By Ayo Yusuf
As the three-day ultimatum given to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to return to Akure, the Ondo State capital, by the youth wing of the People’s Democratic Party in the state expires today, his Special Adviser on Special Duty and Strategy, Mr. Doyin Odebowale, has explained that the governor cannot return to Akure when there is no befitting accommodation for him there.
On Monday, the youth wing of the PDP held a protest against the governor’s continued stay in Ibadan since he returned to the country in September from a three-month health vacation in Germany.
“We are giving Mr. Governor the next 24 hours to address the people of Ondo State and we are giving him three days ultimatum to resume duty in the state. We’ve been seeing a series of responses from the APC that the governor will join us in days’ time.
“We are giving him three days ultimatum to address us and if he fails, we as the opposition party, will occupy the streets of Akure and we will continue to demand that he either resume or resign,” said the spokesman for the group, Mr Akintayo Oluyi.
He also speculated that the Governor has been governing remotely from lbadan because he was not well enough to return to Akure and would be returning to Germany soon for further treatment.
However, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday night, Mr. Odebowale debunked these and other allegations saying that the absence of a suitable residence for Akeredolu, given his current health condition, was the reason for his delay in returning to Akure.
He said: “Aketi (Akeredolu) came back in September. Where he used to stay – the Presidential Lodge built for the visiting president at that time Olusegun Obasanjo – is a two-bedroom apartment,” he said on the show.
“Now, he is back. He cannot occupy that place again. The Old Governor’s Office – the Governor’s Lodge built by the previous administration is now the office of the investment outlet called the ODIPA. That’s the office,” the governor’s aide added.
“So, the governor has been managing a two-bedroom apartment for six years. But his current state of health would not permit him to pretend that all is well. He would need all the things for him to recover properly. That’s why the new place that is being arranged for him is almost completed.”
Speaking on the demand by the youth wing of the PDP in the state that the Governor should show his face in Akure within three days, Mr. Odebowale said, “When they say they want to see Aketi, do they want to see him at the site so that he would be carrying cement or following workmen? What exactly? The civil servants have been paid all their salaries. Aketi has been signing laws since he came back,” he maintained.
“PDP cannot ask the governor to show his face, and if the so-called youths of the PDP believed that they reserve the right to move to the street to protest against a ruling party, APC and you want to know where the governor is, for what?
“So, you want the governor to come and address you at the PDP secretariat? Or do you want him to come and resuscitate your moribund party for what? The idea of asking security agencies to just allow you to move to the street where is that done?
“If the PDP youth wing wants to move to the street, what about the APC youth wing if they are also allowed to move to the street, so, what will happen to the peaceful law-abiding citizens of the state, the residents, and those who will be passing through the state?” he asked.
The governor’s aide argued that there is nothing wrong with genuine citizens asking to see the governor, but that it was wrong for mischief makers to paint the picture that there is gloom and nothing is working.
He reiterated, “The governor is in charge, he is recuperating, convalescing, the governor was visited by the APC leadership from Abuja, they saw him, he was in a hurry to return to Akure and they know who is sponsoring these people.”
On Tuesday the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Mr. Richard Olatunde, was also forced to debunk a media report that the governor would be going back to Germany soon for another medical leave.
The media aide described the report as wicked and misleading, alleging that the report was the handiwork of some mischief makers in the state.
According to a statement he issued in Akure, the report was concocted and planted by some politicians who are still nursing the pains of defeated expectations.
The statement reads, “The story making the rounds is baseless, unfounded and only a figment of the imagination of evil-minded politicians. For us, we are committed to addressing the genuine concerns of the people of the state. This is why development is prioritized under the Akeredolu administration.
“Governance is not about showbiz where the governor embarks on fashion parades at the market square to announce his presence in the state. We understand the importance of development as the major driver of a peaceful, thriving and egalitarian society.
“Governor Akeredolu’s administration has consistently demonstrated its dedication to the state’s progress. Recently, he approved the recruitment of medical professionals and healthcare workers in a demonstration of our commitment to enhancing the state’s healthcare system.
“The governor has also signed the 2023 Appropriation Bill for the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission into law, following its passage by the state House of Assembly. This is a significant step towards advancing the development of the oil-producing area,” he said.
According to Olatunde who stated that the absence of the governor had not stopped the administration as many developmental projects were still ongoing across the state, “We are proud to report that work is progressing rapidly on the construction of a 250-bed University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital in Akure and Ondo Town. The construction of the Akure flyover at Onyarubulem/Shagari Junction is also ongoing and we are making steady progress.
“To boost revenue generation, Governor Akeredolu has approved the fresh recruitment of 150 staff for the state Internal Revenue Service. Additionally, modern tax stations are being constructed in Ondo and Ikare, along with a Revenue court in Akure. These projects are already in progress.
“We value the welfare of our workers, and as such, Governor Akeredolu recently approved the payment of outstanding leave bonuses. Salaries for workers in the state have been paid up to date. Contrary to the claims made by the opposition, Governor Akeredolu is diligently fulfilling his duties. Activities are ongoing in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, and the governor is actively engaged in addressing state matters.”
He urged members of the public to disregard false news and not be swayed by the lies and misleading information spread by those with ulterior motives.
“Governor Akeredolu remains dedicated to serving the people of Ondo State and driving progress in our great state,” the governor’s aide stressed.
In their ultimatum the youth wing of the PDP had noted that “since 32 days ago when the governor arrived from his three-month medical leave in Germany, we’ve not seen the governor anywhere near the state.
“Yet, we’ve been hearing of Akeredolu passing bills into law by proxy and this is what informed the protest by the youth wing of the PDP in the state. We can no longer continue like this. We are the voice of the people, we are the voice of the masses.
“We are saying, Mr Governor must resume duty; he can no longer govern us by proxy; we can no longer be hearing that he’s one thing or the other when we’ve not sighted him. We know the governor we have, if he’s truly fit, we would have sighted him in the streets of Akure.”
