By Mike Oboh
Tongues are currently wagging in the prestigious Benin Golf Club as caddies are set to abandoned their services to golfers following the alleged criminal diversion of monthly stipends meant for the caddies from Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC by some senior members of the respected Benin Golf Club.
Sources in the know are pointing accusing fingers at the trio of Mrs Mumud Suwadetu, Mrs Folusho Oboro and Sala Oise.
The caddies who are said to be infuriated by the fraudulent diversion of their grants into personal use by the trio. The caddies have threatened to go to any length to ensure the accused members are brought to book.
One of caddies who crave anonymity expressed shock that despite their poor financial status some members of the club they render services to could descend so low to steal from them.
Suwadetu Mamud is a past lady captain of the ladies section and has been serving as competition secretary from time immemorial.
Mrs Folusho Peter Oboro is a member of the executive of the main club whose job is to ensure the food from the kitchens in the club is fit for human consumption.
While Sala Oise is a member of UBTH who sees Benin Golf Club as more vibrant for her shady deals because UBTH is not happening.
It was gathered that a couple of months ago, Oboro and Mamud brought the said NDDC forms to the club and sold the idea to the caddies and some of the workers at the club.
They capitalized on the gullibility of these already down trodden persons who fell for it hook line and sinker
They were made to fill the forms with promises of receiving grant from NDDC.
Their details were collected including their BVN.
They mentioned conflicting figures to the caddies and workers ranging from N35, 000 to N65, 000.
Shockingly after NDDC made the said amount available the caddies were paid a paltry sum of N10, 000 while the accused golf club members converted the money into personal use.
Feeling fleeced , some bold ones confronted Mamud and Oboro who then said they had to settle agent. But to hush them, Oboro got scared and added a little to the amounts of a few.
To make matters worse, any caddie who had put in for the said grant or is expectant is made to carry bag for them free of charge for fear of being left out of the wind fall.
These days you see some of the caddies gathered in groups of four and five whispering amongst themselves looking for who to bell the cat.
But like popular saying ‘every day for the thief and one day for the owner.
Having already disclosed details of their BVN and with nothing to show for it, some of them got scared and and started asking questions.
But Folusho Peter Oboro would just put on her dark sun shades and pretend not to see the caddies speaking to her.
Mamud Suwadetu would pretend to be dashing off to pick her baby from school.
While Sala Oise on the other hand would be making empty promises that the agent is working out something.
According to some members of the club who are determine to see club regain its fast eroding reputation have asked for resignation of the present Captain of the club for his docility and lack of purposeful leadership while the present lady caption has tainted past
It was recently discovered that almost 100 members of the golf club were not registered members of the main Benin Club which is against the constitution of the club.
Some of the names on the list who have been enjoying the facilities free of charge included some committee members like the present vice lady captain Mrs Osagiede who is expected to come in as Lady Captain come January 2022.
Chief Anthony Enahoro the father of golf would be turning in his grave at the goings on.
The question now begging for answer in Benin Golf Club is why would a club reputed as one of the best in the country be allowed to be dragged into the mud by some greedy and self seeking few without anybody calling them to order.
