Ondo Is Not Lucky part 6: How Aiyedatiwa approved over N2.4bn for phoney renovation projects
By Ikantu Peretei.
In the last 48 hours, it has become more clearly evident that, with Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa as Governor, Ondo State will continue to suffer, perhaps, more than we have ever suffered before as a people.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Akure South Local Government “Road Walk” in Akure, the State capital, on Monday, 14th October 2024 was an emphatic “Quit Notice” to the APC government. Market women in Oja Oba, Isikan, NEPA and Arakale, temporarily left their wares to joyously wave at the PDP Governorship Candidate, H.E Agboola Ajayi, with shouts of Agboo! Agboo!! PDP. I have it on good authority that, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, called some of his appointees, asking them why they lied to him that, the PDP was dead in Akure? “Where did all these people come out from” were the words of a perplexed Governor? Before this time, some palace jesters and hangers on had told him that, 2024 was a fait accompli. A lie that was used to deceive a lot of gullible people to declare that “They are Lucky”. But after the road show, many of them realised, they are indeed, very unlucky.
There is no need to talk about the official Flag-off of the Governorship Campaign at Oyemekun road, Akure. The refusal of the Ondo State government to grant approval for the Chief M.K.O Abiola Democracy Park, for the rally, gave unimaginable mileage for the event. For more than three hours, Akure practically stood still.
How unlucky can a people be, when their Governor, in the face of agonising poverty, approved a whooping N1.2b for the renovation of V.I.P Lodge, Government House grounds. Even the cost of a new V.I.P Lodge will be less than N1.2b. How many Ondo State people will benefit from a renovated V.I.P Lodge? Do we need a soothsayer to tell us how unlucky our people are, with Aiyedatiwa?
On the same day when N1.2b was approved for the renovation of V.I.P Lodge, another N293m was approved for the renovation of Adegbemile Cultural Center, Akure. Since the International Cultural and Event Centre (The Dome) was commissioned, how many events hold at Adegbemile? Which sensible government will now commit N293m of the people’s money to renovate a building that does not add anything to their wellbeing?
The most disgusting and scandalous of the approvals was the renovation and refurbishing of the office of the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, at the State Secretariat at the cost of N90m. The same woman who snubbed the Ondo State House of Assembly members for inviting her to appear before them, to answer questions relating to the performance of the 2024 Appropriation Act. It is unthinkable how, a Governor can take an entire State for granted in this manner.
The last of these phoney approvals was the renovation of the Government House Gate and perimeter fence, at N775m. All the four approvals were given on the same day, 26th September 2024. Not one of these projects will benefit the people of the State directly. A man who does not take the welfare of the people as a priority cannot turn round to tell them, they are lucky to have him as their Governor. It is an irony.
The cluelessness of the Governor can only be compared to that of King Louis XVI of France (1774-1792) whose poor decision-making penchant and disconnect from the people led to the French Revolution. In this case, the hardship inflicted on the people will be avenged in the rejection of the APC government and their candidate on Saturday, 16th November 2024.
When next anybody tells you he/she is Lucky, ask them how these renovations valued at more than N2.4bn wasted on the Governor’s residence make them Lucky.
This series continues shortly.
Peretei, a Chieftain of the PDP, is a former Publicity Secretary of the party in Ondo State
