Non-interference in LG funds aiding development drive in Ondo — Aiyedatiwa

Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, disclosed at the weekend that since his emergence as governor 10 months ago, local government areas (LGAs) across the state have been in charge of their funds with no interference on the part of his administration.

According to the governor, the free hands given to the LGAs have made their operations and service to the people at the grassroots seamless.

Aiyedatiwa, who is the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming off-cycle November 16 governorship election in the state, stressed this at Epe community while on a campaign tour to Ondo East LGA of the state.

While pledging to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to residents of the state, the governor vowed to promote community development, assuring traditional rulers and market leaders that his administration has restored their relevance and empowerment at the local government level.

Aiyedatiwa maintained that traditional rulers now get what they are entitled to and that the errors of the past have been corrected to promote the overall development of the grassroots, stressing that he was focusing more attention on enhancing agriculture and promoting food security in the state.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, assured the governor of the full support of the people of Ondo East Local Government.

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The Yangede of Epe, Oba Isaac Oyebade, while lauding the governor, appealed to the state government to upgrade the stool of Yangede to a first-class chieftaincy stool.

“Historically, Epe is an ancient town that was home to all Ekimogun-speaking people today, including Idanre and Ile-oluji. The town cannot be left out of the scheme of things. So, if other towns are upgraded, Epe should not be left out,” he added.

At Bolorunduro, headquarters of Ondo East Local Council, the Chairman of the Oloja association, Felix Kolawole, said Aiyedatiwa’s short tenure so far has been marked with various achievements, assuring that they are confident he would continue to perform in office.

Leader of the market women in the local government, Mrs. Nike Awosupin, also assured the governor of the support of women in the area, appealing to the governor to fix dilapidated roads in the local government to enable farmers to transport their goods to the market easily.