Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji and the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have disagreed over the political appointments being made by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The PDP accused Governor Oyebanji of wasting the meagre resources of the state on political appointments for his party members, describing the action as an attempt to syphon the state treasury for his second term ambition.
Dismissing the criticisms, the governor, who described the opposition party as anti-people, said his administration followed due diligence in the processes leading to the recruitment of eminent Ekiti sons and daughters into his cabinet.
He stated that his administration deserves commendation rather than unwarranted attacks by the opposition elements in the state.
The PDP had kicked against the recent appointment of over 110 Special Assistants (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Technical Advisors (TAs) announced by the state government. Governor Oyebanj had earlier in November 2023, appointed no fewer than 162 aides including 79 senior special assistants (SSAs), 73 special assistants (SAs), and 10 technical advisors (TAs) .
A statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti by the PDP publicity secretary in the state, Raphael Adeyanju, said the governor has turned the state into a poverty alleviation centre for his hungry party members.
“How can a reasonable government engage in this form of stupid exercise, when the ordinary citizen is grasping for survival as a result of inhuman policies of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) both at the National and State levels. Before the recent outrageous appointment, the governor, already has an over bloated cabinet with over 21 commissioners and 14 Special Advisers in a bid to to enrich his party faithfuls at the expense of the generality of Ekiti people ”
The PDP spokesman who claimed that the state governor has failed all the electoral promises he made to Ekiti people also accused him of abandoning governance for politicking.
“How can a governor that has not spent two years in office be planning for a second term when he has not met the aspirations of the electorates? The failure of the APC led government is evident in the current biting economic hardship and unprecedented surging wave of insecurity in Ekiti.”
Responding through the BAO Media Centre, the governor said, “As outlined in Section 2(b) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is the primary responsibility of the government to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens. We believe that appointing competent Ekiti indigenes into various positions is a crucial step towards fulfilling this mandate and enhancing the lives of the people.
“It is essential to recognise Governor Oyebanji’s efforts to empower Ekiti residents and improve their standard of living. Criticizing these appointments undermines the governor’s commitment to delivering meaningful governance to the people of Ekiti.
“Furthermore, we reject attempts to deflect from the present situation by referencing past administrations. While learning from past experiences is valuable, it is imperative to focus on the current administration’s actions and their impact on the people of Ekiti State.”
He, however, called for constructive dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders, including the PDP, to work towards the continued progress and development of Ekiti State.
