UNBELIEVABLE! Months After Akeredolu’s Death, SEE What Gov. Aiyedatiwa Is Doing That’s Making Ondo People Angry
Despite Nigeria’ s escalating economic challenges, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa recently announced the appointment of 316 senior special assistants and special assistants without specific portfolios to his administration.
This decision, made public through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, has sparked discussions regarding its timing and implications.
The governor’ s office explained that these appointments are part of Aiyedatiwa’ s ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery across Ondo State.
According to the statement, the newly appointed aides will be distributed across the state’ s 18 Local Government Areas, 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), and 203 Wards. The administration argues that this move is designed to ensure that all parts of the state are adequately represented and that governance reaches even the most remote areas.
This development occurs just a few months before the end of Aiyedatiwa’ s first term in office, with the next gubernatorial election scheduled for November 16, 2024. The governor faces the possibility of handing over power in February 2025 if he does not secure re- election in the upcoming election. His decision to expand the number of political appointees in the face of Nigeria’ s ongoing economic struggles has prompted mixed reactions.
The timing of these appointments has raised concerns among citizens and political analysts alike, especially given the context of Nigeria’ s broader economic situation. The country is currently grappling with high inflation, a weakening currency, and widespread poverty, leaving many Nigerians questioning whether the creation of more political positions is a prudent use of public resources.
Some have criticized the appointments as excessive, arguing that they may contribute to the already high cost of governance, which is a growing concern in both federal and state administrations.
Many Nigerians have expressed frustration over what they perceive as an overly large and expensive government, with significant portions of the national and state budgets dedicated to political offices and appointees. Critics argue that such decisions place an unnecessary burden on the economy, which is already struggling under the weight of reduced revenue, rising debt, and limited job creation.
The concern is that expanding government at a time when resources are stretched thin could hinder, rather than help, economic recovery efforts.
Adding to the controversy, a review by SaharaReporters revealed that some of the newly appointed aides do not reside in Nigeria, with several reportedly living abroad. This revelation has only fueled further criticism, with many questioning the legitimacy of appointing individuals who are not based in the state they are supposed to serve.
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