Ondo Govt Denies Freezing LG Accounts, Suspending Akeredolu’s CoP

Fidelis David in Akure

Ondo State Government has denied reports that the state acting Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has frozen the accounts of the local government areas, as well as suspended the Chief of Protocol to Governor Akeredolu.

The reaction came after reports that some officials of the local councils said a memo from Aiyedatiwa had informed them of the freezing of the accounts.

However, reacting to the allegations, the state Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure yesterday, described the reported freezing of the accounts as false.

He said: “The news going round in some old and new media platforms that the acting Governor Ayedatiwa has put a freeze on local government accounts in the state is false and misleading.

“At no time has the acting governor or any functionary of the state put a freeze on local government accounts or order any closure. This information is fake and baseless. We ask that the good people of Ondo State, particularly officials of local government areas, should disregard the rumours.”

She said necessary complimentary personnel/civil servants have been deployed to the LCDA(s) and they have been advised to exercise due diligence and processes in their operations by the government.

“The state government is committed to proper functioning of the new 33 LCDA(s) and the existing 18 local government area in the state as a way of enhancing development at the grassroots,” she said.

The commissioner stressed that the government is aware of a suit filed by the opposition party before the state High Court, and it’s hopeful that contending issues before the court will be decided shortly.

“While a date has been fixed for the conduct of local government election in the state, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has started working on delineation of a minimum of five Councillorship Electoral Wards in each of the LCDA(s).

“Delineation of these electoral wards by ODIEC is part of the transition guidelines provided for in the Government White Paper for transiting from 18 LGA(s) to 51 LGA(s)/LCDA(s) in the state. The government is committed to a smooth transition that will usher a democratic elected local government area in Ondo State,” she said.

On the alleged suspension of Akeredolu’s Chief of Protocol, Ademola-Olateju said: “Our attention has been drawn to the social media misrepresentation of our Circular Letter No. FAD/DG.156/98 of December 14, 2023, in respect of the Preparation of the acting governor’s engagement, which has been mischievously reported to the effect that the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, Mr. Bola Alabi, has been placed on suspension.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. The Chief of Protocol to the governor has not been placed on suspension by the acting governor or by any person. It should be noted that the schedule for the preparation of the governor’s engagements is less than two percent of the CoP’s responsibilities.

“Usually, suspension from duty would have warranted removal of salary and privileges, which does not happen in this case. As we speak, Mr. Bola Alabi is busy with the governor. Nevertheless, His Excellency, the acting Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is prepared, where necessary, to make changes that would guarantee the effective running of the administration.”