Ondo APC, PDP Spar Over Akeredolu Legacy Projects
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have clashed over the fate of uncompleted infrastructure projects initiated by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Among the contentious projects are several township roads, healthcare infrastructure, and water supply schemes launched under Akeredolu’s tenure.
While the APC insisted progress is ongoing, the PDP argued that only select projects are being showcased for political optics.
On Sunday, the PDP accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of deliberately neglecting projects started by Akeredolu, describing it as a calculated attempt to erase the former governor’s legacy, whom he deputised before he won his election a year ago.
The party alleged that political vendetta, not policy direction, was at the heart of the alleged abandonment.
Speaking through its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Leye Igbabo, the PDP stated, “We are worried about the unwillingness and inability of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to complete all the ongoing projects left behind by his benefactor and predecessor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
“The available facts showed that Governor Aiyedatiwa was not ready to go on with the projects because of his clear intention to destroy his predecessor’s legacy on the altar of political vendetta.
“This stems from past grievances involving the late governor’s camp, who allegedly sought to block Aiyedatiwa’s ascendancy while Akeredolu was incapacitated by illness.”
The PDP further claimed that Governor Aiyedatiwa had allegedly boasted of his power to stop projects at will.
“Aiyedatiwa was said to have boasted of his powers as the executive governor to stop any projects that do not catch his fancy, and that those who benefited from the projects by way of monetary or material rewards should go ahead to complete them,” Igbabo said.
According to the opposition party, the alleged pattern of selective implementation and slow pace of ongoing works points to a broader agenda to dismantle the Akeredolu administration’s achievements.
“The government is regarded as a continuum. One has to ask why a governor who has huge resources at his disposal would be hesitant or inconsistent in completing legacy projects,” the PDP spokesperson added.
But in a swift reaction, the APC dismissed the PDP’s accusations as unfounded and politically motivated.
The party’s Director of Media and Publicity in the state, Mr Steve Otaloro, countered that Governor Aiyedatiwa has not only continued Akeredolu’s projects but has also commissioned several key infrastructural works.
“It is apparent that the PDP is resorting to a desperate attempt to regain relevance by fabricating claims that lack any basis in fact,” Otaloro said.
He maintained that Governor Aiyedatiwa views the previous administration as an extension of his own, having served as Akeredolu’s deputy.
“It is nonsensical for the PDP to suggest that Governor Aiyedatiwa would undermine the legacy he helped build. In fact, the governor has recently commissioned the Oda Road and its extensions in Akure—projects that were initiated under Akeredolu’s administration.”
Otaloro described the PDP’s comments as part of a broader campaign of “disinformation”, suggesting the opposition was attempting to stir controversy following its defeat in the 2024 governorship election.
“The PDP, a party that sought to overturn the people’s mandate through the courts and failed, is now focused on spreading falsehood. Their attempts to discredit the governor reflect an internal crisis and declining relevance,” he said.
The APC also advised the PDP to focus on rebuilding its ranks rather than issuing what it described as “irresponsible statements”.
“They should look inward. Their party has suffered serious internal setbacks, including the defection of key stakeholders and sitting governors. Misinformation will not win back the people,” Otaloro concluded.
Ondo APC, PDP Spar Over Akeredolu Legacy Projects is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
