Agboola Ajayi, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, criticized Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for appointing 344 aides.
Ajayi claimed that these appointments were made to influence the upcoming election. He expressed concerns that the sudden appointments, made three months before the election, appeared to be a strategy to garner support for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Aiyedatiwa defended the appointments, stating that they were intended to improve governance across the state.
Ajayi, however, dismissed this explanation and described the move as criminal. He argued that the appointed aides had no defined roles or responsibilities and criticized the considerable funds that would be expended on them, given the economic challenges faced by the state.
Ajayi’s campaign organization’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, issued a statement conveying these criticisms.
He said:
“The appointment on Friday of 344 aides is a ridiculous action of a governor who is at sea over choices to make for the advancement of our state, confused largely over what should extend the frontiers of our development but chose to prosecute petty partisanship desires at the expense of good government.
“To appoint 344 aides with no specific governmental responsibilities and defined functions is criminal, particularly when due cognisance is taken of the fact that their remuneration per month is going to cost the government about N1.2 billion.
“In fact, their number and resources to be expended on them are enough to begin a new ministry. We declare that it is ridiculous and wrong for Lucky Aiyedatiwa to appoint APC Ward Canvesers as Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants; Ondo State has never been this unlucky.”
