Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of financially inducing residents of the state in order not to participate in the ongoing nationwide EndBadGovernance protest.
According to the opposition party in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, the governor who met with students’ leaders, clerics, among others deployed all means to suppress the cries and yearnings of the people amid the economic hardship.
Peretei emphasised that with the happenings in the state, the people ought to be in the forefront over the alleged maladministration in the state.
“It is indeed a sad reality that the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had to personally dish out cash inducements to some youths, clergymen, and others from the state treasury in order to forestall protests in the state capital, Akure.
“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.
“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is 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 subsidies.
“The monthly allocation from the Federation Account, which averages N10 billion every month since December 2023, has had no impact on the state. In fact, the allocation for last month was N11 billion,” he alleged.
Reacting to the development, the Director of Publicity of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Steve Otaloro, stated that “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.
“It is clear that the PDP’s disappointment stems from their failure to incite unrest in Ondo State.
“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.”
