BY OLA AJAYI
IBADAN — The governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has challenged Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to make it public if he collected any money as alleged by some people he called perceived political foes.

While addressing newsmen in his Oluyole residence yesterday, Ajimobi said it was derogatory to him that some people could say he collected money from the government which he openly accused of corruption.

He said, “my strength is built on my integrity. When you claim integrity, you don’t even take money from your friends to mortgage the interest of others. For me to take such money is a sin. People who know me know that I cannot collect such money from friends not to talk of an opponent I criticize daily for profligacy and poor performance”.

“Even as a senator, I rejected the bribe for third term agenda of the then Mr President which was a huge amount of money. Again, if I complain that people are corrupt and I now take money from them, then I am worse than they are.

“I also wonder how it would have been possible for me to sit and talk about money with the governor after fighting to reclaim my mandate up to the Court of Appeal. We employed the best lawyers – the same people that handled Governor Oshiomhole’s case. They are peddling the rumour because they know that we are the candidate to beat in this election.”

May God not forgive me if I took money from Governor Akala. May He punish me.”

“I challenge Akala to publish it if he has give me a kobo. At least, everybody in Oyo State knows that if you abuse Akala, he will publish what he has done for you. I also wonder how it would have been possible for me to sit and talk about money with the governor after fighting to reclaim my mandate up to the Court of Appeal, he noted.

We employed the best lawyers – the same people that handled Governor Oshiomhole’s case. They are peddling the rumour because they know that we are the candidate to beat in this election. May God not forgive me if I took money from Governor Akala. May He punish me.