……Babajide should cure himself of ignorance —Govt’s Official
One of the children of the late Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has expressed dissatisfaction with the naming of an uncompleted project after him by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, describing the gesture as “premature and insincere.”
He also advised Aiyedatiwa to reflect true loyalty and respect for the late governor in actions, and not with empty gestures or political gimmicks.
He noted: “True loyalty and respect for the late governor must be reflected in actions, not empty gestures or political gimmicks,”.
He emphasized that true honour lies in completing the projects initiated by the late governor.
In a statement issued by Babajide Akeredolu on behalf of the family, he commended the groundbreaking of the Judicial Complex, a project dear to the late governor, but criticized the politics surrounding it.
Babajide described the decision to name the project after the late governor before its completion as premature.
He urged Aiyedatiwa to demonstrate genuine commitment to Akeredolu’s legacy by prioritising the completion and functionality of such projects.
He noted a clash between the government’s Leadership Lecture Series and the Akeredolu family’s remembrance programme in Owo.
Babajide Akeredolu stated that the family had formally informed the governor of their plans, but the state government organized its event without consulting or inviting any family members.
This omission was termed “discourteous and disrespectful” for an event meant to honour a former governor.
He listed the following as critical projects initiated by Akeredolu that require urgent attention;
Preliminary studies were completed during Akeredolu’s administration, but progress has stalled.
The completion of the Flyover at Onyearugbulem Junction, regarded as a flagship infrastructure project meant to be completed within 18 months but is now progressing slowly.
Roads behind SIB and Ijoka Road have been neglected, causing hardship for residents.
Oda Road has seen substandard work compared to projects completed during Akeredolu’s tenure.
The family criticized the state government for discrepancies in salary payments, high tax burdens, and failure to implement a fair minimum wage.
The family accused Aiyedatiwa of alienating individuals associated with Akeredolu and called for an end to divisive actions. They also urged the governor to emulate his predecessor’s courage and conviction in leadership.
The family appreciated the Deputy Governor for representing the state at the remembrance event and other functions in the governor’s absence.
They advised Governor Aiyedatiwa to separate politics from governance and focus on effective leadership to leave a lasting legacy.
The family reassured the people of Ondo State of their commitment to preserving the late governor’s legacy, speaking truth to power, and holding leaders accountable.
The family noted: “True loyalty and respect for the late governor must be reflected in actions, not empty gestures or political gimmicks,”.
GOVERNMENT’S SOURCE LAMBASTS BABAJIDE.
A Government official who spoke with SUNSHINETRUTH News anonymously While a detailed response may be given on this, let me quickly say that Babajide cannot dictate to the Ondo State Government how it would honour a former Governor. Akeredolu was more than a family man, he was an elected leader of the state.
The state government played its role in the events organised in Owo by the family where the Deputy Governor represented the Governor. The preparation for the Lecture event in Akure had commenced before the invitation for the Owo events was delivered to the state government.
The condescending tone of Babajide in his statement over the unavailability of the Governor at the family events shows his lack of respect for the office of the Governor.
Is Babajide unaware of the public attacks and unrestrained abuse that his mother, former First Lady, has melted on the Governor since he assumed office. Is Babajide also unaware of how his mother had embarrassed the Governor and Deputy Governor by ignoring their pleasantries at public events?
That Babajide was privileged to hold a non-existent political office under the administration of his father does not confer on him the right to dictate how government projects and policies are handled by Governor Aiyedatiwa.
The road projects he mentioned, including Oda road dualisation, Ijoka road dualisation and the Irese flyover, were all abandoned when he and a few others held the state to ransom and caused a needless political crisis during his father’s illness. All contractors handling the projects, who were not paid for job done, had been nowhere near the projects for close to two years before Governor Aiyedatiwa mobilised them back to site in February this year.
Babajide should cure his ignorance by paying a visit to the road projects to assess the level of progress made in the last one year of the Aiyedatiwa administration. Those projects suffered under his reign as Director General of the Project Performance and Implementation Monitoring Unit, an office he used to arrogate to himself the title of a defacto Governor for three years.
Babajide should return all government properties he took away before arrogantly making statements on how to run government,” said the government official.
