The appointment of 344 aides ahead of the November 16 election in Ondo State by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has come under criticism from the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, and his counterpart in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olugbenga Edema.
Ajayi and Edema, through their spokesmen, Ayo Fadaka and Oluwatosin Ayeni, expressed their displeasure with the appointments, describing them as wasteful and a poor allocation of the state government’s limited resources.
Fadaka pointed out that the lack of specific responsibilities and portfolios for the appointed aides demonstrated the government’s lack of direction and prioritization. He accused the governor of prioritizing partisan interests over effective governance in the state.
The PDP criticized the appointments, noting that the individuals appointed were designated as campaign coordinators in various political wards, rather than serving as special assistants to the governor. They argued that these appointments would not bring any value to the state or the governor’s administration.
Fadaka further criticized the financial implications of the appointments, stating that the government would incur a cost of approximately N1.2 billion per month on the remuneration of the 344 aides. He emphasized that this amount could have been used to establish a new ministry or address other pressing needs of the state.
Edema echoed these sentiments, condemning the insensitivity of the appointments in light of the ongoing economic challenges faced by the people of the state.
Ayeni raised concerns about the timing of the appointments, as they come just three months before the forthcoming elections, implying a potential political motive behind the decision.
These criticisms reflect the opposition parties’ disagreement with the governor’s decision to appoint a large number of aides without defined responsibilities. They argue that such appointments are unnecessary, wasteful, and do not contribute to the development of the state. The timing of the appointments has also raised suspicions and further fueled the debate surrounding their purpose.
