State elders receive free surgeries, treatments, hail interior minister

As Ondo State prepares to mark its 50th anniversary, a civil society organisation, the Ondo Redemption Front, has lamented that the state has little to show for the abundant human and natural resources it possesses.

The group made the assertion at a media briefing yesterday, where its chairman, Mr Ayodeji Ologun, expressed concern over what he described as years of poor governance and lack of clear development direction in the state.

Ologun said that while the Golden Jubilee should ordinarily be a moment for reflection, celebration and renewed commitment to progress, the current state of affairs in Ondo State raised serious questions about leadership and accountability.

He noted that despite the challenges, the people of the state would continue to celebrate their resilience, shared history and enduring hope for a better future.

According to him, the 50th anniversary of Ondo State, scheduled for February 3, 2026, should provide an opportunity for sober reflection and honest assessment of governance outcomes over the decades.

“Milestones demand reflection, and reflection demands courage. At fifty, Ondo State must not pretend that all is well when evidence abounds that governance has lost direction.

“As our dear Sunshine State approaches a historic milestone, 50 years of existence on February 3, 2026, this moment ought to be one of deep reflection, proud stock-taking, and bold recommitment to progress.

“Fifty years is long enough for a government to point to lasting legacies, life-changing projects and strengthened institutions.

“Unfortunately, as the state approaches this milestone, there is no major project being commissioned to mark the celebration.” He argued that the absence of significant projects to commemorate the anniversary reflects deeper structural and leadership failures, adding that governance should be measured by tangible outcomes rather than official statements or public relations efforts.

MEANWHILE, a group of senior citizens in the Ondo State capital, Akure, have received free surgical treatment as part of measures to improve their health and well-being, as well as to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 General Election.

With the free and comprehensive medical outreach organised by a support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, the group disclosed that it was committed to the welfare of the elderly in the state.

While emphasising that the initiative was part of a broader effort to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu, the Chairman of the forum, Erastus Akeju, disclosed that the initiative had advanced to a critical surgical and treatment phase at Jobarteh Hospital in Akure.

According to him, hospital-based care for beneficiaries is a follow-up to a large-scale free medical screening camp held earlier, stressing that the initial outreach detected a range of health conditions among senior citizens during the check-up.