Group accuses Gov. Aiyedatinwa of $180,000 bribery

Kunle Sanni, Abuja

A faction within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of using state resources to finance his governorship ambition.

The allegations are being made as preparations for the governorship primary gear up.

But the governor, in quick response, however, rubbished the claim, describing it as mischievous.

The group, known as the Ondo State Redemption Initiative, claimed that Aiyedatiwa had been squandering public funds to further his bid for governor.

In a statement released by its President, Pastor Adebayo Ogunsanmi, Secretary, Jide Oriola, and Publicity Secretary, Sunday Ayeni, the group said that Aiyedatiwa had set aside $180 million to “buy phantom endorsement” 

“Desperate effort by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State to offer $10,000  to each member of the state Assembly for endorsement has been exposed.

“The plot, according to inside sources, will involve a trip by 18 lawmakers from the state to accompany the governor to the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress during which they will stage the endorsement.

“Aiyedatiwa is desperately going around for endorsements. The latest is a plan to get 18 lawmakers from the state to accompany him to the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja where they will endorse him. 

“But since he knew that he could not get the 18 members to do the dirty job, he has offered each member $18,000, believing that the money would be too tempting to reject.”

Sunday Abire, the governor’s senior special assistant, refuted the accusation, claiming opposition figures were attempting to divert the governor’s attention.

“Why will the governor bribe the Assembly in the first instance, the same governor accused of not being a spendthrift? Which one should we hold dearly now?

“This is the season of mischief and Governor Aiyedatiwa is too focused to be distracted,” Abire stated.