The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Barr. Modupe Aisida, has taken a swipe at the Ondo State House of Assembly, describing it as “toothless” and ineffective in discharging its constitutional duties.
Aisida made the remarks while speaking during an interview monitored on Fresh 102.9 FM, Akure, where he assessed the performance of the current administration led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the general state of governance in Ondo State.
According to him, the Assembly has failed in its oversight responsibilities and has become largely invisible in the eyes of the public. “Most people in the state don’t even know we still have a House of Assembly,” he lamented. “If they were truly performing their oversight functions, things wouldn’t have been this bad.”
The PDP Chairman accused the lawmakers of neglecting their constitutional duty to hold the executive accountable, alleging that the state’s growing opacity in financial management was a direct result of a weak legislature. “It’s not as if there is no money now,” he said. “After the removal of fuel subsidy, the state and local governments are getting more funds, yet there’s little to show for it. What is the percentage of budget implementation? What have they done with local government allocations? These are the questions the Assembly should be asking.”
Aisida criticized what he described as a lack of transparency in the handling of contracts and public funds, pointing out that even basic information such as project costs and budget performance has become inaccessible to the public. “We don’t know the cost of most contracts being awarded. Every contract, every program must have a declared value. It’s part of transparency. The House of Assembly should insist on that,” he said.
He further expressed dismay over the alleged fraud that trailed the recent recruitment of teachers in the state, describing it as a reflection of administrative negligence.
On the defecting lawmakers who recently left the PDP for the ruling APC, Aisida noted that their decision was driven by personal interests rather than public service. “They didn’t defect because the APC is doing well. Everyone knows the government is underperforming. It’s purely about survival,” he stated.
Aisida, who has been a member of the PDP since 1998, insisted that the opposition party was reorganizing to provide credible leadership and hold the government accountable. “We are not sleeping. We have started well, and our people will soon begin to see the difference. Governance affects everyone, not just politicians. We all share the same destiny,” he said.
He also challenged the state government to open its financial records to public scrutiny. “Let them open their books. Let’s see what’s coming in and what’s going out. It’s not enough for local government chairmen to say ‘all is well’ when the system itself lacks transparency. Governance must be accountable to the people,” he added.
Aisida concluded by reaffirming the PDP’s resolve to act as a strong opposition, stressing that both citizens and the media must continue to demand transparency and good governance from the ruling party.
0 comments: