On Tuesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State challenged Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration in the state to make public its financial transactions since he assumed office in the state.
The PDP Chairman in the state, Hon. Fatai Adams, who made this challenge during a press conference at the party’s Secretariat in Akure, called on Akeredolu to publish the financial statement of the state for the over six years he has been in office.
Adams, who said the APC-led government in the state was never transparent, said Akeredolu has not been able to account for the monthly federal government allocations from Abuja, other statutory incomes, and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the last six and a half years.
He said, “We feel duty-bound to say that the resources and finances of Ondo State are our commonwealth; therefore, we are concerned and interested in its management. For the past years that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been governor, not once has any financial update been given to the citizenry.
“Curious and inexplicable expenditure has been the order of the day; therefore, we demand a balance sheet on the finances of our state. This we do because, when our party was in government, due regard was given to giving an account update every month, or at the end of every financial year, by the Agagu and Mimiko administrations.
“The issue of the palliative fund totalling N7 billion is of absolute concern and interest to the people of Ondo State, who readily declare that no palliative came their way and therefore seek answers to the administration of the fund.
“The government is hereby invited to render an account of how this money is spent immediately or cause actions to be taken to unravel the many debaucheries that were perpetrated in the name of palliatives in our state.
“The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State is more committed to discharging its responsibility to the people and will take cogent actions to expose the many underhanded actions devised to fleece the state of its money, assets, and resources.
“In a short while, we will prepare and release to the public a compendium of illegal and illicit actions taken by functionaries of government to compromise our financial health, assets requisitioned illegally, and sundry unpatriotic actions geared towards compromising the wellness of our future.”
The party also asked Akeredolu to transmit power to his deputy, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa, until the governor is fit to handle state matters, saying the business of administering the state is no tea party or picnic and demands every attention that can be mustered.
He recalled that Akeredolu admonished the late President Umaru Yar’adua during his sickness that no matter how much you love your country, it should not be at the detriment of your health. It is not your party or your wife that will determine whether you are capable of handling state matters; it is only your doctors.”
Adams, however, said, “Our governor is sick or at best recuperating; thus, he remains missing in action, and our state deserves every attention. This is why the Constitution made provisions for a period like this.
“It is now crystal clear that Akeredolu’s doctors have since instructed him to stay away from his office and state; this certainly underscores the fact that he is currently not fit to handle state matters.
“We urge Mr. Governor to please use his advice to the late President Yar’Adua and again transmit power to the deputy governor in the interest of our dear state.
“We have heard stories of how Babajide rides the governor’s official convoy to visit his friends; that is ludicrous and an errant abuse of power and privileges. The mass of Ondo State people abhor, detest, disapprove, and reject such actions.
“We also note the total indiscipline and rudeness of some members of the State Executive Council to the office of the Deputy Governor; it merely indicates that the Akeredolu administration is rudderless, not cohesive, and bereft of the required legitimacy to remain atop the affairs of government any longer.
“We urge Governor Akeredolu to have a sense of history; he must care enough about what history will record about him; truly, he is Governor, still ailing, and the health of the state cannot be dragged to his sick bed alongside him; posterity will not take kindly to this mean and shortsighted attitude.”
The PDP in the state also lambasted the APC for feeding the people of the state with wrong information and said no member of the State Working Committee of the PDP defected to the APC in recent times.
“We note the many gibberish outbursts of the APC Chairman in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, denigrating our party. Much as his many outbursts can be regarded as clownish and pedestrian, we need to address them nonetheless.
“About two months ago, Adetimehin declared that seven members of the State Working Committee of the PDP would decamp to his party. Days, weeks, and months have since gone by; nothing of the sort has happened or will happen.
“We need to let Adetimehin know that his incongruous tact and managerial ability have since made many of those who joined APC with fanfare return quietly to the PDP. At the appropriate time, we will celebrate their return.”
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