APC Moves To Block Ekiti From Benefiting From FG Bailout To Pay Workers Salary
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State will on Monday, next week submit a petition to President Mohammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun to block the State from benefitting from the Federal Government bailout Fund aimed at assisting States to pay workers salary.
Ekiti State Government already fulfilled all conditions prescribed by the Federal Government to benefit in the bailout fund so as to cushion the effects of the dwindling economy, which has made 28 States unable to pay workers salary. Chieftains of the APC in Ekiti State, including the former Senator representing Ekiti Central, Baafemi Ojudu, immediate past Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Kolawole, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and the party’s spokesperson; Taiwo Olatunbosu met in the Abuja office of Ojudu alongside the former State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Temitope Aluko and two others yesterday, where it was agreed that “everything must be done to stop Ekiti State from getting the FG bailout fund.” Ojudu was quoted to have said; “It is better for the workers to continue to suffer so that our party can enjoy this new found sympathy from the people.”
Source said they agreed to submit a petition on Monday to stop Federal Government from granting Ekiti State Government the requested bailout on which necessary papers have been made and submitted for processing; with Falana saying at the meeting that; "after all, Ekiti people never voted President Buhari and hence deserve not to be considered for the bailout. Let them hold on to their murderous party, PDP.”
According to inside source, the meeting lasted several hours, and details of their plans were not comprehensively disclosed to even notable leaders of the party, including former Governor Kayode Fayemi because it was believed that “the last year impeachment plot against Governor Ayodele Fayose failed because Fayemi refused to cooperate since he was not going to benefit from it.”
Ojudu said, "We are not anti-masses. We are good indigenes of Ekiti. But be that as it may, Ekiti has failed itself and it has betrayed our party. You don't expect this APC-FG to extend same hand of fellowship enjoyed by State of Osun, Lagos and Oyo States to Ekiti State where the party was molested and rejected purposely because of their purported "Messiah".
"We are not actually saying the federal government should discard Ekiti State request, but we are of the opinion that if the federal government grant the bailout to Fayose-led administration, and the workers who repeatedly rejected our party in several elections years back feel relieved, I wonder how APC will regain the state in 2018.
"Hence, we must do everything within our powers and influence to frustrate this bailout from getting to Ekiti. If we don’t, we can as well kiss our aspiration of returning to power in the State goodbye because the only reason Ekiti people are listening to us is because of the unpaid workers’ salaries.
The moment workers begin to get their salaries, their love for Fayose and the PDP will be further strengthened and that is not good for us. “Therefore, it will be better for the workers to continue to suffer if that will guarantee our return to power and when we return in 2018, the entire bailout fund will be given to the State as done in Kogi and Benue States and part of the outstanding salaries will be paid.”