Posted by Dayo Johnson Akure on
LAGOS - A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state Chief Olatunji Owagboriaye has criticized some PDP state governments.....
LAGOS - A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state Chief Olatunji Owagboriaye has criticized some PDP state governments in the country for not living up to expectation of the electorates who voted them into office.
Speaking at Idoani, in Ose local government area of Ondo State after he signified his interest in Ondo North Senatorial ticket of the party, Chief Owagboriaye regretted that 'most of those elected on the platform of the party in 2003 are nothing but a disappointment to the party". Chief Owagboriaye promised to sponsor bills that 'would make political office holders to be responsible to the electorates if voted to become a senator next year."
He equally criticized money politics in the country saying that politicians would prefer to spend money before election and after winning would recoup their money back. The Senatorial aspirant attributed the problem of non performance by those elected to the outrageous" amount being spent by politicians to seek elective offices which they would want to recoup before thinking of the electorates or any developmental projects in their area. He called on the electorates to de-emphasise money politics noting that the electorates would be handicapped and would not be able to call their representatives to order because they have sold their ‘‘birthright''.
According to him 'the electorates should be conscious of the money and gift they collect from politicians because they would want to recoup their money when they get to office. After winning the election they would not think of any developmental project but only to enrich themselves and members of their immediate families to the detriment of the generality of the masses.
The aspirant equally criticized the councils in the country saying, ''With the amount of money accruing to the local governments, the level of development should have surpassed what is being touted as achievement in the states of the federation." Citing councils in the state as an example, Chief Owagborioye noted that 'if each local government has been committing at least N1million of their earnings each month to each of the communities in their councils, virtually all the towns and villages in the state would have been developed by now."
He added that he would make sure a law that would make the Niger Delta Region's governments responsible to their people is enacted if voted into office. Speaking on the derivation to Oil producing states in the country the aspirant said that if given the mandate he would ensure that the funds accruable to the states are justifiably utilized while non oil producing areas would benefit. He was optimistic that the crisis within the party would be resolved amicably adding that the party has the best mechanism in resolving crisis.
According to him what is happening in the party was not unusual as people believe noting that in a democratic setting such crisis are normal and cannot be avoided. Speaking on the performance of Dr Olusegun Agagu in the last three years, the aspirant said it was not encouraging adding that if the governor had performed the people should be the one to appeal to him to continue in office.