Ondo 2024: Reckless spending allegation not from public servants—HOS

The Ondo State Head of Service, Kayode Ogundele, said the allegation of reckless spending of government funds against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was the handiwork of mischief makers.

A statement signed by Mr Sina Adeyeye, office of Head of Service, described the allegation as “sponsored falsehood against Governor Aiyedatiwa.”

According to the statement, “The attention of the Office of the Head of Service has been drawn to an online media publication alleging reckless spending of Ondo State funds ahead of the 2024 governorship election in the state.

“While it is not in our practice to dignify such baseless allegations with our reactions, we are constrained to disabuse the minds of the innocent populace of the misinformation.

“Firstly, the public should bear in mind that there is no association within the state Public Service of Ondo State known as ‘Concerned Ondo Public Servants’, COPS, meaning the association only exists within the imagination of the sponsors of the falsehood.

“It should also be known that as characteristic of the Public Service as an organized institution, any unauthorized person cannot and will not speak for the workforce on any matter let alone something this weighty.

“The fact that the alleged statement was credited to a named Segun Aderibigbe is enough to convince any discerning reader that it did not emanate from the state Public Service as no Public Servant could be so daft to issue and sign such statement.

“It should also be borne in mind that no public servant in the state is a card carrying member of the APC let alone knowing what transpired at the party’s stakeholders meeting called last week by the governor.

“This is aside the fact that the Ondo State workers are still busy celebrating Governor Aiyedatiwa for completely offsetting the outstanding salary arrears of 2017 January owed them just over the weekend.

“The palliative buses conveying workers to and from work was reinstated this week Monday with the approval of Mr Governor.

“Therefore, any purported malicious statement by these appreciative workers should be disregarded and seen as the handiwork of mischief makers for reasons best known to them.

“The Public Service has its channel of communication through authorised leaders, including leaders of the various Trade Unions in the state

“Members of the public should therefore be rest assured that the Ondo State public servants will continue to abstain from partisan politics but remain professional in their duties and supportive to the state government under Governor Aiyedatiwa to achieve its developmental agenda for the people of Ondo State at all times.”