The Ondo Elites Assembly has asked the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to give account of the N17 billion that allegedly accrued into the state’s coffers in the last seven weeks.
The group also challenged the Governor to justify the increase of his security votes to N3 billion despite the economic crisis in the country and the state in particular.
The Elites Assembly in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Chief Yemi Oladiran, also accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of being behind the purported reaction of the Organised Labour in the state, adding that the statement never emanated from the union Leaders.
The statement reads:”We read with dismay the allegation of financial recklessness against the governor of Ondo state, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa. For us, we are less concerned about the politics or otherwise behind the publication or motives of the group involved.
“As stakeholders in the state, we are particularly interested in the content of the allegations. Having waited for over 24 hours since the news broke, with no reaction from the Governor or the state government to dispute the allegations and set the record straight, we are left with no options than to assume that the Governor is culpable.
“Despite the challenges that have befallen our state recently, We can not lose sight of the uniqueness of our dear state. This is the state of late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Late Baba Adebayo Adefarati, Late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, Dr. Segun Mimiko and Late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. We are too sophisticated to be hoodwinked. We are intelligent and enlightened people.
“We have observed the evasive strategies of the Governor each time serious issues of this nature are being raised. Till now, except the hogwash and panic statement made by Mr Aiyedatiwa’s hireling which was not from the Labour leaders, the governor has not denied the allegations that he had received N17 billion in the last seven weeks. Also, no statement has denied that allegation that Governor Aiyedatiwa has increased his security votes to N3 billion.
“In view of these, we are challenging the governor to give account of the N17 billion received in the last seven weeks. We are also asking him to justify the receipt of N3 billion security vote.
“We are equally not oblivious of the fact that no new project has been initiated in the last seven weeks. The existing projects were initiated by the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. We are therefore, asking Governor Aiyedatiwa to tell the people of Ondo State how the N17 billion received in the last seven weeks is being managed and the reason behind the increase of his security vote.
“It’s also sad that despite the difficulties faced by the ordinary citizen of the state, coupled with the backlogs of gratuities, Governor Aiyedatiwa is spending state resources on party officials in his quest to achieve his gubernatorial ambition.
“We are calling on the good people of Ondo State to be vigilant and demand accountability from this new sherif. We know for a fact that the report credited to the State leadership of the organized labour is untrue. They have no reason to dissociate themselves from the truth. No one can deny any Public Servant the right to cry out if things are going wrong in the State. The mere fact that the statement was forged and criminally done with the name of the Organized Labour showed an attempt to cover up the truth.
