The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Hon. Gbenga Edema, on Sunday lamented over the neglect of remarkable strides and developments initiated by the former governor of the state, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, by his successor, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Edema who noted this while paying tribute to the late Akeredolu during his 68th posthumous birthday, said Aiyedatiwa had failed to uphold the late Akeredolu’s ideals, saying the Ondo state government has failed to sustain the legacies left behind by the late governor.
According to him, Akeredolu’s legacies should not be forgotten in a hurry, describing the late governor as an advocate and believer in good governance, transparency, and accountability.
He maintained that Akeredolu left an indelible mark across the state and can’t be forgotten easily, but expressed disappointment over the lack of efforts the successor made to honour the memory of his predecessor during his posthumous birthday.
He said Akeredolu remains one of the leaders in the state who should be remembered for his selflessness in the development and growth of Ondo State, the South-West, and the country at large.
Eulogising the former governor for championing the cause of the people and the voiceless during his tenure, Edema said Akeredolu’s indelible footprints transcended the entire southwest and the country due to his fearlessness in giving a voice against injustice as well as his posture and stance, which vibrated as beacons of hope for many.
He said, “The late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu was a beacon of hope for the people of Ondo State and the entire South West region. His commitment to justice and equity should have been honoured, but sadly, his legacy is being overlooked.
“Most of the infrastructural projects embarked upon by the late Akeredolu have all been abandoned; contractors have since left the project sites.”
The former Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) lamented the neglect of Akeredolu, who stood for the entire South West against injustice and was not duly recognised by his own state under Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
Expressing dismay over the erosion of Akeredolu’s legacies, Edema stated that Aiyedatiwa had failed to uphold the late governor’s ideals, particularly the current administration’s silence on the recent attack on Amotekun Corps operatives by suspected herdsmen.
While decrying the escalating insecurity in the state under Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, the lawyer and former legislator stated that the tragic incident in Ose local government area, where two individuals were killed by gunmen who also abducted five others a few days ago, calls for concerns.
“It is disheartening to witness the decline of the values that the late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu worked so hard to instil in our state.
“His successor’s failure to uphold his legacy is a disservice to the people of Ondo State. He fought against all odds to ensure the creation of the South-West Security Network, which we all know as the Amotekun Corps.
“The recent violence and insecurity in Ondo State are unacceptable. We need decisive action to protect our people and restore peace to our communities.”
Meanwhile, Edoema maintained that the state deserves the best in its quest to ensure that it gets the right leadership in the months ahead.
It would be recalled that the late Akeredolu died on December 26, 2023, in Germany after battling prolonged prostrate cancer, while Aiyedatiwa, who served as his deputy, was sworn in as governor.
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