The gubernatorial ambition of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the next Governor of Ondo State for another term is currently under threat, as a group under the aegis of Concerned Ikale Youths (CIY), has vowed to work against him at the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled to hold in April this year.
The group also threatened that should Aiyedatiwa sail through the primary election, the governorship would not be a bed of roses for him.
The furious youths, in a statement on Tuesday, jointly signed by the President, Egbuwalo Olumide and Secretary, Omosaye Aiyenitaju, hinged their decision to thwart Aiyedatiwa’s ambition on his alleged lopsided appointments.
According to the statement, CIY alleged that out of the sixteen Permanent Secretaries he appointed, five were from Ilaje Local Government despite the fact that the State Head of Service is also from Ilaje. They added that he didn’t appoint anybody into his cabinet from Okitipupa LG, neither did he appoint any permanent secretary in the recent appointment despite the array of qualified civil servants from the LG.
The statement partly reads, “Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s chances of emerging as the Governor of Ondo State are in doubt due to his biased appointments, particularly evident in his recent cabinet and Permanent Secretary appointments.
“His failure to include representatives from Okitipupa Local Government, the largest in Ikale, in his cabinet appointments, and the disproportionate allocation of positions to his own Ilaje Local Government without thinking of other LGAs in Ondo State, is worrisome and a source of concern.
As it stands, Ilaje is in charge of afforestation (Shina Nejo), they have the head of service, (Mr Bayo Philip), five of the newly appointed permanent secretaries, Igbekele Jatuwase, Ayodele, O.F, Omomowo, F.A, Asonja, F.O and Dr. Bayo Ilawole are from Ilaje. His Chief of Staff, Segun Omojuwa, is from Ilaje. His Chief Protocol, Barr Asonja George, is from Ilaje.
The new Commissioner for Education, Dr. Olawunmi Egbayelo-Ilawole is from Ilaje. More than half of his special assistants and personal assistants are all from Ilaje. Even all the recently appointed SA Media, majority of them are from his local government, Ilaje.
“This is not acceptable! How can a governor constitute a cabinet without a single person from Okitipupa? In a state of 18 LGs, how can a governor appoint 16 Permanent Secretaries and five are from his LGA? With the Head of Service inclusive, they will become six.
The over concentration of key appointments in Ilaje Local Government, coupled with the retention of significant positions like the State Chief Judge, NDDC, and OSOPADEC, raises suspicion of an agenda to dominate other local government areas.
“This departure from the leadership style of former Governor Olusegun Agagu is not welcomed by Ondo South residents, who seek a more inclusive and equitable government.
“The Governor will colonize other LGAs if he is not resisted as we approach the state governorship election. It is true we long yearn to produce the governor from the south but this is not the type of leadership style we pray for”, the statement added.
Starnews NG had reported a similar complaint a few days ago that a group under the aegis of Irele People’s Alliance (IPA) in Irele local government area, decried the one-sided nature of political appointments in the local government by governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The group, through its Secretary, Hon Sola Olaoluwa, in a statement on Friday, expressed dissatisfaction of the party leaders in the axis, stating that they are not encouraged to work as a result of the distribution of political appointments by the governor.
According to the group, only one of the two constituent zones in Irele LG has taken all the political appointments approved so far by Governor Aiyedatiwa and leaving the other zone (Ikale East LCDA) with nothing.
READ ALSO: Appointments: Group Decries Marginalization of Irele Zone II By Aiyedatiwa
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