The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) National Campaign Council for Ondo Governorship election has challenged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, to speak out on the alleged diversion of billions of naira COVID-19 intervention funds received by the state.
A statement by Chairman, Publicity Sub- Committee, Kola Ologbondiyan, explained that the demand was predicated on alleged diversion of COVID-19 palliative funds by certain officials of the Akeredolu-led self-serving administration.
“This is especially given the conflicting denials by members of the Ondo COVID-19 Response Team over the whereabouts of over N700 million intervention fund.”
The committee described, as indicting, that Governor Akeredolu, on whose shoulders the burden of the wellbeing of the people lie, had failed to speak out on this alleged fraud.
“Indeed any clean, transparent and upright administration that had not soiled its hand and which has the interest of the people, would have ordered an open investigation, secure and channel the resources to the wellbeing of the people.
“Given its penchant for condoning corruption and wicked embezzlement of public funds, the APC administration in Ondo state has remained less forthcoming, while officials continue with conflicting denials and endless buck passing.”
It added that Governor Akeredolu should not wait until his inevitable defeat at the poll to end the corruption in his administration by ordering an open investigation into the N700 million.
It also demanded clarifications on the alleged receipt by the state government of the sum of $10 million from foreign donors.
“This is in addition to the circumstances surrounding the failure of the state to pay certain health workers in the past 15 months, despite their participation in the fight against COVID-19 in the state.
“We challenge Governor Akeredolu to within three days, set up an independent inquiry into these allegations if his administration has no skeleton in its cupboard.
“Furthermore, our committee challenges Governor Akeredolu to account for the proceeds of various levies and taxes collected by his administration, using numerous platforms to fleece the poor masses, including market women, transporters, artisans, small business owners among others in the state.
“It is, therefore, not surprising that the Ondo people abandoned Governor Akeredolu and pitched their tent with our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede SAN, in their collective quest to end the misrule which the Akeredolu administration represents, and no amount of blackmail, threats and violence by the APC will deter the Ondo people in this resolve.”
The Ondo Governorship Election is slated for October 10, and even though there are, at least, eleven other parties involved, the competition is between three parties – The ruling APC, The PDP, and the ZLP candidates.
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