By: Oluwatosin Adesola
Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly were yesterday presented with the 2020 Model of SUV KIA Sportage as official vehicles by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Presenting the vehicles to the state legislators at the Government House in Akure, Governor Akeredolu said his administration though constrained by the dwindling resources accruing to the state at this time will continue to keep to its promises.
He said, “what matters to me is that when we make promises we keep them. It is not for political reasons. We have been on this car issue for a while and luckily, it came today just before the flag off. Nobody is doing it for political reason. This is an improvement on what we had last.”
Responding on behalf of his colleagues the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Bamidele Oloyelogun appreciated the governor for being a faithful servant leader.
This is the second time Governor Akeredolu would present members of the Ondo State House of Assembly with official vehicles in three and half years.
It will be recalled that Governor Akeredolu had in December 2018 presented offical vehicles to members of the 8th assembly who were elected during the administration of former Governor Segun Mimiko.
PDP REACTS TO CAR GIFT
Reacting to the development, the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, described the car gift as a waste of resources on mere Greek gifts.
In a Press Statement today signed by Kennedy Peretei, the state Publicity Secretary of the party and a copy made available for SUNSHINETRUTH, the PDP said Akeredolu is desperate to placate the state lawmakers.
Peretei said, “AKEREDOLU’S SUV RAIN: WASTEFUL AND MERE GREEK GIFTS. In a desperate move to placate Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, newly “selected” Local Government Chairmen, some Traditional Rulers and Chief Imams, ahead of the October 10 Gubernatorial Elections, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has begun 2020 Model Kia SUV rain in Ondo State. More than fifty pieces of these vehicles have been delivered to Government House, Akure for distribution.
“At the ceremony where Legislators received these Greek gifts, Akeredolu remarked that the timing for giving them these cars has no political undertone. Why did he have to wait till now that Election is around the corner to donate these cars?
“Last year, the Ondo State House of Assembly adjourned for more than five weeks because of a dangerous python that dropped from the ceiling of the Chambers of the Assembly during planery session.
“The Governor and the Legislators traded accusations of neglect and welfare of Members and the Assembly Complex that harboured reptiles. It is therefore suspicious for the Governor to suddenly show care and attention for the Legislators amongst whom he could not secure the constitutionally required number to impeach his estranged Deputy Mr. Agboola Ajayi.
“The same is true for Traditional Rulers that Akeredolu had shown great disrespect since he was sworn in as Governor of Ondo State.
“The Akeredolu led APC Government has demonstrated insensitivity to the plight of the Ondo State people by this gesture.
“Just twenty four hours after President Muhammadu Buhari increased the pump price of petrol from #143 to #161 per litre and a 150% increase in Electricity consumption per Kwh, the best Akeredolu could do is to use tax payers money to induce the political class to curry their favour. The move is vexatious and amounts to adding salt on injury.
“Akeredolu should show us where this wasteful and misplaced gifts are captured in the 2020 Appropriation Act.
“Our anger is not against the beneficiaries of these luxury cars but the timing and purpose the gifts are expected to achieve,” Peretei lamented.