1 week Ago By Babatope Okeowo
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, and his counterpart in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olugbenga Edema, have criticised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over the appointment of 344 aides ahead of the election. However, the government said the governor’s move was aimed at strengthening governance, especially at the grassroots level. Ajayi and Edema, through their spokesmen, Ayo Fadaka and Oluwatosin Ayeni, described the appointments as wasteful and a drain on the lean resources of the state government.
Fadaka said the appointment without a portfolio showed the cluelessness of the government, adding that the governor chose partisanship over governance in the state. The PDP described those appointed as campaign coordinators in various political wards instead of special assistants to the governor, saying the appointments would not add value to the state or the governor. He said: “To appoint three hundred and fortyfour 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. Their number and resources to be expended on them is enough to begin a new ministry. Similarly, Edema described the appointment as ‘insensitive’ and ‘misguided,’ particularly given the current economic challenges facing the people of the state.
Ayeni, in a statement, said the timing of the appointments, coming just three months before the forthcoming elections, calls for concern..
