Tobias Sylvester
The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi has reacted to an earlier comment by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu about the frosty relationship between them.
KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Akeredolu had claimed that Ajayi receives a running grant of N13m monthly which is the highest in the country by any deputy governor, and yet betrayed him.
Ajayi, reacting in a statement signed by his media aide, Allen Sowore, said what he receives until Akeredolu stopped releasing his grants was 12million naira per month.
He also accused the governor of getting a security vote of N750million naira and an imprest of about N150 million monthly.
“The Deputy Governor is surprised that the Governor could go to the press announcing the sum of N13m as what the Deputy Governor gets as if it was a gift for the personal use and not for the use of his office.
“The Deputy Governor states that what came to his office until Akeredolu refused to release same was 12million naira per month.
“This includes the imprest of his office, allowances of staff, fuelling of vehicles, care of his residence and welfare of his aides.
“Huge as the amount may appear, it amounts to not so much when the heads and number of individuals it caters for are considered.
“The governor gets a security vote of 750million naira every month. He, Akeredolu, also gets an imprest of about N150million,” Ajayi said.
The Deputy Governor also alleged that the wife of the governor and son also collect millions of naira as imprest on monthly basis without occupying any constitutionally recognised positions.
KanyiDaily had reported how Ajayi defected to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after resigning his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to contest the forthcoming Ondo governorship election.
