The Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Hon Agboola Ajayi, has accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of mismanaging the fund meant for the development of oil rich region of the state.
Speaking in Igbokoda, Agadagba and Igbekebo communities in Ilaje and Eseodo local government areas of Ondo State in continuation of his campaign tour o the state, Ajayi said that the fund meant for the development of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC, is in the purse of few individuals in the state.
He asked the governor and the management of the intervention agency to account for billions that came to the state from the 13 percent derivation that had accrued to the state from the federation account.
Promising to prevent the stealing of fund meant for the development of Ilaje and Eseodo local government areas if elected as governor of the state, Ajayi also pledged to increase the allocation meant for the development of the region if elected as the governor of the state, saying that the present 40 percent out of the 13 percent derivation for the state is grossly inadequate.
Ajayi said one of the reasons he fell out with Akeredolu was the mismanagement of the fund accruing to the state for the development of the oil rich region.
He promised to address the difficult terrain of both Ilaje and Eseodo if given the opportunity to govern the state.
He said, “God will not forgive those who steal our fund in OSOPADEC. It is unfortunate that this government cannot point to one project executed with our fund in the past three and half years.”
Ajayi said the way Akeredolu treated him as his deputy showed there is nothing special about being Deputy Governor.
He said the prompt release of OSOPADEC fund is far better than being a lame duck deputy nominated by the wife of the governor.
He said, “I am not going to treat my deputy the way Akeredolu treated me. I am the one that said I am not interested in deputy. The wife of the governor now nominated Lucky Ayedatiwa as the running mate of her husband.”
At Agadagba and Ode-Irele, the deputy governor said he would not show interest in any land dispute among communities in the South senatorial district if elected as governor.
Ajayi also the rumour making the rounds that he is allying with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the October 10 gubernatorial election.
