The governor-elect of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi has picked holes in the N10bn supplementary budget presented by the outgoing governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose to the state’s House of Assembly.
In a statement by Wole Olujujobi, Media Director of his campaign organisation, Fayemi accused Fayose of being fraudulent, adding that the action was worrisome and not in the interest of the state.
He warned government officials and people of the state against being used by the governor for illegal acts.
“The media report alleging that Fayose coerced the Ministry of Budget officials to make a demand backdated to Aug. 23, 2018 for a supplementary budget of N10billion a few days to the end of his administration is fraudulent and not in the interest of the state,” he said.
“The governor’s covering note also backdated to August 30, 2018 for the legitimacy of such request was equally done with fraudulent intention.
“It is worrisome that the alleged supplementary budget was presented to the Assembly Clerk for immediate approval without presenting it to Assembly members at the plenary to go through all parliamentary procedures in budget processing.
“The latest development today, after the plot leaked on this fraudulent conduct, is that the budget is now before the House for a hush-hush debate for immediate approval.
“We have warned government officials and Ekiti people in general against participating in illegal acts by the governor and this fraudulent supplementary budget is not an exception.
“The incoming administration has a responsibility and commitment to the protection of Ekiti people from abuse by political leadership
“This is our pact with Ekiti people and we will never shirk from this responsibility to ensure accountability and good governance for our people.”
Meanwhile the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti has said Ayodele Fayose, outgoing governor of the state, is plotting to sneak out of the country when he leaves office.
The party said Fayose’s offer to voluntarily surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning is “suspicious” and “diversionary”.
Fayose will leave office on October 16 and has expressed his readiness to “clarify some issues or answer some questions” before the EFCC.
Taiwo Olatunbosun, APC spokesman in Ekiti, said the letter was a decoy for Fayose to “seek safe landing to enable him run away from the country”.
“The letter to the EFCC can be used by Fayose as a distraction and diversionary tactic to pave way for his escape from the country, thereby running away from justice,” he said in a statement.
“We therefore recommend that he be put under serious close surveillance since he is morally and duty bound to account for many of his recklessly corrupt practices that have made him billions of state money richer than the state itself.”