Poll: Mimiko diverting workers salaries, alleges APC

The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of planning to use money meant for workers’ salaries to buy the votes of the people in the November 26, 2016 governorship election in the state.
In a statement on Sunday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the party, Mr. Steve Otaloro, the party alleged that one of the reasons the state was owing its workers four months salaries was because the governor was stockpiling the money to spend during the election.

The APC alleged that because Mimiko, as a result of his maladministration, had lost the confidence of the people of the state, planned to use accumulated workers’ salaries to buy votes.

However, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, denied the allegation, saying the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries was caused by the cash crunch that hit the nation, saying the problem also affected all the states controlled by the APC.

He said, “If their allegation is true, they should produce the evidence. Are Osun, Oyo and Ogun too stockpiling workers’ salaries for the purpose of election? It shows they don’t understand the current economic situation of the country.

“This shows that the APC in Ondo State is confused by saying we are stockpiling workers’ salaries for election purposes. The APC should cover their faces (hang heads) in shame for their ineptitude, for the untold hardship they have put Nigerians through.

The APC, in the statement, added, “It is also sheer wickedness on the part of the government, who is owing workers, only to be seen busy making plans for his succession without showing sufficient concern for the plight of workers, let alone show commitment to pay them. “

The opposition party urged the workers in the state to continue to endure, saying the APC would soon take over the government of the state when their salaries would be paid as at and when due.

On the other hand, Akinmade advised the APC to always have their facts before making statements, warning them to stop misleading the people of the state.