The Special Adviser on Special Duty and Strategy to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Doyin Odebowale, explained on Channels Television’s Politics Today that Governor Akeredolu is not working from the state capital, Akure, due to accommodation challenges.
Akeredolu, who returned in September, can no longer use the two-bedroom apartment at the Presidential Lodge. Instead, the Governor’s Lodge, now used as an office, is unavailable for his residence.
As a result, a new and more suitable residence is being prepared for the governor due to his current health condition.
Governor Akeredolu has been away from the state since returning from a medical vacation abroad and has chosen to work remotely from Ibadan, Oyo State.
This decision has caused controversy within Ondo State, with protests from the youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party.
In response to the criticism, Odebowale argued that the governor’s physical presence at a construction site or political events is not necessary for governance.
He emphasized that civil servants have been paid their salaries, and the governor has been actively signing laws since his return.
Odebowale also addressed the idea of protests, stating that it’s perfectly acceptable for citizens to request to see the governor. However, he questioned the motive behind the protests and suggested that they are politically motivated.
He argued that there is no need for the governor to address these protests directly at the opposition party’s secretariat.
Furthermore, Odebowale emphasized that the governor’s health condition necessitates suitable accommodation for his recovery, as he has been residing in a two-bedroom apartment for the past six years.
In summary, the governor is working remotely due to accommodation challenges and his health condition, which requires better living arrangements, while critics and protests have raised questions about his absence from the state.
Odebowale defends the governor’s actions and insists that he is in charge of the state’s affairs despite his remote working.
