A political pressure group, Ondo State Professionals, has dismissed reports alleging that the Deputy Gov., Dr Olayide Adelami, is being owed about N180 million in official entitlements and is facing an impeachment plot.
The group dismissed the allegation in a statement signed and issued by James Oladapo, Secretary of the group on Monday in Akure.
The group described the claims as an attempt by unnamed political interests to create tension within the administration of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and distract the government from its responsibilities.
The group’s State Coordinator, Ayodele Akinlabi, said its findings showed that the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowumi Isaac, had been performing her duties in accordance with approved financial and budgetary procedures.
The group also defended the Finance Commissioner against allegations that she had withheld Adelami’s statutory entitlements, describing such claims as unfair and unsupported by available records.
The group said claims that Adelami had been denied running expenses, travel allowances and other statutory entitlements for about eight months were unverified.
According to the statement, Our group has carried out investigations and discovered that allegations that over N180 million in running expenses, travelling allowances and other statutory entitlements due to the Deputy Governor have remained unpaid for about eight months, as being circulated on social media, are unfounded and unverifiable.
It also dismissed reports of a worsening relationship between Aiyedatiwa and Adelami, saying there was no evidence to support claims that the Deputy Governor was being politically isolated or deliberately sidelined.
On allegations that the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, had been bypassing the Deputy Governor in the affairs of his ministry, the group said the commissioner was acting in accordance with directives from the governor.
The group also rejected reports of an alleged move to impeach Adelami, urging residents to disregard what it described as misinformation being circulated on social media.
“Our findings within the government show that there is no plot to impeach the Deputy Governor, contrary to speculations on social media.” the statement read.
The group urged political actors to stop what it described as attempts to sow discord within the administration and allow the government to focus on delivering its programmes and projects to the people of Ondo State.