…targets one million votes for Tinubu, Shettima
…directs aides to monitor projects across 18 LGAs
…says appointments aimed at strengthening grassroots governance
Appointees pledge support, assure APC of victory
Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has charged his political appointees to serve as effective representatives of his administration at the grassroots by providing feedback on government activities, ensuring quality project delivery and mobilising public support for his administration.
He has also directed his political appointees to monitor government projects in their respective communities, report shortcomings and mobilise at least one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential election.
Aiyedatiwa gave the directive on Friday at separate meetings with Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants at the Dr Olusegun Mimiko Event Centre, (The Dome), and the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Akure.
He said the appointments were intended to deepen grassroots participation in governance, noting that although Ondo State had 203 wards, the number of appointees was below 203, with some local government areas having only four or five representatives across their wards.
According to him, the arrangement was designed to ensure adequate representation at the local government level and give communities a stronger voice in governance.
Recalling their contributions to his electoral victory, the governor said he recognised the appointees through their commitment and participation in the campaigns, even though he might not remember every Special Assistant by name.
“I know every one of you here. You were on the campaign train to campaign with us. You supported us. You voted for us to come into power. You worked so hard. I know you by your faces and your names,” he said.
He acknowledged that some of them had worked for the party for years without appointments or other rewards, describing their new positions as an opportunity to serve and defend the administration.
“Some of you have worked before without any reward in terms of appointment. But today you’ve been appointed. This is your time. This is your government. Defend this administration. Stand by it. Work for it. It is your government. If they should abuse this administration, they are abusing you because you are already part of it,” he said.
The governor directed the appointees to report developments in their respective local government areas, whether positive or negative, to enable the government to address issues requiring attention.
“Anything you notice in your local government, report it, either negative or positive,” he said.
He specifically charged them to monitor road construction projects and publicise the quality of work executed by contractors.
“Any road in your domain that they have done, any road constructed by contractors on our behalf, post it. Let us know whether they have done well,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa assured contractors that the state government was not indebted to any of them, explaining that the slowdown in construction activities during the rainy season was due to engineering requirements that did not permit certain operations during rainfall.
“We are not owing any contractor in this state at all. Now, during the rainy season, yes, the work was slow because they cannot be working in the rain. Engineering project management doesn’t permit that,” he said.
He explained that contractors could incur losses when construction mixtures prepared for use could not be poured because of rainfall.
The governor disclosed that road projects had been awarded in all the local government areas, with each council allocated a minimum of five to six kilometres of roads.
He said the roads were nominated by commissioners based on public interest rather than personal considerations, describing the projects as dividends of democracy intended to benefit communities across the state.
On the political responsibilities of the appointees, Aiyedatiwa identified personal, community and party interests as the three major considerations in politics.
He explained that personal interest covered individual benefits, including political appointments, while community interest involved projects and interventions that directly improved people’s lives.
He, however, described party interest as paramount, arguing that political parties in government must work to retain power, while those outside government must strive to regain it.
According to him, political power provides the platform for both personal and community interests to be realised, making its retention imperative.
He said the state was already in the political season ahead of the 2027 general election, with the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The governor disclosed that the APC had conducted its primary election and produced Tinubu as its presidential candidate, with Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
“Our party leader, our president is a flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Senator Kashim Shettima is vice. We must return them. That is the only way we can retain power,” he said.
He stressed that the party’s ambition was not limited to winning Ondo State but included securing an overwhelming share of the votes.
“We have declared one million votes minimum. We must meet that target. The work belongs to all of us, and all that is needed to ensure that we hit that target will be provided, will be made available,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa, charged the newly appointed Senior Special Assistants to demonstrate loyalty, integrity, discipline and dedication in discharging their responsibilities.
He said their appointments came with significant responsibilities and required commitment and diligence.
Describing the OUR EASE agenda as the governing philosophy of the administration and its covenant with the people, Omojuwa urged the appointees to familiarise themselves with its principles and allow its various components to guide their responsibilities.
He expressed confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully to the administration, urging them to serve as worthy ambassadors of the government.
Omojuwa reminded them that they were extensions of the governor’s office and must reflect the discipline, diligence and standards expected of the administration.
The Ondo State APC Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, said the governor’s performance had strengthened the party’s position ahead of the 2027 general election.
He said the APC would campaign on the achievements of the Tinubu-led Federal Government and the Aiyedatiwa administration rather than make fresh promises to the electorate.
Babatunde said the governor’s policies and programmes had consistently focused on improving residents’ welfare and reducing poverty.
He commended Aiyedatiwa for allowing party leaders at the local government level to recommend candidates for political appointments, describing the arrangement as unprecedented and a significant step towards strengthening the party’s structure and institutions.
He urged the appointees to understand the OUR EASE agenda and effectively communicate its objectives to residents across the 18 local government areas.
The APC chairman disclosed that he had submitted a document to the governor aligning President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda with the state’s OUR EASE agenda, highlighting their similarities and the achievements of both administrations.
He said Aiyedatiwa had made the party’s campaign easier by fulfilling the promises he made before assuming office.
“Mr Governor has made our campaign very, very easy because he made promises when he was campaigning. Today, those promises have been fulfilled. So, we will be going back to the field to tell our people what we have done,” he said.
Babatunde expressed confidence that the party would secure at least one million votes in Ondo State, saying the target was achievable by God’s grace.
Representatives of the newly appointed Senior Special Assistants from the three senatorial districts pledged loyalty to Governor Aiyedatiwa and assured him of their support for his administration and the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Olaniran Onisile (North) and Jimmy Akintunde (Central) commended the governor for promoting inclusive governance and bringing government closer to the people, while Alhaja Fausat Gidado urged her colleagues to remain unwaveringly loyal, recalling her contributions to the governor’s 18-0 electoral victory.
Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Dr Bayo Segede said they would deploy their grassroots connections to mobilise support, describing the appointments as recognition for grassroots politicians and party structures. He pledged that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.
Also, Hon Bayo Aina, who joined politics in 1999, thanked Aiyedatiwa for his appointment, describing it as the fulfilment of an ambition for recognition spanning more than two decades.
Speaking on behalf of the Special Assistants, Omolara Akinrogbe commended Aiyedatiwa for his leadership and efforts to improve security and governance in Ondo State, describing his administration as commendable.
Olawale Ijanusi also praised the governor for his commitment to the welfare of the people, employment generation and empowerment, saying his administration had positively impacted various groups, including students and other beneficiaries.
He thanked Aiyedatiwa for appointing them as aides and providing opportunities to serve, expressing confidence that they would continue to support his administration.
In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, mni; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; APC Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde; members of the State Executive Council and party members, among others.
[THE HOPE]
