Conversion Of Deputy Governor’s Lodge To Computer Room Is An Aberration, Usurpation Of Power And A Bad Precedence.
It is bad enough that the democratically elected Deputy Governor of Ondo state, His Excellency Lucky Ayedatiwa has not been permitted to move into his official residence almost two years after his inauguration. More worrisome and disturbing is the recent decision by the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, to convert the official designated Lodge for the state Deputy Governor to a computer room – ‘ Situation Room’ to monitor the forthcoming, 2023 General Elections.
This is an aberration, usurpation of the constitutionally established institution and a grand plan to completely paralyze the Office of the Deputy Governor in Ondo state and immobilize its occupant for inordinate personal gains. Again, this has confirmed the governor’s sneaky plans to ignore established institution and supplant it with new ones through executive order to assume the full running of government.
Since 1976 when the state was created both Governors and their Deputy Governors, so far, have lived peaceably in their different official designated residences within the Government House Ground without any form of restriction. Not only that, many senior government officials, including civil servants have their respective official quarters in the Government Reserved Area, (GRA), Alagbaka, Akure.
Ergo, it is worrisome, alarming and imperious for Mr. Governor to single handedly customize the Ondo State Government House Ground for the exclusive use of members of his family. It’s Surprising that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who emerged as governor through a democratic process has now completely grown into a full dictator and his administration’s style now gravitates towards totalitarianism.
We are therefore compelled, with profound respect to the Office of the Chief Executive, to remind Mr Governor that he was elected by the people and as such has a fiduciary duty and obligation to protect and promote the tenets of a democratic society – strict observance of rule of law and respect for constitutionally established institutions. This is the intent of the oath of office he sworn to !
Expectedly, as patriotic citizens, we can’t afford to fold our arms and watch this aggressive rapacious desire to subdue, acquire and administer the State as a personal estate without a pushback. Henceforth, Governor Akeredolu is advised to put a halt to his administration’s clandestine plan to turn the state to a complete autocracy. Ondo State belongs to all of us !
Allen Sowore Esq
Director, Media & Publicity,
PDP Ondo South Senatorial District Campaign Council
12/12/2022.
PRESS RELEASE
Re-Conversion Of Deputy Governor’s Lodge To Computer Room Is An Aberration, Usurpation Of Power And A Bad Precedence.
The latest whining from the PDP, Ondo South Senatorial District Campaign Council has been brought to our attention. The piece, signed by the Director, Media and Publicity, PDP, Ondo South Campaign Council, Mr Allen Sowore who was the former SA media to Agboola Ajayi, the former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, attempting to incite public outcry through lies and spurious allegations.
Ordinarily, we would have ignored the jaundiced narrative and focus on the business of governance which is our primary responsibility, but we are constrained to respond in order to arrest this misinformation before it hoodwink innocent members of the public.
When Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON assumed office in 2017, there was no befitting lodge for the Governor and his then Deputy, Agboola Ajayi. The building converted to the official lodge by the immediate past administration had suffered structural defect, hence, it is not fit for habitation.
Governor Akeredolu who was prepared for governance and ready to settle down almost immediately took up a two-bedroom apartment (Presidential Lodge) after shuttling between Owo and Akure from his personal residence for about six months. He still occupies same two-bedroom apartment till date.
The then deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, who couldn’t locate a befitting apartment also in the government house, settled for a two-bedroom apartment meant for the Chief Of Staff to Mr. Governor. He occupied this building throughout his stay in office.
Meanwhile, the supposed deputy Governor’s lodge in reference by Allen Sowore, which was used by the former deputy Governors under the past administrations was rejected by Agboola Ajayi. He neither stayed nor used the apartment for anything meaningful.
It is, therefore, surprising that PDP Media Director South and his cronies could turn around and accuse anyone of converting a lodge the former Deputy Governor, Mr.Agboola Ajayi, now the PDP South Senatorial Candidate rejected, into a computer room. It is the height of hypocrisy and sheer insincerity.
We understand that defeated expectations breeds unbridled frustrations, but we advise the PDP South Senatorial District Media and Publicity Director, working for the former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi’s camp to restrain from advertising their penchant for treachery. All these attempts and unfounded statements to cause disaffection will not bear any fruit.
And for the record, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa doesn’t see any need to occupy the supposed deputy governor’s lodge that was rejected by Mr. Agboola Ajayi as well as two-bedroom apartment meant for the chief of staff to Mr. Governor which he occupied while in office. Besides, the deputy Governor’s personal residence, a five bedroom house, sitting on two plots of land, is in the same serene environment of GRA Alagabaka extension, less then 10 minutes drive to the governor’s office.
And again, the Governor Akeredolu led administration is currently building a befitting Govenor’s Lodge. This administration is building a legacy that we can all be proud of as good people of Ondo State.
We therefore urge our people to discountenance the concocted lies by Mr Allen Sowore and his hirelings. The style of spreading lies and concocted narratives to cover up deficiency and failure is gone. Our people are too sophisticated to buy unfounded claims and outright fallacy.
Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson,
Press Secretary to the Governor,
Office of the Deputy Governor.
December 12, 2022.
