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• Flays Oyo gov over call for REC removal
• NULGE endorses Aiyedatiwa ahead of poll
• Era of delayed, percentage salary gone, says gov
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his call for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The ruling party, which frowned on Makinde’s appeal for the electorate in the state not to trade their votes, said that neither the state nor the electoral body is an appendage of the governor.
Makinde had during the flag-off campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akure, Ondo State, on Tuesday, urged the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, not to allow Babalola to superintend over the election over her ties with the state.
The APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Alex Kalejaye, described the action of Makinde as insulting to the people of the state whose conscience cannot be bought.
He said: “The party wishes to inform Oyo State Governor that Ondo APC has unbeatable structures across the state that are capable of defeating any party in any election. Besides, the recent defection of notable political giants from his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has further fortified the chances of APC in the November poll.
“It is therefore clear that our party won’t need to indulge in those undemocratic gymnastics employed by the PDP to win Oyo for Makinde in 2019.
“Our counsel to the governor is to focus on the myriad of problems currently facing Oyo State. Sadly, Oyo State is being run as a conquered territory, where the degree of capital flight is second to no other in the country.
“The party commends its members for their unwavering belief in the party and urged them to exhibit maturity and decorum as they continue to solicit for a renewal of the people’s mandate come November 16.”
Meanwhile, the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ondo State chapter, has assured Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of its support ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
According to the state’s President of the NULGE, Fredrick Akinrilola, the union’s decision to back Aiyedatiwa stems from his track record of improving their working conditions and ensuring that their voices are heard.
Akinrilola, who stated this, yesterday, during the NULGE Day celebration held in Akure and the conferment of an award of Grand Patron on the governor, hailed Aiyedatiwa for consistently addressing the concerns of the union and prioritising the welfare of its members.
However, Aiyedatiwa, while appreciating the union for the endorsement, reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the state, as well as his readiness to pay the N73,000 new minimum wage recently approved by him.
The governor also declared that the era of part-payment and percentage-based salary payment is over, saying that such practices have become a thing of the past in the state.