Political office holders in Ekiti State are at crossroads with Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji over poor welfare being meted out to them by his administration, saying that they have been serving under harrowing situation.
Appointees numbering over 300, were recruited at the twilight of the current administration, triggering suspicion by oppositions on how the number could be well managed by a state that barely depends on federal allocation to survive.
Bubble busted shortly as government started showing little commitment to their assignments while patry sum are allocated as salary to these appointees, even as other allowances accruing to their offices are unpaid.
The Kiriji Times gathered that there is currently a growing animosity among the appointees who are spoiling for a showdown in the coming elections should the current situation lingers.
A political appointee, who spoke on condition of anonymity said their situation is “pitiful under a administration that seems not to be concerned about the welfare of the people.”
“The situation with us is unfortunate. Many of us joined the administration with high hopes, basking in the euphoria of the thrills that followed the announcement of our appointment. We entered the government with high hopes and resolved to do our own best to lift the state at our different callings.
“But on entering government, we realized the whole hype was a facade. We were soon to realized we were beguiled into government as a save face for a leadership that really don’t need our service. We have been warming seats, earning peanuts and our allowances are unpaid.
“To us, this is a daylight rape and though we are loyal to our party and will always support continuity of government, we make bold to say, as we approach another election, we may not guarantee the success of the incumbent through our votes. That’s if current situation persists,” one of the appointees confided.
Ekiti State people are not finding things easy in terms of commerce as purchasing power of the people are ebbing with a dangerous toll on quality living standard.
The appointee however noted that it is not too late for the Ekiti government to visit the payment of their furniture allowance now, to save the current tense situation.
“Let the government pay our furniture allowance now to restore order. We will resist a situation where government will hold our necks down to the ground with our entitlement to force vote out of us. If the government is planning to force support through deprivation, it will surely backfire this time,” the source assured.
