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By Dr. Akeredolu O.N
The government of Arakunrin Akeredolu Oluwarotimi SAN is the worst thing that ever happened to the state. Some of us were encouraged to work for him when he was contesting in 2012 and 2016, believing he would be better, putting his intimidating credentials in view, however, the reverse is the case, the funniest thing is that, no one is asking questions about how our commonwealth is being managed by him. In 2020, when Arakunrin was contesting for second term, I had sympathy for Unity forum (anti Aketi’s second term ), I wrote a lot of write-ups against him through online newspaper, SUNSHINE EAGLE but persuaded by Hon. Adeyemi Ayodeji, personal assistant to Rt hon. Victor Olabimtan to give him a second chance, thank God that Aketi’s behaviour is worse to party members than my earlier prediction in first term .Some people claimed he constructed roads, I wouldn’t play politics with these projects by him, though, his aides and appointees who are celebrating him, failed to state the costs of these roads and the impacts of the companies handling these acclaimed infrastructural developments on our citizens .
In all truthfulness, structural growth, mostly in the developing countries is very crucial, only if it’s sincerely executed. The essences of government given priority to roads and building construction are to beautify the environment, attract investors to the state, promoting the local contractors, and increase money in circulation at the same time, boosting the economy . In a situation like Ondo state under Arakunrin in which the local contractors have been abandoned will result in capital flight and people are poorer. Also, when there are capital projects and government fails to develop the people along, no matter what efforts put in , it won’t be appreciated by the citizens. In addition, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the president elect, in his usual yearly colloquium to mark his birthday, once berated governors and public office holders who only concentrated on infrastructural developments while human investment is neglected like the case of Aketi’s administration.
Worst still, the current government in sunshine state lacks transparency, I remember when late Dr Olusegun Agagu was the governor between 2003 to 2009 and Chief Tayo Alasoadura was the commissioner for finance, this Iju-odo born administrative wizard would come on air with his aides to tell the state the amount expected, how it would be spent but in case of Arakunrin, no one knows when the state collects money and how the monthly allocations are being expended, everything has been shrouded in secrecy. We will forever appreciate Gov. Nyemson Wike of Rivers state , who cried out that he collected several billions as a NDDC state like Ondo state. The Arakunrin led government later confessed to have collected seventeen billion naira in that regard from federation accounts. However, the media aide to H.E. Agboola Ajayi, erstwhile deputy governor to Aketi, Bar. Allen Sowore claimed that over twenty five billions naira was actually received as 13% derivation by Aketi’s administration , as at now, we are all in doubt of the real amount.
I don’t need to mention how the political landscape has been bastardized by Aketi in which his supporters justified him by claiming that he was not a politician. This is question I always ask Aketi’s bulldogs is that, how long does it take to study political science in the University? Just four years, if Arakunrin, who was brought to politics by Sen. Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, since 2012, refused to behave like Asiwaju of lagos state but chose a retrogressive and ungrateful way to his benefactors, it’s not because he hadn’t learn politics but he is only showcasing his inherent nature. Despite appointing his son, Mr Babajide Akeredolu as a special adviser and director general of the strongest agency in the state, his younger brother, Prof. Oluwole Akeredolu as board member in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and many of his inlaws from Imo state have been given appointments, Arakunrin never deemed it fit to constitute some boards like hospitals management boards, primary health board, teaching service commission, library board, scholarship board and others, where the faithful party members can be compensated for their hard work , Arakunrin is simply saying that what is good for the goose of his family members is not good for the gander of the faithful APC members.
I wrote an article recently in which I described Aketi as the worst governor in southwest, this generated a lot of issues on a leading social media platform in the state ,Triangle newspaper of Mr Femi Salako, a seasoned journalist, where Dr. Francis Akabiemu, the permanent secretary in the Ondo state primary health board, couldn’t stomach the big blow from humble self against the fumbling governor in sunshine state, he (Dr. Akabiemu ) reacted to support his boss.This my early stand has been justified by recent action of Ekiti state governor, Dr. Abayomi Abiodun Oyebanji who went to meet Eng. Segun Oni at home, after supreme court judgement that solidified his victory at last governorship election. This current first Ekiti indigene believes that the political war is over and it’s the time to build the party visa-vis their state for future, what a big hearted leader! In the neighbouring Ondo state, Aketi’s Idealogy is opposite, running a vindictive and vengeful government against the perceived opposition in and out of APC. He recently started kangaroo suspension through his stooge, the state chairman of the party , Mr Ade Adetimehin, brewing another theater of war in the APC at ward level. Some leaders in Akoko were fired for fathom charges, just to test run their scheme targeted at Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, H.E Ali Olanusi, Dr. Segun Abraham, Sen. Tayo Alasoadura, Chief Olusola Oke and others leaders who don’t believe in Arakunrin’s microscopic view.
How far Aketi will go with this kind of attitude of divide and rule is what I don’t know. Ondo state APC hasn’t known peace since commencement of Arakunrin’s government after 2016’s competitive APC governorship primary which he won and subsequently became governor elect and sworn-in in Feb 24, 2017. Though Aketi has reaped so greatly from politics without sowing much and the governorship came to him on a platter of gold with little spending of his hard earned money, that may explain his woeful performance in all ramifications of governance, he preferred tormenting the party members, bullying them to vote for his preferred aspirants to building a robust party in which everyone sees him as a leader rather than his current status of an emperor.
Peoplesmind
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