By Ayodele Oni
As the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Ondo state await the outcome of the appeal before the Supreme Court, the two political parties have continued to trade words over the finances of the state.
It was sparked off by the South West leadership of the PDP accusing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s Government of diverting funds meant for the payment of workers salaries to prosecute the petition filed by the PDP candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, against the victory of Governor Akeredolu in last year’s election.
This, according to the PDP, has led to the administration’s inability to meet its monthly obligations of paying workers’ salaries.
The State Government had, since last year, embarked on percentage payment of salaries of workers based on what accrues to the state from the Federation Account and internal sources.
One of the umbrella bodies of the workers, the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) had, at the weekend, told the State Government that workers would no longer accept percentage payment of their salaries.
Reacting to the allegations by the opposition PDP on Monday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, said “The Ondo State Government led by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, shall not, at this instance, serve as the Supreme Court’s mouthpiece in the face of the PDP’s uncanny attacks.
“It is, however, disturbing to note that a politcal party, ostensibly speaking for a Senior Advocate, could decend to the unpardonable abyss of branding Honourable Justices of the Apex Court ‘procurable’ items in the course of their duties to the Nation.”
The statement alluded to the seven months unpaid salaries of workers during the immediate past administration of a PDP Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, which the present administration inherited.
“The question is: for what purpose was the unpaid seven months salaries under the last PDP administration mortgaged?
“It is, perhaps, laughable that PDP failed to realise that its position grossly violates what it represented while it held sway in Ondo State prior to the current administration.
“The mindless audacity to owe workers seven months as well as the brazen dispaly of executive recklessness that saw to the sack of over 1,000 workers have both combined to repudiate the opposition party’s thrive at demonising Akeredolu and his government.
“The fact that the party does not know how allocations are disbursed from Abuja, dispensed and spent at the State depicts a pitifully demeaning scenario for the party.
Alluding to a theatric ‘across-the-counter exchange of funds between a Governor and the CBN or whoever’ speaks volume of the ilk that comprises PDP.
“The PDP is, therefore, admonished to focus on its appeal at the Supreme Court and pursue same with the desired legal industry and zeal rather than this voyage of self-denial and blackmail.”
