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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state over his criticism of the N-Power programme of the Federal Government.
Makinde, while reacting to an Oyo APC rally attended by N-Power beneficiaries, had alleged that they were forced to attend.
In a statement issued on Friday by Prince Dotun Oyelade of the Makinde campaign organisation, the PDP governorship candidate described N-Power as a “monumental fraud”.
He said: “The Federal Government largesse is wide open and vulnerable to massive fraud, while only a very small margin is doled out to the masses because of the general elections.
“By forcing the people to abandon their little businesses and attend a rally to show gratitude for a monumental fraud, it is obvious that the state government is in panic mode.”
But in its reaction, the APC dismissed Makinde’s statement, stressing that the N-Power beneficiaries were not forced to do anything.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Abdulazeez Olatunde, APC said Makinde’s comment was an indication that he did not understand what transpired at the rally.
According to Olatunde, “it is only a novice that would complain about the N-Power rally which was organized by the beneficiaries themselves. To show their enthusiasm, majority of these N-power beneficiaries painted their faces before the rally which was also used to launch a programme tagged Build the Future.
“The beneficiaries of the APC Social Investment programmes including N-Power were not selected based on party affiliations or associations but open to all Nigerians. So it is understandable if some beneficiaries dissented about the rally. Their plight should be understood as they are part of the ilk of PDP whose Sure P and YouWin were only for its members and poorly executed.”
Olatunde assured the people of the state that APC will not relent in delivering the dividends of democracy, promising that the party will sustain the peace, development, welfare and revolution of Governor Ajimobi in the state with the candidature of Chief Bayo Adelabu.