The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Hon. Olugbenga Edema, has expressed deep concern over the performances of the governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in the last six months, describing it as a shameful and colossal failure.
Edema, in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Edema Campaign Organisation, Mr Israel Ayeni, said the dispensation of Aiyedatiwa was a failure and that Ondo state was not ready to have an experimental governor.
The NNPP governorship candidate said the state needed a politician with a strong will to continue the good works and development project of the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the state.
Edema noted that there was nothing tangible Aiyedatiwa has done with the resources that have accrued to the state from the federation account since December 27, 2023 he took the mantle of power in the state.
According to the former Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Commission (OSOPADEC), six months is long enough to make an impact, saying that the late General Murtala Mohammed made an unprecedented impact within six months when he took over as military Head of state of the country in 1976.
He said the prices of food were reduced considerably within Muritala’s six months in office, creating seven additional states and laid the foundation for the establishment of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja within the six months that the late general ruled the entire country, saying “that is visionary leadership”
Edema expressed deep concern over the performances of the Ondo governor and lamented that all ongoing projects embarked upon by late Governor Akeredolu have been abandoned while no new one was initiated since he assumed office six months ago.
He alleged that the governor was warehousing funds meant for the development of the state to buy voters’ conscience during the November 16 governorship election.
Edema, however, warned Aiyedatiwa against appealing the judgment of the Ondo High Court that nullified the 33 LCDAs in the state, saying it would amount to wasting the taxpayers’ money.
The NNPP candidate in the governorship election also queried the intention and rationale behind appealing the judgment, describing the move as afterthought, self-seeking, deceitful, and coming after he has been thoroughly criticised in the manner he handled the LCDAs issue.
According to him, “The governor should have looked at the petitions of the aggrieved communities across the state administratively to resolve the imbroglio over the LCDAs before the case was instituted in the first place, instead of allowing the case to drag for months in the law court.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa was the acting governor and even presided over the State Executive Council meeting that approved the numbers of the LCDAs.
“He had ample opportunity to take into consideration the agitation of the people over the numbers, distribution, and delineation of the council areas.
“Going on appeal after the lower court has delivered its judgment is just to create some largesse for his cronies in the legal profession and some officers in the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the name of Legal fees, consultancy fee and other ancillary expenses.
“What the Local Government Areas need now is their autonomy to perform their functions as enshrined in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), so they can deliver the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
“Return their markets and allow them to collect all their constitutionally guaranteed rates and revenues, which you have taken away and given to your cronies under the guise of raising the revenue of the state.”