The Deputy Governor is constrained to once again respond to the deliberate falsehood being peddled by Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the outgoing governor of Ondo State, concerning his office and sundry security and political issues.
He is particularly appalled by the fact that the governor claimed he pockets state resources every month as if he has been doing so illegally and against the law.
He is worried that the Governor’s show of indiscretion, if not countered, will leave false tales about him and his office in the minds of citizens, residents and voters in Ondo State.
The Deputy Governor is surprised that the Governor could go to the press announcing the sum of 13m as what the Deputy Governor gets as if it was a gift for the personal use and not for the use of his office.
The Deputy Governor states that what came to his office until Akeredolu refused to release same was 12million naira per month. This includes the imprest of his office, allowances of staff, fuelling of vehicles, care of his residence and welfare of his aides.
Huge as the amount may appear, it amounts to not so much when the heads and number of individuals it caters for are considered.
This also pales to nearly nothing when compared to what Akeredolu and members of his family skim off the purse of our state with reckless abandon.
For instance, the governor gets a security vote of 750million naira every month. He, Akeredolu, also gets an imprest of about 150million!
His wife, though occupies no constitutionally recognised position, takes an imprest of 15million naira per month. Apart from this, she collects an additional sum of 11million naira from the Ministry of Women Affairs, which she runs like a potentate.
Babajide, Akeredolu’s son, is also not left out in the pillage that Akeredolu and his family is visiting on Ondo State. He too takes a whopping 5m monthly and rips off the state by taking unbelievable commissions as a consultant to the State on almost every imaginable areas.
All these are apart from millions and millions they get from inflated contracts awarded to family members and lackeys.
The Deputy though a man of modest means before becoming Deputy Governor lived with equanimity for all of three and half years in the dingiest of places in the Government House and did not complain or revolt protest. He bore it all.
It needs also be said that the Deputy Governor has been circumspect and adhered strictly to the oath of secrecy and allegiance to which he swore as Deputy Governor thus far. These virtues have been unfortunately thrown to the dustbin by Governor Akeredolu.
As a well groomed Yoruba person, the Deputy Governor has also granted more than deserved respect to the age and person of Governor Akeredolu. He has also not denigrated the office of the Governor, which Akeredolu occupies in trust for citizens of Ondo State.
Sadly, Governor Akeredolu has consistently dragged himself and the office of Governor through the mud of insouciance, discourtesy and disrespect.
These acts of indecorum must stop. This is a notice to Governor Akeredolu that two can play the game. The Deputy Governor is of the view that indiscretion and vacousssness are attributes that should be alien to holders of high office. He is however shocked that Mr Akeredolu, in spite of touted education and enlightenment, has been most indisciplined in terms of pouring invectives and verbiage on others.
The Deputy Governor is consoled by the fact that the tenure of sleaze, arrogance and poor performance that Akeredolu has superintendent over in the last 3 and more years is almost over. He understands the desperation and loss of decorum that is being displayed and warns that should Governor Akeredolu continue on this indecent route, he shall be forced to defend himself with damning facts and figures of the recklessness and fiscal indiscipline of the outgoing Governor.
Signed
Comrade Allen Sowore
Media Adviser to the Deputy Governor
2nd October, 2020
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