PDP raises moral issues over Ajumobi’s N19bn claim from FG

BY OLA AJAYI
IBADAN— ANOTHER controversy has hit the government of Oyo State as Peoples Democratic Party in the state, yesterday alleged that Governor Abiola Ajimobi, asked the Federal Government to refund N19 billion purportedly spent by the immediate past government under Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala on construction of Federal Government roads.

But Governor Ajimobi has dismissed the statement as an idle talk.

PDP, in a statement by its Director of Media and Strategy, Mr. Morounkola Thomas, said the request by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN government had finally vindicated Alao-Akala as a man who judiciously managed the state resources.

PDP noted that while the money was spent by the Akala administration to construct new roads such as the Molete-Queen’s Cinema Road, the Ibadan Circular Road, Iwo Road-Olodo Expressway, Ilesha-Baruba Road, Igana-Iwerele Road among others, ACN had falsely misled the public in believing that the public fund was not judiciously used by Akala.

“For Ajimobi to turn round to claim this money without acknowledging the wise judgment of Alao-Akala put a moral burden on the governor. This is a vindication of PDP-government’s prudence. It is the vindication of an administration that engaged in the up-grading of public infrastructure without recourse to loans. This ACN-government must acknowledge this sacrosanct fact”, the statement added.

The statement urged the Ajimobi-administration to pursue the release of the money with zeal. They must however spend the money judiciously and must tell the Oyo State people what they intend to achieve with the money.

But, Governor Ajimobi said through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Dr. Festus Adedayo, described it as an idle talk.