The Ondo governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has appointed about 344 political aides in the state, News About Nigeria has learnt.
The appointment comes just 10 weeks before the state gubernatorial election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled November 16 for the conduct of the Ondo state governorship election.
The newly appointed aides include 28 senior special assistants and 316 special assistants, spread across the state’s 18 local government areas, 33 local council development areas, and 203 political wards.
According to Ebenezer Adeniyan, the chief press secretary to the governor, the appointments aim to boost governance and service delivery to the people of Ondo State.
In a statement, Adeniyan said, “In continuation of efforts to enhance governance and service delivery to the people of the state, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointment of new Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs).”
However, a public affairs analyst, Olujimi Adekanle, criticised the governor’s move, calling the appointments “unnecessary and misguided.”
Adekanle questioned the selection process, saying, “Who are those responsible for the SSAs and SAs appointments in Ondo State?
“I am very sure Mr. Governor was misled; tails were given heads and heads were given tails. I saw some personalities who were eminently qualified to be senior special assistants but were relegated to just special assistants,” he said.
He further expressed his confusion over the appointment criteria, stating, “Honestly, I don’t understand the yardstick for these appointments.”
“Some people should be respected for their political activities and the offices they held in the past.”
Adekanle also predicted that some appointees might decline their positions, saying, “Don’t be surprised if you see scores of newly appointees declining their appointments (hunger may not allow some).”
