Claims that N4.3billion was allegedly lodged in finance houses by previous administrations in Ondo State, has been described by a civil rights group under the aegis of Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA) as a mere allegation fuelled by certain people within the political space to heat up the polity and cause the Rotimi Akeredolu-led state government a distraction.
CNCRA described the outcry over the said discovery as political and a subterfuge aimed at outwitting the incumbent governor ahead of the 2020 guber election which draws closer, declaring that such was not in the best interest of the people of Ondo State.
The group gave this stand in a communique issued at the end of an emergency zonal executive meeting, held via a conference call and signed by its acting chairman, Ondo State chapter, Prince Ayodele Adeyemi, and publicity secretary, South-West zone, Olufemi Oluwatofunmi, saying it came out with such position “after a thorough assessment of the entire issues vis a viz claims by both parties involved.”
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CNCRA, however, urged all stakeholders and aggrieved parties in the alleged lodgement of the said money in finance houses by the previous administration in the state to put forward any documentary evidence revealing the culpability of the government as alleged, promising not to hesitate to forward same to appropriate quarters for legal action.
“However, we call on all stakeholders in this matter and aggrieved parties to put forward any documentary evidence revealing the culpability of the government as alleged, we will not hesitate to forward same to appropriate quarters for legal action,” it said.
According to the group, “The issues of 4.3 billion naira was only fuelled by certain people within the political space to heat up the polity.
“The outcry is a stratagem to cause the state government a distraction.
The outcry is political, not in the best interest of the people of Ondo state.
“It is a subterfuge aimed at outwitting the incumbent Governor in the 2020 guber election as it hots up.”
The group, while viewing the deployment of hoodlums and thugs to the Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday as “one of the old political strategies to cause disaffection between the state executive and the legislature, asserted that the issues were being blown out of proportion by certain individuals within and outside the system who it said, “are not comfortable with the system with a view to nailing the government, thereby portraying it in a bad light.”
CNCRA, in the communiqué, enjoined the good people of Ondo State not to fall into any deception and contraption of the political gladiators making fake promises that worse pains and agonies would not be unleashed as witnessed in the past.
It further warned them to note that it was the parties’ nomenclatures that changed, declaring that members were still the same.
According to CNCRA, there is no difference in their ideological identity and, therefore, “not a case of ‘new wine in old wineskins,’” warning that: “Falling into another round of deception might be disastrous in the nearest future.”
“Their agitation is not born out of true patriotism but highly sentimental and political. Hence the need to be cautious, mindful of the politicians and not play to the gallery. All of them are the same. None of the members of the major political parties in Ondo State is a stranger to us. We know them, we know their past and antecedents.
“Therefore, it is imperative that they watch before they leap. Else, their case will be worse of,” the group further warned.
