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Governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti State, Segun Oni, has kicked against the state’s payment of N183 million to former council appointees.
Oni described the payment as misplaced priority and an act of wickedness on the part of All Progressive Congress (APC), saying such action was questionable when salary arrears were unpaid.
A statement by his Campaign Council’s Director of Media and Publicity Jackson Adebayo said the action could dampen morale of workers.
He noted that ‘such jumbo payment cannot be justified in the situation where salaries are owed and pensioners are languishing in penury due to the government’s inability to pay gratuities’.
“We have been warning of evil plots of this government of no human face. This is purely not about politics, but about how men could be callous towards fellow men.
“Giving severance allowances to past political appointees in local governments at this period when workers are hungry and pensioners are dying , can’t be anything else but callous.
“Those who served the state with black hair are now dropping dead in their old age as they can’t afford their medication because their pensions are not paid.
“Ekiti people can confirm that what belongs to them is what the APC-led government is using to finance Governor Kayode Fayemi’s inordinate presidential ambition and his governorship continuity project.”
But Director of Media and Publicity of APC Campaign Organisation Taiwo Olatunbosun said Oni should ‘stop crying more than the bereaved’.
Olatunbosun, who described the former governor’s outburst as a ‘rough path to depression’, said he showed how ‘petty minded he can be with his statement’.
He counselled Oni to engage the people on his programmes instead of dwelling on inanities and unproductive propaganda to seek sympathy.
“It is my belief SDP should come out with sincere attitude to the people of Ekiti instead of trying to claim to be a saint, where it is not. Did it complain when Fayemi paid the money owed Oni?
“So, if they don’t have any achievements or manifesto to campaign with, they should keep quiet instead of seeking undeserved public sentiment and attention,” he added.