- Abdulrazaque Bello Barkindo, in a leaked letter, criticized the NGF chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, for shifting the focus from developmental to transactional aspects.
- He also demanded a forensic audit of all NGF accounts.
The director of legal affairs of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which is the umbrella organisation for the 26 state governors, Chijioke Chuku, has refuted accusations made by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindom, director of media and public affairs, asserting that there is no crisis within the forum.
In response to accusations made by Barkindo in Abuja, Chuku stated that the secretariat of the Governors’ Forum had reassured the general public, as well as all of its development partners and allies, that the NGF and its secretariat are in no way in crisis.
In a letter that was released to Abdul Rahman Abdul Rasaq, the governor of Kwara State, and the chairman of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello Barkindo claimed that the organisation was becoming more transactional than progressive.
He added that the NGF accounts had not been audited for 10 years or more, stressing that a few individuals had turned the forum and its finances into their personal fiefdom.
He also demanded a forensic audit of all NGF accounts.
However, the Legal Director said, “We want to assure our concerned friends and development partners who have been waiting anxiously for our comments, that there is no substance whatsoever in the allegations contained in the publication.
“Our refrain from joining issues is as a result of the need not to do or engage in any activity that may interfere with or prejudice the ongoing investigation and court action instituted by Mr Barkindo.
“We also want to use this medium to appeal to all well-meaning media houses not to allow their platform to be used by disgruntled elements in the dissemination of falsehood as we shall not shy away from vigorously defending our reputation and goodwill.
“We wish to reiterate that Mr. Abdulrazaque Bello Barkindo is no longer an employee of the NGF.
“Anyone dealing with him on account of his employment at the NGF does so at his/her own risk.”