- Says Finance Commissioner colluding to frustrate publicity
- You are doing nothing than to paint road, Gbamila tells Work Commissioner
The Ondo State Government was on Saturday hit by fresh internal tension as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multimedia, Mr Taiwo Ilesanmi Gbamila, accused the Commissioners for Finance and Infrastructure of deliberately gagging the media and frustrating efforts to publicise the activities of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
Gbamila made the allegations on his Facebook page, while reacting to remarks allegedly made by the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Engr. Abiola Olawoye, at an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday at The Dome, Akure, where the commissioner reportedly accused the media of doing nothing to support the governor’s administration.
“What exactly did the media of Governor Aiyedatiwa collect from you?” Gbamila asked. “Are they owing you money that they did not pay back?”
He faulted the commissioner for publicly running down the media, insisting that the media had remained supportive of the administration despite several challenges.
“When we were working for Aiyedatiwa, I did not see you in the picture, and nobody was angry when you were appointed commissioner. Everyone celebrated you,” he said. “By my nature, I do not run people down. I always appreciate whatever God does in someone’s life.”
Gbamila said the commissioner’s attacks on the media were even more troubling given that a committee of media aides was set up months earlier by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, to showcase the governor’s achievements, with him appointed as chairman.
“There is no way we can showcase the works of Governor Aiyedatiwa without involving the Ministry of Works,” he said. “Yet, we made several attempts to see you. I called you for several days; you did not pick. I sent messages; you did not reply. Committee members also called you, and you did not respond.”
He added, “Even when the Chief Press Secretary called you, you did not pick. I later came to your office on October 15, and you gave us an appointment for October 17 or 18. I called you endlessly on those days, but you frustrated the meeting and it did not hold.”
Gbamila further alleged that the commissioner went beyond ignoring the committee by instructing contractors to deny journalists access to project sites.
“You went to the public and spoke recklessly, running down the media, saying the media did nothing,” he said. “At the end of the day, you instructed contractors that if the media came to site, they should not allow them to cover projects unless you approved.”
According to him, the move did not deter him from carrying out his assignment.
“I told the Chief Press Secretary that even if I was frustrated, I would still do my job, even if I had to finance it myself,” he said. “Thank God I met Special Assistant to the Governor on Forestry (South) Hon. Bidemi Obayangban, OC General, who supported me with the money I used to tour the entire state.”
He explained that the documentary on the governor’s projects was eventually completed with support from other government officials.
“When I wanted to cover the Government House, the Chief of Protocol listened to me,” Gbamila said. “He said it was a good idea and immediately instructed the Chief Security Officer, CSO, that I should be allowed to cover everywhere.”
Gbamila also alleged that the Commissioner for Finance was complicit in the media challenges, accusing her of withholding funds meant for public awareness.
“Last year, the Finance Commissioner stopped money for public awareness for six months,” he said. “This December makes it three months since she stopped PR money for the media, yet we kept quiet because we did not want to destabilise the party.”
He lamented that while commissioners enjoyed government vehicles and fuel, media aides often funded official assignments from their personal resources.
“You are using a government car and fuel while we are working like jackasses,” he said. “I used my personal vehicle and fuelled it myself. Nobody gave me money, yet we are doing this work to support our leader.”
Speaking emotionally, Gbamila warned against continued attacks on the media, saying silence should not be mistaken for weakness.
“If you do not back off from the media, you will reap nothing from this state,” he said. “What exactly did the media do to you? Say it and let the whole world know.”
He stressed that he was speaking in his personal capacity and was ready to face any consequences.
“If what I have said will lead to my appointment being terminated, I will thank God,” Gbamila said. “I will not allow anyone to run me down or malign my image while I fold my hands and watch.”
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