Former House of Representatives member Mashood Mustapha has dismissed insinuating about planning to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a result of his spat with the state government over Kwara Hotels concession.

The erstwhile APC governorship aspirant described the rumour as a figment of the peddlers imagination.

Mustapha, in a statement by his aide Dr. Opeyemi Aregbesola, noted that the issue of Kwara Hotels concession was “purely business and, therefore, has no political undertone.”

The statement reads: “Over the past couple of days, there have been insinuations that Hon. Mashood Mustapha is planning to jump ship, following the informal termination of the fix and operate Concession of Kwara Hotels granted to his company, Crystal Group, by the Kwara state Government.

“The rumors are not only laughable but also a figment of the peddlers’ imagination. MM is one of the few politicians who are consistent and stand firmly for what they believe in.

“It’s imperative to state that MM has been a member of the APC since its inception. Even when the tides were against him, he stood firmly by the party. MM is one of the major forces behind the unity and stability of the APC in his ward, local government, and the state at large. He has written his name in gold in the hearts of well-meaning Kwarans following his invaluable contribution to the success of the Otoge movement in 2019.

“It’s on record that MM placed the interest of his party above his personal interest during the 2018 APC Governorship primary election where he was disqualified unjustly. Instead of proceeding to court, MM rallied support for the party’s governorship candidate, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who later emerged as the governor of Kwara State in 2019.

“Since the formation of the APC till date, MM has contributed to the success of the party in no small measure. He was one of the few persons who remained in the APC when the majority of the party members decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018.

“It is, therefore, preposterous to assume that someone who has gone to such great lengths for the success of the party will suddenly exit the party over a mundane issue like hotel concession. MM does not mix business with politics. Hence, his stand on following the due process.

“MM’s open letter was not meant to embarrass anyone. Rather, it was an avenue to vent his displeasure over how the government handled the issue. The fact that a high-ranking member of the APC was treated in such a manner leaves much to be desired, especially, since his expertise in the field of hospitality cannot be questioned.

“I want to reiterate that Mustapha remains a bonafide member of the APC, and he will continue to contribute his quota to the success of the party, both at the state and national level.”