Ondo PDP appeals to Akeredolu over payment of salary

ONDO State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday appealed to the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu to pay the salaries of past political appointees who worked with the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Clement Faboyede stated this in Akure, Ondo state capital, during a press conference also urged Akeredolu to put an end to the lingering crisis in the state House of Assembly so as to enhance smooth running of government.

He lamented that all the political appointees who worked with the past government from the state level to the local government levels had been sidelined during the payment of February salaries by the new government, saying that salaries of the former governor, deputy governor, chief of staff and secretary to the state government had been paid.

Faboyede said “But every other political appointee is blanked out. We want to appeal to the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu that he is the governor of APC but everybody: be it politician or non politician. This state belongs to all of us.”

He called on the state governor to emulate all his predecessors, from late Chief Adebayo Adefarati to Mimiko, whom he said paid all political appointees engaged by past governments at all levels, noting that the nonpayment of salaries and entitlements had meted untold hardship on the appointees and their respective families.

According to him, “There has never been such political victimization in this state against political appointees since the time of late Chief Adebayo Adefarati.”

Faboyede added that he could count over 100 PDP appointees, who voted for the new governor because of the trust him and their grudges with the PDP, but said they have been denied of their salaries, saying: “And I want to tell the governor that I can count over 100 of people he is not paying now that worked for him, that voted for him because of some troubles within the PDP.”

He assured Akeredolu that PDP in the state would continue to support his administration for the progress of the state but would not fail to offer constructive criticism for the development of the state.

The PDP chieftain, who enjoined Akeredolu to shun ill-advice, urged him to combine culture, politics and experience as a renowned lawyer resolve the Assembly crisis.

He described the factionalized House as an unfortunate crisis and lauded the five APC members, who remained resolute during the PDP government for resisting all temptations to jettison their party.

Faboyede described the eight PDP lawmakers who teamed up with the APC to challenge the leadership of the former Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, as “betrayers,” warning the ruling party in government to be wary of their inordinate ambitions and said “APC should not be happy, they should not jump over it. If they support any group, it is like petting a lion,”