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Parties trade words over alleged plans to restructure local councils

As the 2018 governorship election draws nearer, allegation and counter allegation have dominated campaigns of the two major parties. Yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party asserted that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, Kayode Fayemi, was nursing plans to reduce the workforce in Ekiti local councils. The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Jackson Adebayo,…

Kayode Fayemi. PHOTO: NAN

As the 2018 governorship election draws nearer, allegation and counter allegation have dominated campaigns of the two major parties.

Yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party asserted that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, Kayode Fayemi, was nursing plans to reduce the workforce in Ekiti local councils.

The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, said this in a statement.

He said: “It is obvious that Fayemi has not purged himself of this hatred for workers in Ekiti State, especially teachers and local government workers.

The PDP said Fayemi disclosed the stand, while presenting his blueprint to officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Abuja.

According to the party, Fayemi said: “There were too many idle workers, especially in the local government system and that no local council in Ekiti State should have more than 200 workers.”

Fayemi was further quoted to have said that the only solution to inability of the over 25 states in the country to pay workers salaries regularly, was for states and local councils’ workforce to be reduced.

“It is on record that as governor, Fayemi referred to thousands of local council workers as idle and consequently moved them to the classroom as teachers.

He also demoted school principals, vice principals and head teachers to the classroom as teachers.

He took his hatred for workers in the state to the peak when he appointed his cousin from Abuja as Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.”

Reacting, the spokesperson of the Fayemi campaign organisation, Wole Olujobi, said his principal was never present in any session with American officials to present his blueprint.

“If Fayemi would present his blueprint, he would be doing so to Ekiti people who he wants to govern and not the Americans.

“After Fayose has put the lives of Ekiti people, particularly workers, at risk through callous denial of their salaries, he is trying desperately and deviously to engage in falsehood.

“As usual, it is to lie against Fayemi to set Ekiti workers against him as anti-people leader.

Olujobi alleged that Fayose and his media aides started this lie over Kaduna competency test long time ago.

But, it is gratifying that Nigerians saw the fraud and criminality behind the false report and dismissed it as such.

He said Fayemi never spoke with the Americans in Abuja. He never canvassed and will never canvass the sack of workers. Instead, he would continue to promote schemes to create more jobs for Ekiti people and give them hope of survival.

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