Ondo PDP Says Gov. Aiyedatiwa Statewide Tour Meaningless

By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has criticised the statewide thank-you tour being undertaken by Governor Lucky  Aiyedatiwa, describing it as misplaced and inappropriate two years into his tenure as substantive governor.

Aiyedatiwa had earlier served out about two years left behind by late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu before his inauguration in February as elected Governor.

The tour commenced on Monday with the four Akoko local government areas of Akoko North-West, Akoko North-East, Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West, where the Governor thanked residents for their support this year and galvanised backing for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

The Source (Magazine) reports that the tour looks like a two-fold event- to thank people of the state for his election and to sensitize them for the next general election, especially second term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on Monday by the PDP Director of Media and Public Communications, Wande Ajayi, the party pointed out that the governor should be embarking on a commissioning tour of completed projects, rather than visiting communities with what it described as handouts and token gestures.

The opposition party argued that after two years in office, the governor ought to account for funds accrued to the state, including federal allocations, internally generated revenue and special intervention funds.

According to the PDP, residents of the State deserve tangible development outcomes such as functional schools, well-equipped hospitals, motorable roads, job creation and economic revitalisation.

The party further alleged that public infrastructure across the state has deteriorated, claiming that schools and healthcare facilities are in poor condition, roads have become unsafe, and civil servants and pensioners continue to face economic hardship.

The PDP, also, questioned the pace of project execution by the current administration, stating that projects announced by the government are allegedly far from completion, with contractors absent from sites in many cases.

Describing the thank-you tour as a reflection of misplaced priorities, the party maintained that governance should focus on delivering results rather than public relations activities.

It called on the governor to provide explanations for stalled projects and the continued decay of public infrastructure despite what it described as steady inflows of funds to the state.

The PDP insisted that Ondo State deserves accountable leadership and effective governance, not what it termed charity politics, urging the government to address pressing developmental challenges facing the State.