The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has faulted the appointment of about 277 aides by the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji within the last four months in the state.

The reaction of the opposition party followed last week’s appointments of no fewer than 115 Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants and Technical Advisors by Governor Oyebanji after the earlier appointments of 162 in December last year.

In a statement at the weekend, the state publicity secretary of PDP, Raphael Adeyanju described the appointments by the governor as insensitive and not in tandem with the plights of the citizens amidst biting economic hardship in the country.

The PDP explained that the appointments would take its toll on the lean resources of the state, alleging that the governor has turned the state, “to a poverty alleviation centre for his hungry party members.”

The statement reads, “How can a reasonable government engage in this form of exercise when the ordinary citizen is grasping for survival as a result of inhuman policies of the ruling All Progressive Congress,(APC) both at the National and State levels?

“Before the recent outrageous appointments, the governor already has an over bloated cabinet with over 21 commissioners and 14 Special Advisers in a bid to enrich his party faithful at the expense of the generality of Ekiti people.”

The PDP further alleged that the governor has failed in his electoral promises to the citizens especially in the area of the economy and the security, calling on him to prioritize the interest of the citizens rather than focusing on the 2026 governorship election.

“How can a governor that has not spent two years in office be planning for a second term when he has not met the aspirations of the electorate? The failure of the APC-led government is evident in the current biting economic hardship and unprecedented surging wave of insecurity in Ekiti.

“The best way to prepare for re-election is to win the trust of the electorate by providing quality leadership with life-enhancing projects and people-oriented programmes that will endear the governor to his subjects. Instead of doing the right thing, the Governor is busy running after the endorsement of sycophants and enemies of Ekiti masses,” the PDP said.

However, the publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Segun Dipe, dismissed criticism of the governor’s latest appointments by the opposition party, adding those appointed would contribute their quota to the development of the state in line with the six-point agenda of the administration.

Dipe said, “I think as usual in politics, they (PDP) are crying wolf where there is none and rather I asked them to tell us what Mr Governor is supposed to be doing and that he’s not doing

“Don’t forget when he first came to power for months, they were complaining that he didn’t do any appointments and people started complaining. He said he was trying to fix the state, especially in infrastructure and other areas before considering the appointment of people.

“When PDP was in power, they are not paying salary or responding to the needs of the people; the whole state was in the news for all the bad reasons at that time. But today it is in the news for all the good reasons, courtesy of Governor Oyebanji’s stellar performance.

“So, if they are now talking about appointments that has no bearing or negative impact on the state, I wonder where they are coming from. Don’t forget in these appointments, he is not only appointing people from his own party; he is appointing from outside of his party so that people at the grassroots will feel the impact of government,” he added. (Nigerian Tribune)

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