The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has accused the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of financial inducement, stopping the youth and people of the state from participating in the ongoing protests against bad governance and economic hardship in the state.
The opposition party described the silence and refusal of the people of the state to hit the streets and join the #Endbadgovernance nationwide protest as worrisome and disappointing.
This was contained in a statement issued by the party and signed by its publicity secretary, Kennedy Peretei, who noted that no part of the country claimed to need the protest more than Ondo State, saying that the present administration in the state has practically grounded the state in every ramification.
The statement read: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, asserts that these protests would have been averted if the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government had been sensitive to the yearning and suffering of the people.
“He should, therefore, be held responsible for the casualties, calamity, and attendant trauma occasioned by these protests.
“It is indeed a sad reality that Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had to personally dish out cash inducements to some youths, Clergymen, and others from the state treasury to forestall protests at the state capital, Akure.
“He was later reported to have thanked the people of the state for not joining the protest. What a pity!
“There is no part of the country that needs the protest more than Ondo State in the face of an administration that has practically grounded the state in every ramification.”
According to Peretei, despite the huge allocation from the federal government to the state recently, the Aiyedatiwa administration has failed to make any positive impact on the administration of the state.
The party alleged that Aiyedatiwa was yet to account for the N5 billion that the federal government released to all the states as palliatives in the wake of the uproar from Nigerians after the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.
Peretei stated that “the monthly allocation from the Federation Account that averages N10 billion every month since December 2023 has no impact on the state. In fact, the allocation for last month was N11 billion.
“The only visible project in the state is the renovation of the Government House, especially the perimeter fence, which is reported to cost a whopping N1 billion.
“Are these not enough reasons for the citizens to protest until Aiyedatiwa tells us where he has warehoused the people’s money?
“But Ondo State, with her very sophisticated citizenry, will not allow themselves to engage in a violent protest that will set the state backwards and therefore decided to stay peacefully at home to protest the bad governance they have experienced in the last nine years.
“Is it the sit-at-home protest that Aiyedatiwa is celebrating as ‘not participating’ in the protest? He should stop sunning himself in the vain glory of having thwarted a protest in Ondo State through his street credibility.
“Aiyedatiwa should stop playing to the gallery and use his remaining few months to touch the lives of the citizens who are truly hungry and angry but, based on their past and recent experiences, prefer to remain at home as a kind of protest.”
But while reacting to the statement, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said the opposition party was only expressing its bitterness towards the approach and steps taken to curtail protests in the state.
Otaloro said, “It is disheartening to see the party’s bitterness towards the peaceful approach taken by the people in the state after consultation with various groups by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“Accusing responsible groups like the clergymen and youth groups of being induced is baseless and absurd.
The NANS leadership in Ondo State even went as far as holding a press conference to distance themselves from the protest, yet the PDP continues to make unfounded accusations.
“It is clear that the PDP’s disappointment stems from their failure to incite unrest in Ondo State. Their refusal to participate in the protest shows that even their own members prefer a peaceful resolution over unnecessary chaos.
“The APC in Ondo State stands by the decision of the people to remain peaceful and urges the PDP to respect the choices of individuals and groups in the state.
“The party’s disregard for the will of the people is concerning and only serves to further divide the community.”
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