The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forthcoming November 16 gubernatorial election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, at the weekend, lashed out at Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over his appointment of 344 aides.
According to Ajayi, the appointments of the aides as Senior Special Assistants, SSAs, and Special Assistants, SAs, was a ploy to manipulate the election.
The PDP governorship candidate expressed concern that the sudden appointments of the aides three months before the election seems like ward canvassers for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Aiyedatiwa had on Friday stated that the appointments were spread across the 18 local government areas, 33 local council development areas and 203 political wards in the state, stressing that the appointments will enhance smooth governance.
Stressing that the trick will not work in the state come November 16, Ajayi, in a statement issued by his campaign organisation’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, described the move as criminal, stating that the aides were appointed with no stipulated duties or responsibilities.
Ajayi added that the huge remuneration of money that will be expended on the newly appointed aides will amount to a sheer wastage of state funds amid the economic downturn and hardships facing the people.
He said: “The appointment on Friday of 344 aides is a ridiculous action of a governor who is at sea over choices to make for the advancement of our state, confused largely over what should extend the frontiers of our development but chose to prosecute petty partisanship desires at the expense of good government.
“To appoint 344 aides with no specific governmental responsibilities and defined functions is criminal, particularly when due cognisance is taken of the fact that their remuneration per month is going to cost the government about N1.2 billion.
“In fact, their number and resources to be expended on them are enough to begin a new ministry. We declare that it is ridiculous and wrong for Lucky Aiyedatiwa to appoint APC Ward Canvesers as Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants; Ondo State has never been this unlucky.”
