T he Government of the state of Osun has asked
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to bury its
head in shame for being the architect of the
various belt-tightening measures which Nigeria
must put in place at the moment to ensure
continued survival of the country.
The government said it was laughable for the
PDP to think that it made any expose out of its
mischievous statement when it accused the Rauf
Aregbesola administration of cutting salaries of
workers and introducing other measures.
In a statement by the Director, Bureau of
Communication and Strategy, Office of the
Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the government
said while there is no attempt at reducing the
salaries of its workers or sacking workers, it is
an open development that the government is
embarking on a number of measures to keep the
state’s head above the stormy economic waters
which was foisted on Nigeria, Osun inclusive, by
the PDP’s 16 years of misrule.
“If the PDP thought it made any news out of the
removal of the between 25% and 35% overtime
allowance of staff of some government agencies,
it must be living in a fools paradise. If not
mischief, how does that translate to cutting of
salaries and retrenchment of workers? This is
because there is no measure being taken that is
not an outcome of rigorous deliberations with
workers and other critical stakeholders,” the
statement noted.
The government asked Nigerians to ask the PDP
the basis of its unfounded allegations and other
tantrums, adding that in no way will the party be
excused from the economic woes the country
now faces for which the All Progressives
Congress government at all levels is working
hard to fix.
“After the bailout fund was released to states,
rather than concentrate on a positive en
gagement of the government on how the funds
would be used for the good of the people of
Osun, they were busy telling lies. Nigerians
should not forget how the PDP accused Aregbe
sola of fixing bailout funds in a deposit account
to make personal gains. They should also not
forget how they falsely accused the government
of diverting the bailout funds to paying contrac
tors. With these alone, the PDP has lost all moral
rights to be listened to as a credible opposition.
Opposition cannot be based on fabrications and
outright falsehood,” the government said.
The statement said that whoever fails to admit
that Nigeria is facing serious economic crisis
must be living in the moon, adding “It is no
longer news that the economy of not only
Nigeria but the entire world is in crisis especially
those who depend on crude oil.
“After all, some 24 months ago, oil sold for about
$114 a barrel but now the same sells for
between $45 and $48. From that alone, is it not
clear that a country like Nigeria which depends
more than 80 % for its national income on sale of
crude will be in difficulties managing it’s affairs?”
The government said it is with this in mind that
the government of Osun is trying everything
possible to ensure that the state stays with its
head above the waters.
“If the PDP wants to be honest with itself, can
the party exonerate itself from the economic
morass that Nigeria is into today? Even before
the unfortunate decline in the sale of crude at
the international market, Nigeria had endured a
most horrendous case of bleeding of the
economy.
“Today, after the installation of a truly people’s
government, the atrocities of the PDP-led
government are coming out in what may enter
the Guinness Book of Records as the most
brutal stealing of a people’s commonwealth in its
16 years of kleptomaniac grip on Nigeria.”
The statement said the PDP has cast itself as
an opposition predicated on falsehood. It said it
lost all its rights to be listened to by all right-
thinking Nigerians.