Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, currently working from Ibadan, is facing accommodation challenges, according to his aide Doyin Odebowale.
Akeredolu, who has been absent from the state since returning from a medical vacation abroad, requires a better residence due to health concerns, citing the inadequacy of his previous two-bedroom apartment.
Odebowale, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, explained the accommodation limitations, stating, “Aketi came back in September. Where he used to stay – the Presidential Lodge built for the visiting president at that time Olusegun Obasanjo – is a two-bedroom apartment.”
He further added, “Now, he is back. He cannot occupy that place again. The Old Governor’s Office – the Governor’s Lodge built by the previous administration is now the office of the investment outlet called the ODIPA. That’s the office.”
Acknowledging the governor’s current state of health, Odebowale emphasized the necessity for a conducive environment for Akeredolu to fulfill his duties effectively. He mentioned that a new place is being arranged for the governor, which is nearly completed.
Critics are demanding Akeredolu’s return to Ondo, but Odebowale countered by highlighting the ongoing governance activities, insisting that salaries have been paid, and laws signed by the governor since his return.
He questioned the nature of the demand, asking, “When they say they want to see Aketi, do they want to see him at the site so that he would be carrying cement or following workmen? What exactly?”
Akeredolu’s aide concluded by suggesting that recent controversies surrounding the governor’s absence indicate internal opposition, even from within his family, describing it as being “surrounded by enemies from within”.
This situation raises questions about leadership dynamics and accommodation constraints in Ondo State.
