Doyin Odebowale, the Special Adviser on Special Duty and Strategy to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, has disclosed the challenges hindering the Governor’s return to the state capital.
Governor Akeredolu’s absence from Akure, Ondo’s capital, has triggered a wave of concern among the populace following his recent medical trip abroad.
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Despite his return, Akeredolu has reportedly been operating from Ibadan, Oyo State, citing accommodation challenges as the reason for his continued absence from the state.
Odebowale emphasized the critical role of suitable living arrangements for the Governor, stressing the need for a conducive environment to effectively oversee the affairs of the South-West state.
The Governor’s extended absence has not gone unnoticed, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth wing in Ondo State delivering an ultimatum to Governor Akeredolu, demanding his prompt return. This development has fueled political tension within the state as questions arise about the continuity and efficiency of governance in the Governor’s absence.
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In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics on Tuesday, Odebowale highlighted the imperative of Governor Akeredolu’s well-being and reiterated the necessity of ensuring his comfort and health during this critical period.
“Aketi came back in September. Where he used to stay – the Presidential Lodge built for the visiting president at that time Olusegun Obasanjo – is a two-bedroom apartment,” he said on the show.
“Now, he is back. He cannot occupy that place again. The Old Governor’s Office – the Governor’s Lodge built by the previous administration is now the office of the investment outlet called the ODIPA. That’s the office,” the governor’s aide added.
“So, the governor has been managing a two-bedroom apartment for six years. But his current state of health would not permit him to pretend that all is well. He would need all the things for him to recover properly. That’s why the new place that is being arranged for him is almost completed.”
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He expressed his bewilderment at the critics’ insistence on the Governor’s return to the state, affirming that effective governance has been consistently maintained even in Governor Akeredolu’s absence from Ondo State.
“When they say they want to see Aketi, do they want to see him at the site so that he would be carrying cement or following workmen? What exactly? The civil servants have been paid all their salaries. Aketi has been signing laws since he came back,” he maintained.
Akeredolu’s aide claims the recent ripples over the Ondo governor’s absence show he (Aketi) is “surrounded by enemies from within. Even his family”.
However, as the ultimatum deadline looms, the pressure on the Governor to address the housing situation and promptly return to his official duties remains palpable.
