The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Ondo State, on Tuesday, asked the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as a matter of urgency, to make the financial statement of the state public.
PDP, who disclosed that the issue of palliative funds totaling N7 billion is of absolute concern and interest to the people of the state, said that the residents of the state have declared that no palliative came their way and therefore seek answers from the administration of the fund.
The party also asked Governor Akeredolu to transmit power to his deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, adding that the business of administering the state is no tea party or picnic.
Addressing journalists at the state secretariat of the party in Akure, the state capital, the chairman of the party, Hon. Fatai Adams, noted that the party feels “duty-bound to say that the resources and finances of the state are our commonwealth, therefore concerned and interested in its management.”
Adams added, “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.
“We 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 debauchery that was perpetrated in the name of palliatives in our state.”
On the continued absence of Governor Akeredolu from the state, PDP said, since the governor “is sick or at best recuperating, thus he remains missing in action and our state deserves every attention, the Constitution has made provisions for a period like this.”
The party said, “We wish to remind Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of his admonition to President Umaru Yar‘Adua when he was ill, he said and we quote, “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…”.
” 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, which 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 of the affairs of Government any longer.”
PDP, however, urged Governor Akeredolu to have a sense of history and must care enough about what history will record about him
“He is the governor, still ailing, 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 party added.
