By Aisha Abdulkadir.
In a swift response to an online publication that Local Government Chairmen fought dirty over money, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Adamawa state chapter has fired back at the report, saying that the association cannot tolerate blackmail against its members.
The ALGON Chairman in the state, Hon. Jingi Rufai in a press conference in Yola said: "the publication was an attempt to tarnish the good image of the Chairmen and that such publications cannot be tolerated by the association.
We respect the media but not such kind of yellow journalism by unprofessional and half baked practitioners" describing the report as a product of "yellow journalism".
Hon. Jingi Rufai added that "ALGON will continue to partner with professional Journalists who have Adamawa state at heart and those maintaining ethical values of balancing reports as enshrined in Journalism code of ethics".
According to him, LGCs have their own source of allocation directly from the federation account and that is why there is monthly Joint Account Allocation Meeting chaired by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs where funds and projects are distributed equitably for proper execution at the grassroot level.
He emphasized that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has never interfered in any JAAC meeting, adding that development has been recorded appreciably at the grassroot level.
What transpired at the Government House Yola, according to ALGON Chairman, was a mere misunderstanding between two people, but lamented that how could a medium report that it was a fight or exchange of blows.
He described the purported report as half baked journalism and act of blackmail that the association will not take it lightly.
Jingi Rufai who is also the Chairman of Mubi South LGC noted that as responsible and critical stakeholders on Adamawa project, the ALGON holds the media in high esteemed, that is why it is in partnership with Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to see how the peace and urban renewal projects of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri can be sustained.
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