By Timothy Agbor, Osogbo

A leading civil society organisation in Ondo State, the Ondo Redemption Front (ORF), has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of gross incompetence and failure to secure the lives and property of the citizens under his watch.

In a statement jointly signed by the group’s Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Ayodeji Ologun and Barrister Adedotun Ajulo, on Wednesday, the organisation alleged that Aiyedatiwa has abandoned his responsibilities, choosing instead to run governance “for a few by a few, thereby giving wings to persistent security challenges in the state.”

“Governor Aiyedatiwa has failed woefully in his primary duty of safeguarding the people of Ondo State and this is evident in the avoidable loss of lives in the state which led to the protest seen in the capital yesterday,” the group said.

“Rather than tackle the escalating insecurity, he spends his time junketing and doing photo appearances for political reasons all across the country at the expense of the essence of governance for which he was elected.

“He is busy living lavishly and ignoring the plight of his people,” the group claimed.

The group criticised the governor’s “luxurious lifestyle,” claiming that “while communities in the state suffer from hunger, sickness, and fear of bandit attacks, governor Aiyedatiwa is busy living life like all is well and gradually turning himself to an absentee governor in the state.”

“It is disgraceful for a leader of a traumatised state to indulge in such unavailability,” the group said.

ORF further accused the governor of not doing enough since the state’s increased federal allocation and internal revenue, questioning what tangible investments in infrastructure have been made since he assumed office.

“Under previous administration and particularly that of his late boss, Governor Akeredolu, despite limited funds, security agencies received adequate interventions with the particular strengthening of Amotekun, while delivering quality infrastructure. What has governor Aiyedatiwa done with the increased allocation?” the group queried.

The CSO also criticised appointees and aides of the governor for abandoning the essence of governance and getting involved in avoidable and needless class struggle.

“It is only hypocrites or those who have no reckoning of history that will not condemn the downward rating of the present administration, just when much more was expected of a Lucky Aiyedatiwa as governor, given the circumstances of his ascension to office. The business of governance goes beyond dancing and junketing, it requires a bold attempt at doing what is right and seen to be right, ensuring lives and property are well protected and ensuring that all hands are on deck for development and not when governance is put in the hands of an arrogant few and seeds of discord are daily sown among a once united and progressive people,” ORF said.

The group advised the Aiyedatiwa to jeer up to his task and duties as a governor, adding that it must begin with an immediate formation of a full cabinet for efficiency in governance and its deliverables.