Ondo Governorship Poll: Akeredolu Must Not Be Given Party’s Ticket–APC Aspirant

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

As Ondo State goes for another governorship election this year, one of the aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state, Engr. Ife Oyedele has accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration as lacking in focus and direction saying that he must not be given the party’s ticket to contest the governorship election.

Engr. Oyedele, who is the Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited said that Governor Akeredolu had turned the government into a family business.

He stated this in Oka-Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko Southwest local government area of the state while addressing the APC members during the empowerment programme for women, organised by a senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice.

Oyedele who insisted that Akeredolu had been running the affairs of the state like a family enterprise without recourse to members of his cabinet must not at all be given the party’s flag to contest the governorship election.

His words, “No indigene of Ondo State today can be proud of the current situation of the state. This year makes the 44th year when Ondo State was created. I don’t think there is any building within the state that has portable water from the government.

“In some parts of the state, people have been battling with electricity blackout for over 10 years. They only rely on the ‘I better pass my neighbour generator’. What this means is that a child of about 10 years of age has never seen electricity from the national grid.

What has baffled us the most is that every four years we do elect governors but the most painful is that they seem not to have any plan. What we have in Ondo State today is the government of the governor and wife and for his children.”

But the party’s Chairman, Mr Ade Adetimehin said Akeredolu was sure of getting the ticket of the APC and thereafter win the forthcoming governorship election going by his performance in the last three years of his administration as Akeredolu had no serious aspirants contending the party ticket with him.

Adetimehin said, “Only strangers or mischief makers will say Akeredolu has done nothing in this state. You can see that he has touched every sector and the people of the state love him. So, his second term is sure.”

Also, in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ojo Oyewamide, urged all and sundry to show emphatic with Oyedele rather than decimate energy over his pedestrian outburst.

The statement reads, “For one, Oyedele who is the Executive Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, appears to have been overwhelmed in the pool of fantasy to the extent that he forgot he had indicted himself. It means Oyedele has failed in his sojourn as a power expert at that level of engagement if his Division has not had power for years.

“The governorship of Ondo state is open for all to contest. But it is seemingly laughable for undiscerning minds to interpreted running taps for proper qualification. Oyedele has a lot more to learn. Being available as a stakeholders’ ATM means he deserves to be pitied at all times.”