•Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa
A group, the Council of Young Leaders in the People’s Democratic Party, has stated that Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has failed to perform in the 10 months of his administration as governor of the state.
In a statement signed by the team lead, Wande Ajayi, and made available to journalists yesterday, the group noted that the governor has not performed well since assuming office following the demise of the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu.
The group described the governor’s administration as one marked by “failures and strings of broken promises.”
The PDP group lamented the neglect of infrastructure projects inherited from Aiyedatiwa’s predecessor, Akeredolu, such as the Unimed Teaching Hospital in Akure.
The group also bemoaned the neglect of other sectors in the state, including education, roads, healthcare, and agriculture.
“As the November 16th gubernatorial election approaches, it is crucial for Ondo State voters to reflect on the first 10 months of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration. A deep dive into his performance paints a grim picture of governance, with glaring failures and a string of broken promises that threaten the future of the state.
“One of the most troubling aspects of Aiyedatiwa’s tenure has been his complete disregard for ongoing projects. Despite inheriting key infrastructure projects started by his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa has failed to complete them. Notable among these is the UniMed Teaching Hospital in Akure, which was initiated by Akeredolu but abandoned by Aiyedatiwa. The Governor continues to promise completion, yet no tangible progress has been made, leaving Akure without a functional teaching hospital. This is a direct indictment of his leadership, especially considering that the federal government recently approved a teaching hospital for FUTA, underscoring the long-standing healthcare deficit in the state.
“While vital sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture remain neglected, Aiyedatiwa’s administration has been known for wasteful spending. He has allocated N31 billion for the construction of a High Court complex, but the state’s most pressing needs—such as roads, hospitals, and schools — remain in ruins. Meanwhile, road projects started by Akeredolu have been abandoned, including the Irese Junction, Orita Obele to Ipinsa, and Oda Road, leaving residents in these areas to face dangerous, unpaved routes.
“Another failure of Aiyedatiwa’s administration is his failure to pay the minimum wage to civil servants. As food prices, fuel costs, and transportation expenses soar, civil servants continue to struggle under the weight of inflation. Despite the dire economic conditions, Aiyedatiwa has neglected his workers, offering them nothing but empty promises as he seeks their votes for re-election. His campaign promises to create jobs have also fallen flat. Despite conducting online exams and interviews, not a single person has been employed under his administration. He promised to recruit 1,000 secondary school teachers through TESCOM and 2,000 primary school teachers through SUBEB, but to date, no new teachers have been hired. Meanwhile, the state’s public schools continue to suffer from chronic understaffing as retired teachers are not replaced.
“The performance of Ondo State’s budget under Aiyedatiwa has been dismal, with less than 20% of the 2023 budget being implemented. Despite the approval of a supplementary budget of N96 billion in November 2024, there is no indication that the previous budget has been utilized effectively. Aiyedatiwa has refused to approve vital memos and release funds to ministries and agencies, holding over 200 files in his office without any action. The governor has been accused of deliberately stalling projects and mismanaging public funds. In stark contrast, Aiyedatiwa has received an astonishing N125.2 billion in federal allocations between December 2023 and September 2024. The sum is more than any other Ondo State governor has received in a single term, yet the state remains mired in underdevelopment. How has this money been spent?
“Aiyedatiwa’s failure to address the state’s ecological challenges has led to catastrophic flooding, most notably in Ondo town, where the effects of a recent flood were devastating. Despite receiving over N300 million in ecological funds, the administration has done nothing to mitigate the environmental risks. Roads like Oba Adesida Road in Akure continue to flood at the slightest rainfall, yet Aiyedatiwa’s government has failed to take action to address these critical issues. While his predecessors—Adebayo Adefarati, Olusegun Agagu, Olusegun Mimiko, and Rotimi Akeredolu—are remembered for their numerous infrastructure projects, job creation, and investments in the state’s future, Aiyedatiwa has yet to produce a single legacy project. No new roads have been completed, no new schools or hospitals have been built, and no significant economic or social reforms have been implemented.
“Internally, Aiyedatiwa’s administration has been marked by dysfunction. His wife’s refusal to serve as First Lady speaks volumes about the dysfunction at the heart of the governor’s leadership. As the election looms, the people of Ondo State must reflect on the abysmal performance of Lucky Aiyedatiwa. His administration has been a disaster, marked by corruption, ineptitude, and broken promises. Ondo State deserves better—leaders who will prioritise the welfare of the people, invest in critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, and put an end to the rampant corruption that has plagued the state for the last 10 months. It is time to demand a change and elect a leader who will work tirelessly to restore hope and progress to Ondo State. The people of Ondo State have the power to prevent another four years of stagnation, corruption, and incompetence. Let your votes on November 16th be a step towards a better future for Ondo State,” the statement read.
