The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State on Tuesday clashed over the approval of constituency projects for councillors by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Abiodun gave the approval for constituency projects for the 236 councillors in the state during the council legislators’ visit to him.
The governor said the approval was in fulfilment of his promise to ensure the councillors executed projects in their various constituencies as the closest to the people at the grassroots.
“You have reminded me of my promise to you of your constituency projects. Consider that done because you are the closest to the grassroots. You are the ones representing us at the grassroots. You will not be put to shame,” he said.
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But the PDP in its reaction said it was not in the governor’s place to approve such funds.
The PDP in a statement by its spokesman, Akinloye Bankole, recalled how the governor had in the past distanced himself from the finances of the local government.
“Where in the constitution would he derive such powers from?
“For us, as a law-abiding political entity, we dare say without any equivocation that Mr Abiodun has just committed another serious gross misconduct as governor. There is no state governor that has such statutory power to approve such expenditure for another tier of government in the constitution. It is a constitutional infringement.”
In a swift reaction, the APC spokesman, Tunde Oladunjoye, said “There is absolutely nothing stopping the governor from assisting or supporting the councillors in delivering the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
“This does not in any way prevent or stop the constituency projects of the councillors in their respective local government areas. It is only complementary.
“May we advise the PDP and its hack writers to: Seek ye first understanding, ask where you are not clear, before jumping to sign a press statement that ends up exposing the ignorance of your unprofessional media handlers.”
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