By Kennedy Ikantu Peretei.
At the 12th and 13th Convocation ceremony of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu was honoured with a Doctorate degree in law. This event would have been unworthy of mention but for the number of Ondo State Officials who graced the occasion at tax payers’ expense.
It beats common sense and logical reasoning for a Governor whose sing song is paucity of funds to mobilise almost everybody in the political circle of Ondo State to Oyo for an award. The Legislative Arm of the government was led by the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. David Oloyelogun, a man being tried for fraud by the EFCC, and a good number of the Assembly men. The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, led other members of the State Executive Council to the ceremony. Akeredolu’s sister-in-law, Alero Akeredolu coordinated members of the bench to the event. Local Government Chairmen, Traditional Rulers, the entire All Progressives Congress (APC) State Executive Committee under the leadership of Engr. Ade Adetimehin all went to Oyo, to mark the Akeredolu Award Register.
The list is simply endless. If the Governor attached so much importance to this award, is it then not an irony that all the state owned Universities which he is visitor to are under lock and key? Could he received this award if Crowther University has been closed down like the Universities he presides over?
A cursory look at the footages of the ceremony engenders nothing but pity for a man that can shut down the government of Ondo State for the purpose of a personal award that brings no single benefit to the people of the state.
Every passing day, the APC Government under Rotimi Akeredolu demonstrates that, the suffering of the people means nothing to him. Otherwise, he should have quietly gone to Oyo to receive his award without putting a strain on the resources of the state.
I need not add that in the fullness of time, some of these frivolous spendings will be refunded to Ondo State treasury.
This series will continue shortly.