Mimiko Spent N1bn For Inauguration Ceremony

The Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of spending over N1 billion for his second term inauguration held on Sunday.

The Ondo Governor’s spokesperson denied the claims.
In a statement issued by the party’s Director of Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, in Akure, the PDP questioned why such an amount was spent on such an event when Mr. Mimiko’s election is still being challenged at the Election Petitions Tribunal. Mr. Fadaka described the inauguration as flamboyant and an unnecessary waste of tax payers money.
“We declare that given the quantum of evidences of electoral fraud that Mimiko and his party perpetrated during the October 20, election, Mimiko for now is a mere caretaker Governor, whose tenure will most certainly expire at the end of the legal fireworks currently in place.
It is equally instructive to remind our people that the fortunes of our state have continued to dwindle since he became governor and the symptoms of illogical extravagance by this governor, who managed the economy of Ondo State from credit to debit still subsists,” he said.
The PDP spokesperson added, “In spite of the fact that millions of unemployed youths continue to roam the streets of our state in search of jobs and business opportunities, Dr. Mimiko still finds it convenient to spend over N1bn on a needless inaugural programme.
He invited and hosted various dignitaries from both far and near and even the Diaspora included, the implication of this is that hundreds of millions of naira have been paid as honorarium to many who have no direct relevance or even any relevance whatsoever to the economy of the state. Worse still, it is also important to point out the fact that workers in the local government sector are still owed their January salary. Such is the careless attitude that dictates governance in our state these past years.”
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Eni Akinsola, described the PDP’s statement as an invention of the author’s thoughts.
“It is the figment of their imagination. They are still rambling from the loss they suffered during the election. They believe that everybody is as corrupt as they are. The people of Ondo State voted for Mimiko and they were happy to celebrate with him.”
Mr. Akinsola questioned the financial claims of the PDP but did not disclose the actual amount spent for the inauguration.
“Where is their evidence of the amount spent on the inauguration? They are speaking so that they could be relevant. They are angry, and it is because the inauguration attracted prominent politicians and political office holders across party lines. They are dazed by Mimiko’s growing popularity,” the governor’s spokesperson said.
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