Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose on Monday denied paying himself a sum of N750 million terminal benefit for his first term tenure as alleged by the opposition APC in the state.
The governor, while addressing the people of the state, to mark one year anniversary of his re-election, said only a heartless and wicked leader would pay such a huge sum to himself in the face of the present economic hardship.
According to him, residents must be wary of the game plan of the opposition which was to cause disaffection between them, saying that apparent joblessness of Ekiti APC members was responsible for their engaging totally in fabricating lies.
He asked people of the state, especially civil servants and pensioners to always demand proof of evidence whenever such allegations were raised against him.
He said “I am Ayo Fayose, your governor who can never do that, since you have known me, you will observe that I have always been transparent and down to heart with you in all matters, please be assured that I am not in a hurry to get rich through the back door as suggested by my detractors.
“Let us even to think of it whether it was logical for me to have been so selfish into paying such money into my private account, what sense does that make to a right thinking person when such money was almost enough to augment what we are looking for to pay the May salary to Ekiti workers,” Fayose said.
The governor assured the people of the state of his administration’s readiness to bring rapid development to the state despite the dwindling financial resources at hand.
Fayose said the address had become necessary in order for him to appreciate scores of eligible voters who trooped out on June 21 last year to vote massively for him.
Besides, he said he was humbled and challenged by the way the people also came out in strong defence against various attempts that were made by the oppositions to truncate his second term through another impeachment and other means, saying its implication was that power resided with the people.
He promised to ensure that the welfare of the entire people of the state remained his priority, even as he solicited for continued loyalty and support from them.
The governor’s broadcast was coming just as the residents of the 16 Local Government Areas of the state rolled out the drum to celebrate the one year anniversary of his election victory.
In Local Government Areas such as Ekiti West, Ijero, Efon, Ado, Ikere among others, people in their hundreds came out to sing song of victory.
Those that came out to celebrate included artisans, politicians, workers, transporters as well as okada riders, with many of them singing the praises of the governor.
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