Ondo Group Faults Aiyedatiwa Over SSG Reappointment, Raises Governance ConcernSome indigenes of Ondo State, under the aegis of the Ondo Redemption Front (ORF), have criticised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over the reappointment of Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), following his resignation to contest the state’s senatorial election.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the group’s Chairman, Dr. Ologun Ayodeji, flanked by Co-Chairman Mogbojuri Kayode and Secretary Adedotun Ajulo, said the governor’s decision reflected weak coordination and a lack of strategic direction in the administration.
The group described the office of the SSG as the engine room of government policy coordination, stressing that it should not be treated as a ceremonial or political office.
According to the ORF, Fasoranti’s resignation to pursue his senatorial ambition left the office vacant for several months, creating what it described as an avoidable vacuum at the highest level of government.
“A serious government does not leave such a critical office unattended for months.
“A serious government understands that governance is a continuous process that cannot be suspended because one individual chooses to pursue political ambitions.
“Now that the same individual has returned to occupy the position, the public is left wondering whether the office belongs to the institution of government or has become a political holding room to be vacated and reclaimed at will,” the group said.
The ORF said it had repeatedly raised concerns over the direction of governance in the state, adding that recent developments reinforced what it described as a pattern of indecision and governance driven by reaction rather than vision.
The group also expressed concern over the Ministry of Finance, alleging persistent administrative bottlenecks, delayed approvals and undue interference in government processes. It claimed that such complaints had been voiced by both serving and former government aides, as well as supporters of the administration.
It urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to investigate the allegations against the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, and reassure residents that government activities were not being hindered by bureaucratic obstacles.
On infrastructure, the group questioned the transparency surrounding the ongoing Akure flyover project, saying the government had yet to disclose details of the project’s total cost, procurement process, funding arrangement and contractor selection despite construction already being underway.
The ORF further lamented the condition of roads, healthcare and education in the state, noting that public hospitals continued to grapple with inadequate personnel and equipment, while institutions such as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic faced administrative uncertainty and infrastructural decay.
It also raised concerns over worsening insecurity, particularly incidents of kidnapping and attacks on rural communities, saying many farmers and residents felt abandoned.
The group called on the governor to strengthen institutional governance by ensuring critical offices are not left vacant for political reasons, undertake a comprehensive administrative review to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, and publish full details of the Akure flyover project.
It also urged the government to implement urgent reforms in the health, education and security sectors, and introduce quarterly public accountability sessions.
“The warning signs are becoming impossible to ignore. The time for excuses has passed. The time to save the soul of Ondo State is now,” the group said.
Responding to the allegations, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, dismissed them as baseless, describing the ORF as a familiar group of critics that regularly attacks the governor on social media without seeking genuine engagement.
“They are seeking attention, not solutions for the people of Ondo State,” he said.
Adeniyan defended the governor’s constitutional prerogative to appoint members of his cabinet, insisting that criticism of the SSG’s reappointment was politically motivated rather than based on competence.
He also maintained that details of major projects, including the Akure flyover, were already in the public domain and advised the group to utilise the Freedom of Information Act if it required additional information.
