By Oludamisi Ojo.
A group, Ekiti Build Back Better (EBBB) an International Pan Ekiti Movement has cautioned Governor Kayode Fayemi against borrowing a whopping N12bn to pay outstanding workers’ salary arrears.
This is said is to woo workers in the state to vote for the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji.
The EBBB, a group campaigning for the election of Engr Segun Oni, gave the advice in a press release issued by its spokesman, Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.
According to Adelusi, ” We learned that Governor Fayemi summoned an emergency meeting of the APC bigwigs and government officials to Ishan-Ekiti penultimate Sunday to deliberate over the entry of Segun Oni to the state whose long motorcade and the large turnout of people that welcomed him was unprecedented.
“The people at the meeting allegedly told the governor the plain truth that the majority of Ekiti people, including the workers, have decided to follow Segun Oni.
” A particular APC leader allegedly told the governor that the town is not smiling at all, to make the matter worse, the workers will capitalise on nonpayment of outstanding salary arrears and entitlements of the pensioners not to support our candidate.”
“Thereafter, the governor asked what could be done to arrest the situation and the people advised the government to look for money anywhere to pay the salary arrears and pensioners’ entitlements before the election which the governor has accepted”
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The statement added that “the workers and pensioners have lost faith in the APC government, due to many failed promises since 2018 when this administration came into power.”
It noted that should there be no election in the state, the state government would not contemplate paying what it is owing to its workers.
The statement urged Fayemi to desist from borrowing the money so as not to further impoverish the state.
However, a source in the media unit of the state government who spoke in confidence described the statement as unguided and far from the truth, warning EBB, not to heat up the polity in the state because of Engr Oni’s desperation for power.
