APC Should Free Jonathan—Fayose

**Tackles Buhari On Salary Slash

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said there is nothing special in the 50 per cent cut in the salary of President Muhammadu Buhari, which was announced recently by the Presidency.

Addressing newsmen in an interview session, the controversial governor said he too can forfeit his whole salary, disclosing that salaries are nothing to public officers.

According to him, government officials get a lot of money from allowances.

“Today, they are in power, they can say whatever they have to say. Jonathan is gone, they should leave Jonathan alone and face the act of governance.

“They said PDP cannot do it well; they are there now. They should, please, try their best for us and leave propaganda.

“Another thing is that the president and vice-president announced that they will forfeit 50 per cent of their salaries. That is also playing to the gallery. I can forfeit everything, because salary is meaningless. I am ready to forfeit all of my own, the whole salary, not half, because we know the truth. We know where people in government make money.

“The president should go a little bit further and forfeit other benefits he enjoys. For instance, all the benefits of the state house in Abuja and protocol.

“There are a lot of benefits that will accrue to the president in terms of travelling, in terms of sitting allowances and other allowances that are due the president. He must cut the cost, because the benefits are more far-reaching than salary.

“The President’s salary is N1.1 million. Is the president telling us that he has forfeited N550,000 to Nigerians to change our fortune No.

“Even my own salary is about N700,000; I am ready to give it out without complaining and I am not going to announce it on the radio or television.

“And, interestingly, you cannot forfeit it by words of mouth, because there is nowhere you will post it anyway in the revenue mobilisation law. You can take it and use it to promote the cause of Nigerians, but don’t tell us you are ready to forfeit half of your salary and it’s a big deal. No, it’s not,” Fayose told journalists.