Ondo Government Disregard Rumours of Freezing LG Accounts

The Ondo State government has described as inaccurate and deceptive the claims that it has frozen the accounts of all local governments and local council development areas, LCDAs, as well as fired Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s chief of protocol.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, noted this in a statement. 

According to her, neither Lucky Ayedatiwa, the acting governor, nor any other government employee had ever issued such an instruction, and the announcement of the governor’s CoP’s dismissal was intended to cause the state government to seem bad.

Ademola-Olateju added that the information is fake and baseless and called on the people of the state, especially the local government officials to disregard it.

The Information Commissioner also provided clarification over the false information that was presented during the Acting Governor’s engagement preparation, stating that Mr. Bola Alabi, the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, has not been fired or sent on leave.

Ademola-Olateju said that the allegation was mischievously reported and urged the people to ignore it, maintaining that the Chief of Protocol had not been placed on suspension.

Ademola-Olateju’s statement read: “The news going around some old and new media platforms that the Acting Governor, Lucky 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 governments disregard the rumor.

“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”.

Speaking further, she said “The State Government is committed to the proper functioning of the new thirty-three LCDA(s) and the existing 18 Local Government Areas in the state as a way of enhancing development at the grassroots.

“The Government is aware of a suit filed by the opposition party before the State High Court, and we are 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 the 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. Government is committed to a smooth transition that will usher a democratic Elected Local Government Area in Ondo State.”