The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has alleged that Governor Ayodele Fayose’s refusal to pay workers salary is because of his presidential ambition.

The party noted the latest declaration by the governor explains the alleged diversion of two tranches of bailout and budget support facility cash, to enable him fund his presidential campaign.

Gov. Fayose had last week declared to contest the presidential election in the 2019 general elections, saying that he had all it takes as a man of the People, who would do better than the present administration.

Reacting to the statement in Ado-Ekiti, the Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatunbosun said, the party stated that with the declaration, it was clear why the governor put the state into N42b debts to pay salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuity, including severance package of former political office holders, but allegedly diverted the money to projects that had no bearing to the welfare of Ekiti people.

“Having known Fayose as a political merchant who always contests elections without spending his personal money, we now know the reason why he has borrowed N42b to finance projects which costs have spiraled without much progress in those projects.

“Now another N9.5b Paris Club Refund is coming to the state but he has started telling workers and traditional rulers that the cash is N4b which will not be enough to pay salary.

“Like we hinted last week, APC will play the role of a responsible opposition by taking the governor to court to explain Ekiti finances, including calling the people to the streets to educate them on the fraudulent practices in government that are threats to the survival of Ekiti people.”

“For the first time in history, no one knows Ekiti IGR profile because the money is kept in a secret account while over-bloated figure of N2.6b is declared by Fayose as workers’ monthly salaries, but the official figure is N1.7b.”

“The new Paris Club Refund of N9.5b that is coming, including N1.3b monthly Budget Support Facility, monthly statutory allocation of N1.9b and IGR figures he won’t disclose, are enough to pay six months salaries.

In a swift reaction on the alleged Paris club Refund payment at the State House, Governor Ayodele Fayose said the allegation made by the APC in Ekiti state is baseless .

He added that no recent payment from Paris club Refund was received.

” I have not received any Paris club payment, the APC should provide the evidence of payment including the account the money was paid into”.

” As soon as the payment is made I will make it public for the people of Ekiti, I will continue to carry workers along because I have nothing to hide”.

“I don’t need the state money to contest for any election as alleged by the APC, how can you contest an election without being on ground, the APC is just throwing stones from outside, they are not with the people”.