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Ajimobi, Ladoja trade blames at election debate

By Iyabo Lawal and Kehinde Olatunji, Ibadan
06 February 2015   |   4:40 am
THE controversy over whether or not former Governor Rashidi Ladoja refunded N500m to the coffers of the state government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has continued to generate bitter argument as both parties trade blames over the issue.      While Governor Abiola Ajimobi maintained that Ladoja indeed refunded the money, the…

THE controversy over whether or not former Governor Rashidi Ladoja refunded N500m to the coffers of the state government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has continued to generate bitter argument as both parties trade blames over the issue.

     While Governor Abiola Ajimobi maintained that Ladoja indeed refunded the money, the Accord a Party (AP) gubernatorial candidate on his part vehemently denied the allegation.

   The duo spoke at the governorship debate 2015 organised by Splash FM, a private radio station in Ibadan and the Board of Directors of West Midlands Communication Limited

   The governorship candidates present at the debate were, Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Teslim Kolawole Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Rashidi Ladoja (Accord).

   The governor argued and insisted that Ladoja returned the said N500 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a move aimed at getting plea bargain.

    However, Ladoja on his part debunked the claim and insisted that governors claim was “untrue”

     During the debate, the governor said his administration has improved in the education sector as over 81,000 teachers was trained and their salary increased in three fold.

     But Ladoja and Folarin faulted the current system and insisted that education has not fared well in the state as students sit on the floor in the classrooms due to lack of infrastructure. 

   Ladoja recalled that during his tenure as governor, there were not more than 30 students per class saying the reverse is the case presently.

    The AP leader said this has dampened the sector and caused mass failure in public examinations.

      Makinde, who hinged his programme on poverty eradication, insisted on free education, saying having benefited from a similar programme in the past, he believed it s only through education he could achieve his mission. He added that as a governor his salary would go to teachers pension fund.

    Recalling his experience as a child reared by parents of little means, Makinde said: “I was not born by rich parents, but the only thing given to me by my parents was education and that has propelled me to the level I am today by the grace of God, out of which I’m now offering myself to give back to the society”.

     Makinde added that if he emerged as the governor he would declare his asset publicly and encourage everybody that is going to work with him to do it.

      “In this campaign, I am the only one with functional website. Our government is going to be open to all where the people can have access to what we do. Honesty and freedom of expression is the key.

     “I will provide strong leadership where anybody that wants to come across to me will not be molested. I will ensure that all the people who work with me will respect the citizen”. He said.

     On the health sector, the governor said his government believes in primary health care and in preventive rather that creative.

     “We have treated close to one million people free of charge and introduced mobile emergency ambulances”.

  Meanwhile, Ajimobi has disclosed that his re-election campaign was based on record of unassailable achievements never recorded in the history of the state.

      He noted that the forthcoming poll was another opportunity for the people of the state to choose between sustained peace and resurgence of violence.

       The governor said this while unveiling his achievements to the electorate at Ibadan North West Local Government, in continuation of his re-election campaign.

       The governor was received by a tumultous crowd of party faithful and supporters at Idikan and Ogunpa, where he met 49 associations.

       The governor had earlier addressed community leaders, chiefs and head of Adebisi mansion; while he was also received by Christian, Islamic and traditional worshippers at the headquarters of Ibadan North-West LG.

       The governor used the opportunity of his campaign visit to the LG to inaugurate the newly constructed one-kilometre Red Cross-Afonta-Dugbe road.

         He urged the people of the state to be wary of the antics of governorship candidates, whose tenures, he said, was marred with violence and brigandage during their first tenure as governors.

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