, POGG, PONGG, NYFPO, POVA, OPSO, Peter Obi Vanguard of Gombe and CBBN.
Sources who spoke under plea of anonymity said no less than 40 million naira was released for mobilisation and organising of the event.
The source disclosed that N750,000 was given to the Support Groups to share among 75 different groups but, “only few people among the Northern Coalition For Peter Obi( NCPO) shared the money among themselves,” he said.
Our Correspondent reports that unlike other states, Gombe visit witnessed major hiccups as it was far from the usual overflow, which accompanies Obi’s campaign.
According to the source, “The Presidential Campaign Council explained that out of the money, N10 million was used to settle the Pantami stadium fees where the event held.”
While lamenting the scanty state of the stadium, the source attributed it to lack of adequate mobilisation, stressing that they were left across the 11 Local Government Areas unattended to, after failing to pay N2 million per LGA.
“Supporters were told to bring 50 Buses and promised 2,000 for everyone that comes but non of them brought up to 20 buses. Instead some pastors were involved in the sharing of the money,” the source narrated.
Responding in a telephone interview with our Correspondent gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Gombe, Keftin Amuga, decried the poor arrangements, stressing that the visit was handled by the Presidential Campaign Council who arrived some hours to Obi’s visit.
“Well the truth of the matter was that the local organising committee which I’m supposed to be the chairman in Gombe, was expected to handle things, but responsibility was not given to us. It was given to people in the national office and they arrived Gombe few hours to the campaign.
“How they distributed the resources I don’t know within few hours, how do you think people will be mobilised to the stadium ? The problem was the late coming of the advance team of campaign,” he said.
On the disbursement of the alleged 40 million naira, he said, “I didn’t know how much or how it came as Governor I didn’t know anything. I wasn’t given the money. I don’t know how much was supposed to be disbursed.”
He added, “For people to come I had to go to radio station on Monday to announce of Peter Obi’s visit from my personal money because the team was yet to come. Ordinarily, they would have empowered the leadership of the state, the local organising team to go ahead and prepare.
“The team didn’t depart Abuja for Gombe until 3am after their meeting. Let me congratulate the die-hard supporters for assembling at the stadium.I’m not happy that the stadium was not filled to capacity. Gombe is a Labour Party state.”
When contacted, on the recent development Labour Party National Women Leader Dudu Manuga, simply replied our Correspondent’s question saying,”Well noted.”
The timing for the campaigns was also a factor. They would have organize it on Saturday. You know most of LP supporters are civil servants and they have to go to work.
This is what has transpired exactly, I didn’t see PETER OBI VANGUARD OF ARC GOMBE among the missing support groups.
That’s what has transpired exactly, I didn’t see PETER OBI VANGUARD OF ARC GOMBE among the missing support groups.