APC, PDP differ over Aiyedatiwa’s scorecard

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has warned the electorate against voting for the All Progressives Congress, saying voting APC amounted to a mistake that may compound their woes.

According to the PDP, the candidate of the APC, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had nothing to offer the people of the state.

The party particularly raised the alarm that the governor planned to approve an increase in tuition at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, by 100 per cent if he got elected.

The PDP made the allegations in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, on Thursday.

The statement was titled, “Ondo State is not lucky with Aiyedatiwa (8).”

Peretei alleged that the governor had not been paying the allowances of some of his aides, saying it was an indication that civil servants would regret voting for him.

He said, “As the Ondo 2024 governorship election approaches the zero hour, those who said the election was a walkover for them have been unable to have sound sleep, slipping into a panic mode.

“A good number of them who initially proclaimed that they are lucky are singing a new song, based on the realities they encountered on the field.

“The comfort of their offices from where they proclaimed being lucky are the exact opposite of the streets in which hunger and lack, walk in all four legs.

“Having failed to convince the people why they should trust him (Aiyedatiwa) with their mandate, some panicky measures were taken and because they were not all well thought-out, they all fell flat on their backs.

“The 416 political appointees, carefully selected from the 203 electoral wards were shocked to discover that, for October 2024, they received no salary alert.

“What is the guarantee that, after losing the election in November, they will be paid? Are these not the same people shouting they are Lucky? They should know better by now.”

The PDP claimed that Aiyedatiwa had resorted to propaganda whereas he should be campaigning with programmes and projects executed after 10 months in governance.

“The last joker that Aiyedatiwa has proposed to shatter the people is the increment of tuition fees in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko by 100 per cent.

“The minor delay, according to official sources, is due to the anticipated backlash that can spell doom for his re-election bid. If the people make the mistake of voting for him, they will gnash their teeth, because he will give the final approval for the increment and more students will drop out of school,” the statement submitted.

In a reaction, the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC, Mr. Steve Otaloro, said the PDP’s statement was baseless.

He asked the opposition to engage the people in its plan for the state and not to lie against the achievements of Aiyedatiwa.

Otaloro stated, “For the umpteenth time, we urge the PDP to realize that criticizing the good work of Governor Aiyedatiwa and denigrating the people of Ondo State will not win them the election.

“The people deserve to know what the PDP intends to do differently, not just empty rhetoric and false promises.

“Furthermore, the PDP’s allegation of non-payment of salaries to political appointees is another fabrication.

“The APC government has consistently prioritised the welfare of its employees. The people of Ondo State will not be swayed by the PDP’s desperate attempts to discredit Governor Aiyedatiwa.

“They will respond with their votes, choosing continuity and progress over misinformation and negativity.”

The party urged the PDP to focus on issue-based campaigns and present its vision for the state’s future.

“The people deserve better than baseless attacks and propaganda. Under Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, Ondo State has witnessed significant development in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

“Our administration remains committed to delivering dividends of democracy to the people,” he said.