The Ekiti State Government has rejected a claim made by All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Kayode Ojo, that he donated a N80 million fire station to the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.
The New Daily Prime reported Ojo highlighted his extensive contributions to both the party and the state, including an N80 million donation of fire hoses to the state airport and the provision of scholarships worth billions for students.
However, Yinka Oyebode, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Biodun Oyebanji, dismissed Ojo’s claim as “untrue, misleading, and designed for self-glorification.”
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Speaking at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists’ annual public lecture, Oyebode urged journalists to thoroughly vet claims made by politicians before publishing them.
Oyebode stated that government records show no evidence of a fire station donation from Ojo.
He noted that the only individual who has made a publicly acknowledged personal contribution to the airport project is the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola.
According to Oyebode, the fire station at the airport was completed in July of the previous year and fully paid for by the state government.
He challenged Ojo to provide proof of his donation, including a receipt and the name of the person who received the contribution on behalf of the government.
The governor’s aide further challenged all governorship aspirants to provide tangible evidence of their contributions to Ekiti’s development.
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He urged them to make their campaigns “issue-based” and avoid unsubstantiated claims.
Oyebode’s remarks were made during an event attended by various dignitaries, including Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Special Adviser on Information to the governor, Taiwo Olatunbosun.
