The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Ondo State has praised Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s decision to transfer power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, describing it as long overdue.
PDP claims that because of Akeredolu’s poor health, who just travelled back to Germany for additional medical care, the state has been in a state of stagnation for the past six months.
On Thursday, News About Nigeria reported that the state House of Assembly formally acknowledged Aiyedatiwa as the interim governor after Akeredolu confirmed his deputy with a letter that transferred authority.
Commenting on the development, Kennedy Peretei, the Publicity Secretary of the Ondo PDP, told The PUNCH that Aiyedatiwa needed to move quickly to advance the state.
“Akeredolu’s medical vacation is long overdue; I don’t know why they waited this long to do this. Ondo State is already the butt of every joke. Let’s pray that things will at least move in the state instead of the stagnation witnessed in the last six months,” Peretei stated.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, addressed concerns over the government’s alleged blocking of local government’s finances in the interim.
Unofficial reports surfaced online last Friday, claiming that caretaker chairmen had received orders not to touch the finances of their local governments.
However, in a statement on Sunday, Ademola-Olateju clarified that the acting governor had not issued any order to freeze the council’s accounts, adding that the report was untrue.
She urged the people of Ondo State, especially local government officials, to disregard the rumour.
“At no time has the acting Governor or any functionary of the state put a freeze on local government accounts or ordered any closure. This information is fake and baseless. We ask that the good people of Ondo State, particularly officials of local governments, disregard the rumor,” the commissioner emphasized.
Ademola-Olateju further assured that the state government is committed to the proper functioning of the newly established 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and the existing 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to enhance grassroots development.
