Aiyedatiwa Lied On Deep Sea Port, Bitumen, Licences  Were Secured By Akeredolu – Late Gov’s Aide

By Ayodele Oni 

An Aide of late former Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has faulted claims by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ascribing some notable projects such as deep sea Port and bitumen to his administration.

A statement Sunday signed by Richard Olatunde, Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor, insisted that the Akeredolu’s administration pursued and secured a licence for bitumen exploration in the state.

“It would amount to sheer injustice to dismiss the gallantry and ceaseless efforts of the late Governor in respect of the Deep Sea Port. Aketi had laid a strong foundation for the actualisation of the port.”

Governor Aiyedatiwa during a media chat in Akure said that three former governors of the state did little about deep sea Port and bitumen project.

“The Deep Sea Port that we are pursuing has been in the pipeline for many years. Agagu talked about it, Mimiko talked about it. Akeredolu also started something, he got port declaration even though it was faulty that I had to pursue to get it amended.”

But late Akeredolu’s Aide faulted the claim declaring that “The statement, laced with innuendo, was a clear misrepresentation advanced by the Governor.

“This attempt to ridicule, belittle and rubbish the rigorous efforts put in by the late Governor Akeredolu to secure the Port Declaration is unacceptable. 

“To merely say that ‘Akeredolu started something’ is to demean the sleepless nights and exhaustive efforts that culminated in the Port Declaration.

“It is on record that the late Governor Akeredolu activated the actualisation of the seaport by employing the services of a consulting firm headed by Mr Ekong Etim. 

“This firm conducted the feasibility study of the project and came up with the Outline Business Case (OBC), which is the final report showcasing the project as a multipurpose deep sea port. The OBC was presented to the late Governor Akeredolu on August 15, 2020.

“The OBC was then sent to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) for the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance, after which it was forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Transportation. 

“The Port Declaration was eventually secured in May 2023 after the memo seeking approval was presented by the Federal Ministry of Transportation through the then Minister of Transportation, Engr. Muazu Jaji Sambo, who was motivated by the intense pressure mounted by the former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye.

“These efforts that led to the Port Declaration go far beyond what anyone, including Governor Aiyedatiwa, should merely refer to as ‘Akeredolu did something.’

“It would amount to sheer injustice to dismiss the gallantry and ceaseless efforts of the late Governor in respect of the Deep Sea Port. Aketi had laid a strong foundation for the actualisation of the port.

“On the insinuation that the Port Declaration was faulty, Governor Aiyedatiwa should be honest enough to tell the people of Ondo State and Nigerians that what he referred to as “faulty” in the Port Declaration was a clerical error where a company’s name was inserted into the document as a partner. 

“It was a clerical error and not a fundamental defect. It did not reduce or cancel the validity of the license secured by the Akeredolu administration. This error was cleared by the Federal Executive Council without hesitation.

“The people of the state should also note that both China Harbor and Dubai Port had already shown interest in the development of the deep sea port in the state. 

“The delay in the Port Declaration was the reason the late Governor could not further consolidate on the arrangements before he fell ill and subsequently answered the glorious call.

“As for the claim that no government had touched the area of bitumen exploration before Governor Aiyedatiwa, the facts speak for themselves. It is also on record that the Akeredolu administration pursued and secured a licence for bitumen exploration in the state.

“The Federal Government, through the then Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, approved and announced that the licence was granted to the state as part of the efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the economy and boost the country’s foreign exchange.

“It is unfortunate that Governor Aiyedatiwa continues to attack and demean the achievements of the late Governor Akeredolu. 

“Even the new Government House that was initiated and completed by Governor Akeredolu before he died is being contested by Aiyedatiwa.

“For those of us who witnessed the conspiracy that was fuelled by the unbridled ambition of today’s leadership in 2023, we are not surprised by this unwholesome conduct. 

“We can only implore the people of Ondo State to seek the truth and not fall victim to falsehood masquerading as truth.”