By Gbenga Ariyibi
ADO EKITI—EKITI State government and
the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers were yesterday engaged in a
war of words over media report that the embargo placed by the state governor,
Mr. Ayo Fayose on the salaries and allowances of the legislators had been
lifted.
Apparently irked by the development, the lawmakers in a statement accused the government of sponsoring the report.
Apparently irked by the development, the lawmakers in a statement accused the government of sponsoring the report.
The government described as
falsehood the lawmakers’ position, adding that the legislators duly acknowledged
their payments last week.
But the aggrieved APC lawmakers in a statement by the Media Adviser to the Speaker, Mr. Wole Olujobi, said the report was mischievous and lacking the basic tenet of journalism.
But the aggrieved APC lawmakers in a statement by the Media Adviser to the Speaker, Mr. Wole Olujobi, said the report was mischievous and lacking the basic tenet of journalism.
The statement reads: ‘’It is
shocking that those behind the media report chose not to believe us but
overzealously believed the purported sources that thrive in falsehood, lies and
propaganda while working for the government. The reporter in one breath said
his investigation revealed that the lawmakers had been paid, yet he reported
that both Fayose and the lawmakers did not confirm the report as they refused
to talk to him. If this were the case, then who were the sources that confirmed
to the reporter that the lawmakers had been paid?
“To make matters worse, contrary to
the reporter’s claim that we did not talk to him, we told him that we have not
been paid. Apart from getting this fact from us, the speaker’s media aide told
him the same and so we are surprised that the reporter is claiming that he received
no information from us.
File: Fayose and Omirin after the
meeting
“In fact, as at Saturday night, the
alerts we received from our bank were deficit alerts and so we wonder where the
reporter got his story. It is unfortunate that just because the reporter wanted
to file an exclusive report for his paper, he went ahead to report this
falsehood motivated by blackmail.’’
Salary and favour
“Let us even agree without conceding that we were paid our lawful entitlements, what favour does the governor do to us by that after illegally cutting short our tenure by seven months and putting us in harrowing inconveniences in addition to his brazen rape on the constitution of Nigeria? Must payment of our legal entitlements prevent us from defending the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we swore to protect?
“Let us even agree without conceding that we were paid our lawful entitlements, what favour does the governor do to us by that after illegally cutting short our tenure by seven months and putting us in harrowing inconveniences in addition to his brazen rape on the constitution of Nigeria? Must payment of our legal entitlements prevent us from defending the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we swore to protect?
“Where are the indications of
payment when embargo is placed on our accounts by the governor? Even those who
should know in government are wondering where the reporter got his story
because there is never any payment to the lawmakers. This is irresponsible
journalism at its worst and it is unfortunate.’’
Governments position
However, the government in a statement issued yesterday by the State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo said: “We would have remained silent in deference to the agreement reached at the last Monday meeting in Akure that all parties should maintain silence on the outcome of the meeting, especially because the lawmakers said they do not want their leaders to know the outcome of the meeting.
However, the government in a statement issued yesterday by the State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo said: “We would have remained silent in deference to the agreement reached at the last Monday meeting in Akure that all parties should maintain silence on the outcome of the meeting, especially because the lawmakers said they do not want their leaders to know the outcome of the meeting.
“However, since the lawmakers have
chosen not to abide by this agreement by first issuing press statement to deny
and reveal what was discussed in the meeting, and now going to the press to say
that they have not received any payment, the government does not have any other
option than to tell the public the truth and set the records straight.
“The government is by this press
statement putting the records straight since the money paid to the lawmakers
belong to Ekiti people.
Payments made in cheques
“The payment was made in cheques
because the lawmakers pleaded that their accounts should not be credited
directly so as to avoid the banks from making deductions for loans taken from
the banks.
“Saying that they have not been paid
is quite unfortunate and unbecoming of honourable members of the State House of
Assembly and this is sad.
“We will want to keep our fingers
crossed and we wish to caution the lawmakers to adhere strictly to the spirit
of the agreements. Governor Fayose’s good gesture, aimed at ensuring peace in
the State should not be abused.”
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