By Dapo Akinrefon
ADO EKITI— CRISIS seems to be brewing in Ekiti State over allegations and counter allegations of bribery levelled against All Progressives Congress, APC, members in the State House of Assembly by a group, the Ekiti Movement for Good Governance, EMGG.
The group accused the APC lawmakers of demanding a sum of N135 million to clear commissioners and local government caretaker committee members appointed by Governor Ayodele Fayose.
But in a swift reaction, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, described the allegation as blackmail and intimidation of Ekiti State House of Assembly by the state government.
He also said some lawmakers were molested for refusing to change parties as requested by Governor Ayo Fayose.
But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi dismissed the allegation, saying Governor Fayose did not order the account of the House to be frozen nor instigated assault on any member of the House.
“The allegations are very untrue. Governor Fayose has not ordered the freezing of account of the State House of Assembly. And neither has the governor asked anybody to either insult or assault the speaker.
“The speaker is only playing politics and in the essence of that maligning the governor.’’
N135m bribery allegation
According to the group, the APC lawmakers were said to have demanded for the payment of their outstanding subvention of N48 million as condition to clear the commissioner nominees and the local councils caretaker committee, which Governor Fayose acceded to.
The group said the N48 million subvention had already been released to the lawmakers.
In a statement by the EMGG’s Secretary, Dr Abiodun Aina, the group alleged that after collecting the N48 million subvention approved by the governor, the APC lawmakers declined to attend to the screening and confirmation of the commissioner nominees.
The group alleged that, “this morning (yesterday), the APC lawmakers were called by their party leaders in Lagos, who prevailed on them to continue with their agenda of frustrating Fayose’s efforts to develop Ekiti State and render his government impossible.”
The group added that “instead of performing their legislative duties, for which they are being paid by Ekiti people, the APC lawmakers are asking Governor Fayose to give each member of the House of Assembly a sum of N5 million and the Speaker, N10 million, totalling N135 million.
“In a State already ran aground by the immediate past APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi, it is ridiculous that some people will allow themselves to be tele-guided by some foreign political merchants such that they will be asking for N135 million bribe in a State where public servants are being owed two months’ salary.
“We are aware that Governor Fayose has declined this obnoxious demand, opting to concentrate the State resources on welfare of the entire people, instead of a few APC lawmakers.
“It is therefore our plea to the APC lawmakers to allow Governor Fayose to perform his duties as a governor. The lawmakers should know that they are members of Ekiti State House of Assembly and not APC or Tinubu’s House of Assembly.”
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Ekiti: Group accuses APC lawmakers of demanding N135m bribe
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