The Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa bribed youths and other groups to discourage them from participating in the ongoing nationwide protest.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kennedy Peretei, on Saturday titled, ‘National Hunger Protest: Aiyedatiwa is merely playing to the gallery.’
Peretei blamed the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the protests, citing insensitivity to the people’s suffering, according to the PUNCH.
The party also criticized Governor Aiyedatiwa for allegedly distributing cash inducements from the state treasury to prevent protests in Akure.
However, the All Progressives Congress Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, dismissed the allegations as unfounded and baseless.
The APC defended the governor’s peaceful approach and consultation with various groups, including clergymen and youth groups, who distanced themselves from the protest.
The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party, Ondo State Chapter, asserts that these protests would have been averted if the President Bola Tinubu-led 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 which averages N10 billion every month since December 2023 has no impact on the state. In fact, the allocation for last month was N11billion.”
However, in a reaction, the Director of Publicity of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Steve Otaloro, described the allegation of the PDP as unfounded.
“It is disheartening to see the party’s (PDP) bitterness towards the peaceful approach taken by the people in the state after consultation with various groups by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Accusing responsible groups like the clergymen and youth groups of being induced is baseless and absurd. The NANS leadership in Ondo State even went as far as holding a press conference to distance themselves from the protest, yet the PDP continues to make unfounded accusations.
“It is clear that the PDP’s disappointment stems from their failure to incite unrest in Ondo State. Their refusal to participate in the protest shows that even their own members prefer a peaceful resolution over unnecessary chaos.
“The APC in Ondo State stands by the decision of the people to remain peaceful and urges the PDP to respect the choices of individuals and groups in the state. The party’s disregard for the will of the people is concerning and only serves to further divide the community”, Otaloro stated.
