Arms Scandal: Alaafin Denies Involvement

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Wednesday, disassociated himself from the Traditional Council of Nigeria (TCN), which allegedly got involved in the $2.1billion arms cash disbursed by the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki. It would be recalled that the Contracts Verification Committee (CVC), inaugurated by the Office of the National Security Adviser listed TCN as one of the beneficiaries of the slush fund. Speaking at a special media parley as part of activities to celebrate his 45 years on the throne, Oba Adeyemi Insisted that he had raised opposition to the setting up of the Council, when it was brought to him some years ago. The monarch further explained that the reason for his opposition at the time hinged on what he termed, ‘the illegality of such organisation and the potential acrimony it could breed among traditional rulers.’ Oba Adeyemi, who maintained that there can be no centralised traditional council because it violates the provision of the Constitution, stated that no traditional ruler in the state’s 33 local governments collected any money.The monarch also charged President Muhammadu Buhari, and the anti-graft agencies, to be careful about the mode of operation being employed in the fight against corruption. The Alaafin said; “People in authority should know their limitations too, and do everything in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution in order not to be seen as vindictive.”