Ondo: Uproar Over Governor Akeredolu’s Son’s Appointment

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP),  Ondo State has described the appointment of Babajide, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s son as a Director General in the Public service as inappropriate. It said; “The recent appointment of Babajide Akeredolu, a biological son of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN as the Director General of Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPMIU) is a flagrant abuse of office and affront on the people of Ondo State.

“The name Babajide Akeredolu became known in Ondo state when the State’s funds were used to procure a marriage for him in Colorado, USA, after the same marriage was consummated in Owo, his father’s birthplace.

A statement by PDP spokesman, Kenedy Peretei added that “He has since assumed authority as part of the triad of the reign of father, wife and son.

“The appointment as DG of PPMIU for Babajide, a young man who carries on as though he was the person voted for as Governor is part of the grand design to finally empty the treasury of the State before Akeredolu returns to Ibadan.

“Last year, Babajide pocketed a princely N433m as Consultancy fee on N4.3b on the “secret account” with Zenith Bank for more than ten years.

“Up till this moment, the Ondo State Government under Akeredolu has neither accounted for the money, nor the ten years accrued interest.

“Rather, it was Babajide who addressed a press conference, referring to Ondo State House of Assembly members as ‘making unnecessary noise’ over money he discovered.

“Babajide’s conduct is reminiscent of the ignoble actions of Commodus, son and heir apparent of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who at age 12, upon finding out that his bath water was not sufficiently heated, ordered the servant to be thrown into the furnace.

“25% of all the Internally generated revenue in the State goes into the account of Canadian Systems Development Company (CSDC) under one Akin Oladimeji as MD.

“CSDC is an Ibadan based company that was brought to Ondo State by Babajide. The company was given office accommodation in the Governor’s office.

“They do not pay rents, neither do they pay taxes to the Government. Every month, 15% of the over N2b that is collected as IGR goes into Babajide’s personal account and the balance is wired to Lagos and Ibadan for the Consultant.

“Only last week, Babajide was reported to have brought another Consultant to take charge of forestry operations in the State.

“It thus appears that Mr Governor and his immediate family are bent on living fat on the lean resources of the people, when poverty has taken over the land, walking in all four legs.

“There is no further proof of Akeredolu’s insensitivity to the plight of the people, when within two years of tenure, he organized three lavish weddings for his children, all in foreign lands- In Mauritius, Canada and Colorado, USA.

“Each of these weddings were bankrolled with Ondo State funds. Officials of the State Government, family members and friends were in these countries to celebrate with Akeredolu and family.

“Yet, this level of opulence and wasteful life style only started when he became Governor.

“Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, wife of the Governor, has her own draining pipe also connected to the state treasury.

“She uses BRECAN, an advocacy group for breast cancer and Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials ( FOWOSO) and female political appointees.

“Whereas, in the past, wives of Governors put smiles on the faces of women through HANDEF and Gbebiro, women and political appointees now contribute money for Governor’s wife through all kinds of under hand tactics and blackmail. Mrs Akeredolu has bought up every buyable property in choice places in Owerri.

“As the grand commander of the gang, Akeredolu himself within six months of his assumption of office bought four properties in GRA, Owo and renamed the street, Maranatha.

“Mouth watering offers were made to others with properties on the street, whether they are willing to sell to Mr Governor.

“This is apart from the more than 150 hectres of land acquired from farmers in Igbe quarters, Owo Local Government Area.

“It is very apparent that, it is the greed of the first family that is being fed, no longer their needs. Akeredolu, his wife and children must appreciate that, the resources they are wasting in this reckless manner was only given to them in trust for the people.

“They should remember that, the day of reckoning is very near.”

In its reaction, the  State Government stated that it was not surprised by the outburst of the opposition PDP.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, maintained that “it will not be distracted by the recent outburst of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State.

“There is no way such sound appointment as that of the Governor’s ’s son would not have elicited uncanny attacks from the PDP.

“The Government remains focused and will not be distracted by senseless and mindless attacks from the PDP.

“One big error in public governance is the fear of taking decisions, and it becomes unpardonably grievous when sound decisions are avoided over what I consider unresourceful criticisms.

“There is no way such sound appointment as that of Babajide would not have elicited uncanny attacks from the PDP. They were expected.

“Ours is to be focused on what we are doing for the good people of the State and not to be distracted by lazy opposition.

“When Jang appointed his son, Yakubu, as a Commissioner in Plateau, it was okay for them; what about Okowa who did it in Delta? When their Principal’s brothers in Ondo literally did all appointments while they held sway, it was okay.

“We can only enjoy their gallery-looking dance. They are hypocritical aside being saddened by their antecedents.

“We are more concerned about the deliverables in whatever we do as a Government. In this particular instance of Mr Governor’s decision in respect of the son, it cannot be said otherwise; he made a right decision.

“This young man has been doing a lot of behind the scene in the last five years plus, to enhance good governance. He has demonstrated enough capacity in many respects. Time will tell as we sail along in full steam.

“I think the problem PDP has is the fact of apparent intimidation that a very sound and balanced second term cabinet has berthed.”