Insecurity: PDP, Akeredolu in war of words over protection of Ondo citizens

…You’re a lazy party without direction — Akeredolu to PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, are in a war of words over the state of insecurity in the state following the massacre at St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo on June 5, 2022 which claimed 40 lives.

Recall that Governor Akeredolu who wept during his speech last Friday, at the funeral mass for the victims, held at the Mydas Resort and Hotel, Owo, admitted that the government failed to protect the victims of the terror attack.

The Ondo PDP through its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement made available to journalists on Monday evening in Akure, alleged that what governor Akeredolu said at the burial service, was a confirmation of what every sensible Nigerian has said about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

The statement reads, “What Akeredolu said at the burial service, was a confirmation of what every sensible Nigerian has said about the APC government and its agents. That the government has failed the people is the truth.  Akeredolu’s qualification of the failure as “not because we have not tried but because those forces on the other side are evil and they have support” amounts to begging the question.

“At least l appreciate the humility of the Governor to openly admit the failure of the APC government, whether at the centre or at home in Ondo State. It is a further proof as to the reason why such an “evil” government should not be allowed beyond 2023.

“While the whole of Ondo State mourned and grieved over the massacre, the pains of civil servants came to the centre stage again. This was against the backdrop of calls for volunteers to donate blood to save lives of those who were in hospitals. The response captured on Twitter was this: “While most children are anemic, parents can’t afford proper medical care for men… prior to this, there had been a crazy staffing crisis. Civil servants have parked their cars due to inability to buy tyres, service or fuel them. We owe tonnes of bills in kid’s school fees and food stuff bought on credit. Hungry people neither donate blood nor volunteer”. In what other ways can a government fail the people other than this?” the party questioned.

The party also berated the governor for setting Master’s Degree in Education or a six months training at Public Service Institute, Ilara-Mokin as requirement to qualify for promotion.

“Teachers in Ondo State who just received January, 2022 salaries on 7th June have been put on notice that, effective from July 2022, it will be mandatory to have a Master’s Degree in Education or a six months training at Public Service Institute, Ilara-Mokin to qualify for promotion. For those without M.Ed, the six months training comes with a one hundred and thirty thousand naira financial requirement.

“For this category of workers who are already in a very bad shape, what a very ingenious way of creating hardship for the people. In what other ways can a government fail the people?

“Training and re-training are key requirements for every organization desirous of efficiency and growth. But there are always safety nets and welfare packages that make such training sought after. This one being proposed by Akeredolu is ill-timed and the height of insensitivity to the plight of the people,” the party added.

…You’re a lazy party without direction – Akeredolu to PDP

However, in a swift reaction, Akeredolu warned the opposition party against playing politics with the  lives of the people of the state and  dishonouring the memories of the innocent compatriots who fell to the bullets of terrorists.

Akeredolu, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde said the assertion by the PDP shows its lack of empathy and respect for humanity, noting that It is an unnecessary gloat that greatly offends the collective psyche of the people of the state.

The statement reads, “The PDP, which obviously doesn’t know the limits of politics, is attempting to reap political capital at the expense of human lives. It is politics taken too far. Since the unfortunate incident of Owo attack, the people of the state and across the country have collectively mourned the departed while praying for the injured to heal fast.

“It is very sad that the PDP, in its characteristic manner, has shown that it places politics above human lives. At this time when the state is still struggling with the pains of the heinous attack, the opposition party has found it convenient to scoop political gains from the excruciating pains inflicted on humanity by the incident.

“As we speak, the tombs of the deceased are even yet to dry, but the PDP couldn’t wait to dance on their graves. This infantile and inhumane brand of politics depicts what the party stands for.”

Akeredolu explained that his remark at the burial mass for the slain victims of Owo attack was a sober reflection of the overwhelming security situation in the country and a projection of the helpless situation the sub-nationals have found themselves under the government at the centre in a federation.

He pointed that his remark was targeted at the need for the country to retrace its steps and adopt true federalism which encourages state police and it was a call that had been made even since the era of the PDP-led administration at the centre.

“It is also a general knowledge that what has come to stay as terrorism in Nigeria today started under the PDP administration. The PDP in Ondo State must have forgotten that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

“Nevertheless, we are not prepared to join issues with the PDP over this matter. The lives of the slain victims are too important to us to trivialise in the public space. Besides, government is pre-occupied with deepening efforts at ensuring that those receiving medical care at the various hospitals are well catered for.”

The Governor said it was unfortunate that the PDP would refer to the issue of workers’ salary as a way of portraying failure in government.

“The same opposition party who left government with an unpaid seven months salaries is now mourning more than the bereaved. In actual fact, the PDP bled the state dry with an unparalleled impunity. We can only sympathise with them as they are now being haunted by the ghost of their terrible past. It is not only uncanny but also uncharitable for the PDP, whose legacy of unpaid seven months salaries contributed immensely to the excruciating economic challenges in the state, to raise issues on workers’ salaries.

“The misplaced allusion to the governor’s statement at the funeral mass as well as the weak nexus between same and the issue of workers’ salaries expose the PDP as a lazy party without direction.”