By Kennedy Ikantu Peretei.
In less than 28 days, the people of Ondo State will carry their destinies in their own thumbs. To decide whether they wish to continue with a government that has inflicted so much pain on them or choose a new dawn for themselves.
The people have beamed their search light on the 10 months of Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa as Governor, the verdict has been a resounding failure. On 22nd July, 2024, more than N35B was approved for asphalt overlay of roads in four Akoko Local Government Areas, Ose, Owo, Ilaje, Idanre, Ondo and Akure axes of the State. Three months after, the roads are still in the same states they were before the contract awards.
It is apparent that, these huge sums approved for asphalt overlay must have disappeared into private pockets, since contractors are not on site over claims of non payment. Can Ondo State be said to be lucky under such an administration?
The sum of N217,881,308.00 was also approved for the renovation of Deputy Governor’s Lodge. To be delivered in 12 weeks, effective from July 22, 2024. It is common knowledge that, since assumption of office, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olayide Adelami maintains princely Presidential Suites at Royal Birds Hotel & Towers, Alagbaka, Akure, with his retinue of staff, all expenses paid for with tax payers’ money. The money wasted in hotel accommodation for the Deputy Governor would have been enough to renovate his official residence. Is there anybody who is still in doubt that, this set of leaders should be shown the way out of Government House come November 16?
When they say they are Lucky, they do not mean the people of Ondo State, but their very narrow personal interest.
The Aiyedatiwa government has been unable to stimulate the local economy of the State. All those little things that used to put money in the pockets of the common people have since dried up. Supply of office stationery, desilting of drainages, supply of school furniture, repair of government vehicles and many more that used to benefit the people are no longer fashionable with this government.
Market women and artisans that used to have access to revolving loans, where their various associations stood as guarantors are now only in the memories of the people.
We now have a government that rather blames the APC controlled-federal government for its lack of performance. For a government that has nothing to show in 10 months, what is the guarantee, that this trend of wasteful spending with no result, will not continue if given another opportunity ( God forbid)?
Outside of those very few whose brains need reset, majority of Ondo State people know that, this is the most un-impactful and clueless administration in the history of the State. Hence, the question of being lucky with Aiyedatiwa does not arise.
As the election approaches with many former APC faithful renouncing their membership of the party on grounds of hunger and starvation in the land, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa was reported to have sarcastically told his aides if they remember the story of former Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin and the chicken? Stalin came to a meeting with a chicken with blood dripping from its body. He intermittently dropped corn for the chicken but plugged out all the feathers of the chicken. But when released, the chicken moved very closely to Stalin.
Aiyedatiwa believes that, the people of Ondo State are not different from the bleeding chicken in the hands of Stalin. A few droppings of corn will be enough to buy their loyalty when the election comes. But l am confident that, the people will have the last laugh, not our tormentor.
This series continues shortly.
