Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Friday signed the ‘controversial’ N10 billion supplementary appropriation bill into law insisting no law was violated in the process.
The supplementary budget was considered by 14 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly members passing through first, second and third reading before being passed at a sitting on Friday that was less than one hour.
The PDP legislators led by Speaker Kola Oluwawole brought the document for Fayose’s assent at the Governor’s Office which grants him the right to spend the money before leaving office on October 15.
Fayose, while signing the budget, dismissed criticisms from the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying his predecessor did the same thing on the eve of his departure from office in 2014.
He said: “It is amusing to hear that Dr Kayode Fayemi said the revised budget being signed today was unnecessary. He (Fayemi) signed his own on September 15, 2014 exactly a month to his leaving office, now I’m signing my own on September 14. They should keep quiet and stop crying wolf, I’m still the governor.
“It is laughable that Fayemi won’t stop at anything to blackmail me even when he had to go to ridiculous level.”
“This revised budget being signed today September 14, 2018, Fayemi didsign the same kind of budget on September 15, 2014 when he had less than a month to leave office. May be he has forgotten, but Ekiti people are not suffering from dementia and are students of history.
“The Clerk of the House in 2014 when Fayemi signed his revised budget, Mr Tola Esan is still the clerk and he is here today. We are not robots and when there are things to attend to we will still do that before we leave office.
“When Fayemi finally resumes, he can turn the state upside down, history will record him.”
Accusing President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC of “taking hypocrisy to a ridiculous height in governance,” Fayose said he had acted within the law by sending the budget to the assembly for appropriation.
“They are confusing Nigeria, confusing the public, I don’t know the level they have taken hypocrisy to.
“Recently President Buhari paid for fighter jets from excess crude account without appropriation, and heaven did not fall. This is sheer hypocrisy.”
The governor urged the Assembly to cooperate with Fayemi when he assumes office in the interest of the state.
“Don’t fight Fayemi when he comes, serve Ekiti. Ekiti is our common goal, politicians will come and go.
“Do your work and leave them to their conscience and their propaganda.”
