Mopa Traditional Council Disowns Abe-Led Welfare Society Faction, Defends ₦20m Development Fund

Council says Leke Abejide Foundation donated funds to Mopa Development Association, cites ongoing community hospital project

MOPA, Kogi State — The Mopa Traditional Council has distanced itself from a faction of the Mopa Welfare Society led by Abe, challenging the group’s claim to represent the entire Mopa community and defending the disbursement of a ₦20 million development fund donated by the Leke Abejide Foundation.

In a rejoinder addressed to Hon. Leke Abejide at the National Assembly in Abuja through his foundation, the council said the donation was presented to the Mopa Development Association, which it identified as the organisation working with the community on sustainable development projects.

The council’s response followed an open letter by the Abe-led faction concerning the development fund and a court dispute involving the Mopa Welfare Society.

According to the traditional council, the disagreement arose after a group of individuals allegedly registered the name Mopa Welfare Society with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) about two years ago, appointed themselves as members of its Board of Trustees and altered the organisation’s constitution without obtaining the broader community’s consent.

The council alleged that objections were raised against the registration and that disagreements over the society’s leadership, the traditional institution and community assets eventually led to litigation between rival factions.

It further maintained that the court proceedings required the status quo to be maintained, arguing that the dispute made it inappropriate for either faction to claim exclusive authority to represent the entire Mopa community.

These claims reflect the traditional council’s account of the dispute. The full court ruling and the response of the faction concerned were not included in the statement available to KogiOnline.ng.

Council Explains Position on ₦20m Donation

Addressing the controversy surrounding the ₦20 million development fund, the Mopa Traditional Council said the Mopa Development Association was the organisation that received the donation from the Leke Abejide Foundation.

The council recalled that representatives of the Abe-led faction were not present at the cheque presentation ceremony, insisting that the cheque was handed over to the Mopa Development Association.

It consequently urged the foundation to investigate how the account details of the disputed faction allegedly appeared in the payment schedule, despite what the council described as an updated schedule published during the presentation ceremony.

The council said it had previously responded to a letter from the faction, which reportedly claimed that it had received ₦20 million on behalf of the Mopa community.

According to the council, it informed the group that it did not recognise its authority to represent the entire community, citing the unresolved leadership dispute and the court proceedings.

The traditional institution maintained that its position was informed by the need to ensure that development interventions were channelled through organisations recognised by the community.

However, the statement did not provide documentary details of the payment schedule or explain the circumstances under which the disputed account details allegedly appeared in it. The foundation’s response to the council’s request for an investigation was also not included.

Mopa Community Begins New Hospital Project

Beyond the dispute over the fund, the traditional council highlighted what it described as a tangible development outcome arising from the foundation’s intervention.

It disclosed that work had commenced on a new community hospital following the donation made through the Mopa Development Association.

According to the council, members of the traditional institution attended the foundation-laying ceremony, while residents from several communities contributed materials in support of the project.

The communities named in the statement were Okeguru, Okedagun, Adogbe, Ayinaku, Patia, Ilegemo, Ikeji and Ijagbe.

The council described the contributions as evidence of local participation and a shared commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in Mopa.

It said the community’s involvement demonstrated the importance of collective responsibility in delivering projects intended to serve residents across the area.

The hospital project has become a central point in the council’s defence of the development arrangement, with the traditional institution emphasising the need to sustain the initiative rather than allow the disagreement over representation to undermine community development.

Details of the project’s funding arrangements, construction timeline and expected completion date were not provided in the rejoinder.

Council Appeals to Leke Abejide Foundation

The Mopa Traditional Council expressed appreciation to Hon. Leke Abejide for supporting development initiatives in the community, urging him and his foundation to continue working in ways that promote transparency and respect established community structures.

It appealed to the foundation to examine the issues surrounding the disputed payment and ensure that future interventions were channelled through organisations it considered duly recognised by the community.

The council also cautioned against allowing disagreements among community groups to disrupt development efforts.

In its rejoinder, it alleged that a small group of individuals residing outside Mopa was attempting to influence the community’s affairs from Abuja, Lagos and Lokoja.

The council argued that decisions concerning Mopa’s development should take account of the views of the community and the role of its traditional institution.

It concluded by thanking Abejide for his support and calling for continued attention to unity, transparency and the welfare of Mopa residents.

Dispute Over Representation Remains Unresolved

The controversy surrounding the ₦20 million donation highlights the continuing disagreement over which organisation should represent the Mopa community in dealings involving development funds and community projects.

While the traditional council maintains that the donation was made to the Mopa Development Association, the Abe-led faction’s earlier open letter raised questions concerning the fund and the court case involving the Mopa Welfare Society.

The council has disputed the faction’s legitimacy and called for an investigation into the payment schedule. However, the allegations have not been independently established in the information available to KogiOnline.ng.

The response of the Abe-led faction and the Leke Abejide Foundation to the specific claims in the rejoinder was not included in the statement.

Their accounts, together with relevant payment records and court documents, would be important in providing a fuller picture of the dispute.

For now, the Mopa Traditional Council has urged all parties to prioritise transparency and community welfare, maintaining that disagreements over representation should not be allowed to derail development efforts, including the ongoing hospital project.

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