Account For Palliative Fund – PDP Challenges Aiyedatiwa

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has challenged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to account for the palliative fund accrueable to the state from the federation account.

The Publicly Secretary of the party, Kennedy Peretei said the challenge became necessary because the citizens have not benefitted from the palliative fund and the increased amount that has accrued to the state since the Federal Government removed subsidy from the prices of oil.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the opposition party said the citizens of the state should have joined End Bad Governance protests that broke out across the country because of the way the funds of the state have been mismanaged.

Peretei said, “These protests would have been averted if the President Bola Tinubu led All Progressives Congress (APC) government had been sensitive to the yearning and suffering of the people.

“He should therefore be held responsible for the casualties, calamity, and the attendant trauma occasioned by these protests.

“It is indeed a sad reality that Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had to personally dish out cash inducements to some youths, clergymen, and others from the State Treasury to forestall protest at the State capital, Akure.

“He was later reported to have thanked the people of the State for not joining the protest. What a pity!

“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 in every ramification.

“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 subsidy.

“The monthly allocation from the Federation Account that averages N10 billion every month since December 2023 has no impact on the State. The allocation for last month was N11 billion.

“The only visible project in the State is the renovation of the Government House, especially the perimeter fence which is reported to cost a whooping N1 billion.

“Are these not enough reasons for the citizens to protest till Aiyedatiwa tells us where he has warehoused the people's money?

“But Ondo State with her very sophisticated citizenry will not allow themselves to engage in a violent protest that will set the State backward and therefore decided to stay peacefully at home to protest the bad Governance they have experienced in the last nine years.

“Is it the sit-at-home protest that Aiyedatiwa is celebrating as “not participating” in the protest?

“He should stop sunning himself in the vain glory of thwarting a protest in Ondo State through his street credibility.

“Aiyedatiwa should stop playing to the gallery and use his remaining few months to touch the lives of the citizens who are truly hungry and angry but based on their past and recent experiences preferred to remain at home as a kind of protest.”

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